Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever googled in researching a story?
I have had to research a lot of things when outlining a story. I’ve delved deep into angelic lore, the origins and meanings of names, and even some exotic botany. I think the most unusual research I’ve done included DNA and blood disease research. But the one topic that actually started sending out odd things to my SPAM folders and social media feeds (because you know all that stuff is connected) was my dream research. For weeks I couldn’t get away from dream interpretation articles and programs and crystal recommendations for anything that might ail me. I was also contacted by three psychics and two dream studies. So, be careful when researching dreams.
*Updated 11/7/19- I started with a Google search, but it was the pursuit of those results that led to all the SPAM and psychic and sleep study contacts, not just the search.*
Since we’re on the subject, I thought I’d share a few crazy Google searches others have shared with me.
A family friend and youth pastor once told me that he had to destroy is office PC and get a new one after doing a search on “Teen Sex”. He was looking for statistics on pregnancy and STDs and got images and videos he says still haunt him to this day. Another family friend, an older woman, had to destroy her laptop and get a new one after trying to do research on Black Holes, only she couldn’t remember that’s what they were called and tried all sorts of searches that deeply disturbed her and crashed her computer. I still have no clue what she actually searched but I have some ideas and I know better than to test them out.
My suggestion for those not so computer savvy or unsure of what you’re searching for, try the library first. If it doesn’t crash their computer, you’re good to go. (PLEASE don’t tell the library I sent you.)
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The November IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was Pat Garcia. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hi.
IWSG Book Club News
Our October/November fiction book, voted on by our members, is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Discussion Fun Day will be November 20th.
WEP-IWSG
I won the commenting award this month. I really enjoyed reading all the stories and look forward to the next challenge in December. You can read my entry here.
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Now, on to the personal updates.
I’ve been trying really hard to be more active on social media without overwhelming myself. I figured out that social media is there all the time whether I am there or not so there’s no way I can see and do everything. Now that I’ve accepted that, it’s been going a lot better for me. I think I might even go back on YouTube and stop caring about the fact that my videos don’t have the production value of the larger channels. I’m not trying to reach everyone, I’m simply trying to reach those I’m meant to reach.
With that in mind, I thought I’d share two posts, one from each of my Instagram profiles, just because. One is dedicated to Margie my Redbone rescue and the other is where I post my bookish stuff.
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View this post on Instagram
Just had my walk, got a treat, feeling WONDERFUL! #coonhoundsofinstagram #petcostumes
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View this post on Instagram
Meant to start this in October. Better late than never. #tbrpost #bookstagram #ebook
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What Google search have you regretted in the name of research?
Anyone want to follow me on Instagram? I follow back. 😀
It may take some time, but I will stop by your blog too.
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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Sadira Stone,
Patricia Josephine,
Lisa Buie-Collard,
Erika Beebe, and
C. Lee McKenzie!
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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #43).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
35 replies on “#IWSG November 2019: Do Not Google That!”
**shudder** Why is it always the sweetest most innocent people who accidentally run into the worst things the internet has to offer? The thought of my elderly relatives googling **things** will give me nightmares.
I do find I get better results in those questionable searches if I use the biggest word I can possibly think of for the topic. “Adolescent” instead of “teen” for instance. And the fact that you can limit a google search to return only .edu pages helps.
Happy IWSG day!
Yes, I can see how using bigger words would help. The problem with limited google searches is that you have to know how to do that. Sometimes people just don’t know how to search for what they are looking for. 🙁
That’s my attitude on social media now.
I have a pretty good idea what turned up in the search for black holes…
Oh, what a sad day and age we live in, but I still choose to see the good and be blessed.
I have a character who is a dream therapist so I did a lot of research on dreams and interpretations. Don’t know whether I was lucky or because it was a few years ago that I don’t remember, but I didn’t get bombarded with emails about dreams or psychics. Think I only had the one psychic but that was because I let my curiosity get the best of me and did a quiz to see the results.
Perhaps I should update my post. I didn’t get all those messages just from a google search. This was about 15 years ago. I started with a google search and from there ordered rare books and signed up for 2 newsletters. After that, the flood gates opened. I think I’ll go back and specify that.
Margie is gorgeous! Yeah, google searches can go really wrong — at least I haven’t crashed a computer yet. *Touch wood*
Ronel visiting on IWSG day Year in Review
I didn’t think you could crash a computer with a google search, but I guess if that search leads to you some shady sites with viruses, it could happen. I think that’s what happened to my friends. Plus, when these happened, I don’t think all PC came with virus protection the way they do now.
You visit one site and next thing you know, tons of email spam show up in your mailbox.
I’m trying to balance my account and DLP’s and there is only so much social media I can do.
Yes, it’s a slippery slope. For me, I went the extra mile in my research and I think that’s what really got me. As far as social media, I do what I can and don’t worry about the rest.
How odd. I’ve researched dream interpretations several times and have never been contacted by psychics or dream studies.
Thanks for posting about the anthology!
Yeah. There was a bit more too it. 15 years ago I started with a google search which led me to a bunch of other resources. I’m pretty sure pursuing those other resources were the real cause of my bombardment. Google just gets the unfair blame for being the search engine.
I was laughing so hard at the teen pastor anecdote. I can so easily see how his innocent intentions led him down a rabbit hole he did not want to go down. Margie looks cute in her Wonder Woman cape.
LaToya
Thank you. It was hard finding one in her size. Not many costumes in my area for non-small dogs.
I’ve researched angelic names a few times. My muse likes angel stories. LOL
I’ve written several articles and a whole blog series on angel-lore. It’s my fave. 😀
Hi,
i so agree. We have to really be very careful when researching some topics. Before you know it you’re getting mails that you don’t want to receive.
Wishing you all the best and have a happy November.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I think things have gotten better and people are more aware of what is good and bad in most searches, but you still have to be mindful. Plus, nowadays what you search isn’t as private as it once was.
I’ve decided to use DuckDuckGo when search for things that I don’t want stored by others. I can see I’m right in making that decision.
Never heard of DuckDuckGo. I’ll have to look into that.
I guess you’ve got to be careful how you word things! There’s some scary stuff out there!
Yes, scary is the right word.
Tell the people you know not to destroy their computers. Tell them to do a hard format. It will destroy everything on the hard drive. They might have to buy another operating system. But hey, still cheaper than a whole new computer.
Anna from elements of emaginette
I love this advice, but I don’t think these people even knew what a hard drive was when these happened. LOL! 8)
Still, it’s good info to pass on in case someone is facing a crash.
Ah yes, it’s good to have protection when researching online 😉
Yeah, I think these days more people have antivirus and firewall protection that they didn’t have a decade or two ago.
It’s amazing what an innocent question (with well-meaning intentions) can trigger a barrage of weird suggestions. Hope you have a great writing month.
Thank you Diane. You too.
Hey Toi, that’s some scary google stories. I’m just please that google makes it so easy to find out stuff – you can take virtual tours etc. It really helps.
So you hang out on Insta under pen names. I hope we follow each other. Must check.I take big breaks from Insta then it’s hard to get your readership back.
Thanks for being such a great reader/commenter on WEP posts. You are so appreciated!
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying researching in Paris, woo hoo.
Lucky you. Bet you are enjoying your research.
I think we are following each other.
Love the picture of Margie. Happy Belated IWSG!
Thank you. She usually dodges my camera, but when I can get her, she’s really cute.
Thanks for the reminder about the group read! I need to nail a copy and re-read (I read it years ago when it first came out, and I remember I liked it, but not much else). Those searches! I have seen ads show up in my FB feed that are clearly related to some of my searches (for my current book, I needed to know about anaphylactic shock and how epipens work), but happily I haven’t gotten into any real messes.
I got my copy from the library. Oddly enough, I enjoyed it so much, I plan to by a copy for my book shelf.
Mystery writers often research as macabre topics as horror writers, but not the weirdest I suspect. So, still searching for something that qualifies. Decomposing corpses?