Surprise! This is not a political rant!

No, it’s more of a public service announcement.

I’m here to remind you to CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY when doing an internet search. Internet searches are nothing new (anymore). We’ve all done them–Google is a verb, for goodness sake! And we will continue to do them until our brains are networked directly. (Oh, it’s happening.)

Until that time comes, a time when the direct connection will not only request information, but will do so in a format complete with visual, verbal, and electrical cues, do not reckon the internet can read your mind. Also, do not suppose others use the same search engine optimization as you might. Or, basically, assume the worst in SEO assignation.

I am encouraged to provide this reminder due to the nature of my own recent search.
I won’t go into details, but suffice it say, my history browser has been scrubbed, lol. It’s just…I just…*sigh*…I thought the combination of words I entered into the search bar were EXACTLY what I meant to bring up. Images, even. Oh boy, was I mistaken.

Oftentimes what I WANT to find is buried eight or ten entries deep and I can’t for the life of me figure out why those other listings took precedence. Occasionally I don’t make it past the first couple of choices before changing my request.

HEY, I DO RESEARCH FOR NOVELS.

I’m sure you’ve all been (mis)directed to a page before. Or had some crazy interpretation of your search words brought up. Feel free to share a story or two. I’d say “keep it clean” but a) what fun would that be? and b) I’m sure there’s an interpretation of that phrase that would top the list and make me blush.

(I never had these problems with a card catalog.)