Google Trends vs. Community Standards On Obscenity

circletimessquare writes "Google Trends is being used in a novel way in a pornography trial in Florida. Under a 1973 Supreme Court ruling, 'contemporary community standards' may be used as a yardstick for judging material as unprotected obscenity. This is a very subjective judgment, and so Lawrence Walters, a defense lawyer for Clinton Raymond McCowen, is using Google Trends to show that, in the privacy of their own homes, more people in Pensacola (the only city in the court's jurisdiction that is large enough to be singled out in the service's data) are interested in 'orgy' than "apple pie'."

Comments

The reason for this is obvious

[Anonymous Coward]

As American Pie demonstrated, it just doesn't work as well as they claim.

American pie

[ArsenneLupin]

are interested in 'orgy' than "apple pie'." And even if they were interested in apple pie, this could still be spun the right way.

Yeah

[morgan_greywolf]

Yeah, but did he try "warm apple pie". I bet he'd get very different results! :-D

Re:Yeah

[houghi]

I have tried it. Don't try it with hot apple pie. Indeed completely different result.
Oh, you were talking about trying it on Google. Sorry, no experience there.

Weird spike

[rhombic]

O.k., I can understand "Apple Pie" spiking every fall, presumably people looking up recipes. But wtf is up with the enormous spike in searches for "orgy" in Sept. 2006? It's as if everyone in Pensacola had a mass orgy meme sweep through the community. Must have been a mess month.

Re:Weird spike

[bickerdyke]

we need "-1 informative"......

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[Anonymous Coward]

In the state that I live (NH), obscene is defined by anything that most likely would cause "affront or alarm." This, of course, leaves a lot for interpretation. My new hair cut could be considered obscene. What? Do you have a penis and balls shaved onto the top of your head? Next time don't pass out drunk at a party, lightweight.

Re:Hyprocrisy in the South--film at eleven!

[caffeinemessiah]

Taking Pensacola's data as a baseline will offer skewed results. Pensacola has a large Navy population, so would have higher porn related searches then the rest of the communities in the area from the Navy personnel stationed there alone.

As a navy semen, I reject your pornosition that sex is always on our minds.

Were did the peak come from?

[Lars T.]

The pattern for "Apple Pie" is clearly seasonal, but where did the peak for "Orgy" around October 2006 come from?

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[jefu]

Sexual intercourse is meant to be an act performed in private for the two parties that love and care for each other deeply enough to create a stronger bond.

Interesting statement. "meant" - by whom? Who says it should be performed in private (except people nowadays)?

You're assuming quite a bit, I suspect. I, on the other hand, know for sure that the FSM meant for sexual intercourse to be performed in large tubs of grated parmesan cheese by dozens of people at once.

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[Anonymous Coward]

Last time I check, Sexual Intercourse was a natural biological function that had nothing to do with mutual love or regard. I'd guess it's been quite a while since you checked? There may be a reason for that.

Re:Is that only in Pensacola?

[lilomar]

Here you go.

Black = orgy more interesting.
Red = apple pie more interesting.
White = water.

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[RobBebop]

Citation please. my high-school biology seemed t indicate it was for procreation.

It is amazing how easily "procreation" and "procrastination" can be confused when you don't have your morning coffee.

In either case, I agree!

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[MrNaz]

"Plants are sexual too"

Yea, I've been noticing my petunias giving me the eye lately. Must be that time of year...

Re:Petard, meet hoist.

[digitrev]

Personally, I'd be more worried that your plants have eyes.