search "IT"

[expat]

Has anybody noticed how hard it is to get google or yahoo searches to include the term "IT"? Even if you give it a "+", the site thinks that it's too common a word so ignores it.

But, strangely, <conspiracy theory>the targeted advertising picks up the "IT" search term just fine! </conspiracy theory>

[Bagpuss]

It's IT, what is IT? It's IT, what is IT? It's IT, what is IT? It's IT, what is IT?

[jmo21]

google appears to manage just fine using a + or putting quotes around "it" so far as I can see.

[expat]

google appears to manage just fine using a + or putting quotes around "it" so far as I can see.

It does. A little while ago when I last tried, it didn't. I don't now use Google if I can avoid it, because of privacy concerns.

Well-founded concerns, perhaps: when I tested it with "IT", the targeted advertising links were for IT services in my own town, and in the next town. How does Google know where I live?

[Pogle]

It does. A little while ago when I last tried, it didn't. I don't now use Google if I can avoid it, because of privacy concerns.

Well-founded, perhaps: when I tested it with "IT", the targeted advertising links were for IT services in my own town, and in the next town. How does Google know where I live?

Google keeps large amounts of information on each IP address and if you use Google Mail, it reads every single message you send out.

[expat]

Google keeps large amounts of information on each IP address and if you use Google Mail, it reads every single message you send out.

And every message you receive, despite the fact that the sender did not agree to Google Mail's T&Cs, even if you did! That's why I stopped using Gmail: it's a deal whereby they give you an email service and you give them lots of personal data. I stopped feeling that was a deal /i wanted to make.

Yes, I suppose the IP address will get them to the general area of the country.