Tech | July 12, 2008 | 9 comments

Swastika on top US Searches - Google Apologizes

source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/257328/Google_apologizes_after_swastika_tops_searches_...

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The swastika symbol topped Google searches in U.S on Thursday morning. Google deleted the term from the searches and apologized for the incident.
People who checked for Google hot trends on Thursday morning were surprised to see a ' 卐 ' symbol coming at the top of the searches. And more mysteriously, the symbol was removed from the 'hot search list' after a couple of hours.

Although swastika remained a symbol of prosperity for Hindus and Buddhists across the world, the symbol provokes strong feelings of fear and anger for many in the west after Nazis took it as their symbol. So Google had to apologize for the incident. It said in a statement.

We have an automated system to identify and remove inappropriate or offensive material in Hot Trends. In rare cases, when such material is missed, we manually remove these results from our Hot Trends list. We apologize to any users who were offended by this situation.



But the question that still remains unanswered is how such a symbol which is not in a standard English key board reached the top of searches in U.S. Hot trends shows the most searched keyword at a particular moment. For example ,iPhone was among the hot trends on Friday following it's launch. But without any major news events swastika came to the top.
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9 comments // Swastika on top US Searches - Google Apologizes

  • uroborus8
  • J_Jammer
  • damnneargenius
    • 0
      damnneargenius  

    • People are inherently stupid creatures and seem to readily believe what other people tell them one way or another.

      At least with the freedom of speech lies can be refuted by others openly in public. Unfortunately it also brings up the point that while the freedom of speech is legal, people will readily exploit that to deceive others into agreeing with them.

      The bottom line, make your own judgments, but at least understand what the hell you are debating in the first place. Blind ignorance and hate are what cripple this world. Symbols don't mean the same thing to different people. It's a tricky subject because depending on your frame of reference, it might mean different things.

      For instance, to some people, to call something "hot" still sounds cool, but to others, Paris Hilton kind of ruined it by "dumbing it down" in associating it with her reputation. Some people hear "hot" and go "oh, that means cool". To others they hear "hot" and go "oh, Paris Hilton".

      I personally don't know shit about the swastika, but neither do most people. So I just checked out the wikipedia and was surprised to learn that it stood for good luck before the Nazis made it represent bad things to western society.

      Point and case.

      Well, I learned something today.

      Obviously neither side is completely right more often than not on such a large scale. Nonetheless, I'd like to hear out the story behind how it got there.

      Don't apologize, just explain please.

      Censorship is bad policy. Rather than conceal information, I say just provide more information and you'll have a much better world.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • -1
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • damnneargenius:

      I'm sure you do not disclose everything you think or want to say or do to everyone else, like your parents.

      You censure yourself around them and others that might be offended by certain things that you might say or do.

      Google is no different.

      It's funny that people find anything to complain about a big business. They are not trying to make everyone happy. They are trying to be civil about things the majority finds displeasing.

      Good luck or whatever it might mean else where means nothing to those that don't hold such symbols as true.

      You take guns for instance. People always seem them as something that will kill someone, especially those that are against them. It matters not that they have the potential to protect. The only thing they can see is that their ability to kill.

      You cannot alter what is already there. Stating something means luck means nothing to those that see it as disgusting.

      That's the power of History. That's the power of slaughtering millions. You get to decide what things mean. What definitions things take on. Hitler created so much and took so much that what we have left is what people will think about. Asking for people to forgo such feelings is you not understanding the pain of the past.

      People allow things that they don't care about.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • -1
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • It doesn't matter if it meant anything else.

      Now it doesn't.

      The Holocaust meant something else. Now it doesn't.

      It doesn't matter.....the flag of the South meant something else but everyone seemingly sees it as racist as well.

      Too bad. It's how it is and if you can't realize that something are judged based on look...the the problems you receive are ones you wanted.

    • 3 years ago
  • uroborus8
    • +1
      uroborus8  

    • "inappropriate or offensive material"

      Why do we blindly accept that Google should sensor anything? If something offends or is inappropriate, isn't it better to discuss why someone is offended rather than hide from it?

      Censorship is bad policy. To protect free speech, the most hated speech must be protected too.

    • 3 years ago
  • unstephenk
    • 0
      unstephenk  

    • 卐 is not only a symbol for Hitler and the Holocaust. First off, why should Google have to apologize???? Secondly, if you find this symbol offensive you are ignorant. Research the history behind the Swastika and the term "Holocaust." Educate yourself, the schools are worthless (lowest quality of education among first and second world Nations.)

    • 3 years ago
  • current_spider
    • 0
      current_spider  

    • I think we need an fresh air as its just an propaganda's to
      blame every thing on Hitler.I think what more important that to us right now is "what they are doing to this present world by covering thr crimes and hiding behind blanket of Hitler"
      About Swastika i think Hindus get hurt more by it because its mean a lot to Hindus at present & even in past too.

    • 3 years ago
  • Moopak
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