Google trends, bad comparisons, &c

James B. posted a comment[1] about the new google trends tools[2],
claiming that people would try to use it for all kinds of bad
comparisons
(his examples were between Ruby and other programming languages).

I can’t imagine that anyone would stoop to something like that.

On the other hand, I’m worried about Ruby’s long term viability, as
google shows that its popularity is being threatened by the popularity
of eating spiders[3].

[1] www.jamesbritt.com/Development@Google_Trends.txt
[2] www.google.com/trends/
[3] rubyurl.com/jJs

pat eyler wrote:

James B. posted a comment[1] about the new google trends tools[2],
claiming that people would try to use it for all kinds of bad comparisons
(his examples were between Ruby and other programming languages).

Just to be clear: I didn’t claim that; I went and did that.

I can’t imagine that anyone would stoop to something like that.

Heavens, no.

On the other hand, I’m worried about Ruby’s long term viability, as
google shows that its popularity is being threatened by the popularity
of eating spiders[3].

No way! Those bastards.

I like spiders; they eat the bad bugs and (I think) scorpion eggs.

But scorpions eat spiders.

Quite the battle.

http://rubyurl.com/jEI


James B.

“Judge a man by his questions, rather than his answers.”

  • Voltaire

On the other hand, I’m worried about Ruby’s long term viability, as
google shows that its popularity is being threatened by the popularity
of eating spiders[3].

I tried that with “ruby on rails” and “bondage sex.”

for some reason “bondage sex” is more popular than “ruby on rails.”
“ruby on rails” overtakes “bondage sex” in popularity about halfway
through 2005 and owns it for the rest of the year, but “bondage sex”
shows a huge spike in popularity at the beginning of 2006 and from
there on in remains much, much more popular than “ruby on rails.”

it’s kind of like racing frogs. it has no consequence and you have no
control over it, yet there’s something entertaining and compelling
about it all the same.

“Giles B.” [email protected] writes:

for some reason “bondage sex” is more popular than “ruby on rails.”

Now guess why Java became that popular.