Kangaroos, peanuts and spelling: Oxford’s weird Google fetish
The Google search trends of tens of thousands of Oxford students show they are overworked, pedantic and curiously obsessed with exotic animals. The search records, obtained by The Oxford Student, show that residents of Oxford have googled the words ‘kangaroo’, ‘mongoose’ and ‘peanut’ more than any other UK city.
Keiren Buchanan, a second year from Merton and a prominent Australian student expressed his surprise at the popularity of kangaroos. Buchanan told The Oxford Student, “I’ve never searched for kangaroos myself, they have no allure in Sidney because they are splattered all over the roads. “There’s something quite voyeuristic about kangaroos. All the ones that come up on Google have a really cute joey poking his head out.
Perhaps we all live in such a stressed environment here at Oxford that we find the idea of hanging out in a cosy pouch, nurtured and protected, a wonderful thought. I’m sure Freud would have something to say about it.” The words ‘Spelling’, ‘apostrophe’, and ‘comma’ have also been googled the most number of times in Oxford.
Richard Fine, a second year computer scientist from Wadham and an active member of ‘The society for the appreciation of proper spelling and grammar’ applauded the large number of spelling related searches. Fine said, “I think the high number of searches for ‘spelling’ is a good thing. Spelling and clear communication fosters the correct exchange of ideas. “I am, however, doubtful this means a genuine improvement.
Walking around the city it is not too hard to find examples of poor spelling and grammar.” As well as being pedantic, Oxford students are obsessed with the library and their studies ac- cording to the Google records. The words ‘exam’, ‘work’, ‘finals’, and ‘library’ are more popular Google searches in Oxford than anywhere else in the UK.
OUSU President Alan Strickland said, “I suppose it lives up to the Oxford stereotype that we are all so driven by academic study. The popular search results are, however, bizarre. I’ve never seen a kangaroo in a library, but it could make revision a lot easier."
26th Apr 2007