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  #1  
Old 14 April 2009, 10:03 PM
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snopes snopes is offline
 
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Computer Internet is 90% porn
Comment: The received wisdom I've heard for many years is that "the
internet is 90% porn". A couple of weeks ago, I saw a British TV show
called IQ, where the host Stephen Fry stated that in fact adult-content
websites only make up a small part of web content, but that the majority
of internet traffic is largely spam (which of course includes much 'blue'
stuff).
Which is true?
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  #2  
Old 14 April 2009, 11:33 PM
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Silas Sparkhammer Silas Sparkhammer is offline
 
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Whalephant
They say that as if it is a bad thing...

My opinion (not scientific!) is that porn is not the majority content; this is based on extensive use of Google Images. Many topics will, of course, get raunchy after a while, but by far the most pictures are "on topic." I just searched, for instance, "Azaleas" and "Lasagna," and was actually mildly surprised (and perhaps a little disappointed) not to see any feelthy peectures.

Silas
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  #3  
Old 14 April 2009, 11:37 PM
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I have an Avenue Q earworm now.

Nonny
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  #4  
Old 14 April 2009, 11:41 PM
Singing in the Drizzle Singing in the Drizzle is online now
 
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I would say that at least 90% of the words used in the world will turn up several hits for porn sites. As for content, I would be very surprised unless it is the content being down loaded measured by size. This is because movies and web streaming take a lot of band width, because of the amount to data transferring.
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  #5  
Old 14 April 2009, 11:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nonny Mouse View Post
I have an Avenue Q earworm now.
Does this help?

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  #6  
Old 14 April 2009, 11:51 PM
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chillas chillas is online now
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nonny Mouse View Post
I have an Avenue Q earworm now.
Glad I'm not the only one!
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  #7  
Old 15 April 2009, 03:02 PM
Smoke & Mirrors Smoke & Mirrors is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snopes View Post
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a British TV show
called IQ, where the host Stephen Fry stated that....
[nitpick] It's actually called "QI". [/nitpick]
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  #8  
Old 15 April 2009, 03:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer View Post
They say that as if it is a bad thing...

My opinion (not scientific!) is that porn is not the majority content; this is based on extensive use of Google Images. Many topics will, of course, get raunchy after a while, but by far the most pictures are "on topic." I just searched, for instance, "Azaleas" and "Lasagna," and was actually mildly surprised (and perhaps a little disappointed) not to see any feelthy peectures.

Silas
While shopping for my bagpipes, I was one that claimed to be made of "American Blonde Ebony," a wood I'd never heard of before. I decided to google those words.

The results were so hot and steamy that my computer melted and my eyebrows caught fire!
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  #9  
Old 15 April 2009, 04:17 PM
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Dr. Winston O'Boogie Dr. Winston O'Boogie is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer View Post
They say that as if it is a bad thing...

My opinion (not scientific!) is that porn is not the majority content; this is based on extensive use of Google Images. Many topics will, of course, get raunchy after a while, but by far the most pictures are "on topic." I just searched, for instance, "Azaleas" and "Lasagna," and was actually mildly surprised (and perhaps a little disappointed) not to see any feelthy peectures.

Silas
Back in the 90s, my wife was looking for different ways to decorate cupcakes for my son to bring to school. She did a search on "cupcake", and found out that "cupcake" was used to denote small breasts. I just did a Google, and got through 5 pages of cupcakes without a "cupcake" in sight. Maybe google just isn't as dirty as you think it is.
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  #10  
Old 15 April 2009, 04:37 PM
Nick Theodorakis Nick Theodorakis is offline
 
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Google image search had various levels of content filtering, fwiw. I think the "moderately safe" option is the default.

Nick
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  #11  
Old 15 April 2009, 04:41 PM
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To even attempt to answer this, you'd have to define what "90% porn" means. 90% of web sites are devoted to porn? 90% of web pages have at least one pornographic image on them? 90% of all bandwidth used goes for the transfer of porn?
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  #12  
Old 15 April 2009, 05:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Winston O'Boogie View Post
Back in the 90s, my wife was looking for different ways to decorate cupcakes for my son to bring to school. She did a search on "cupcake", and found out that "cupcake" was used to denote small breasts. I just did a Google, and got through 5 pages of cupcakes without a "cupcake" in sight. Maybe google just isn't as dirty as you think it is.
Try "Baps" Image number 3 is a winner

ETA: long discussion with some cites of the source of the original quote can be seen on QI's own forum
Last edited by Hans Off; 15 April 2009 at 06:06 PM.
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  #13  
Old 15 April 2009, 06:08 PM
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Tarquin Farquart Tarquin Farquart is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans Off View Post
Try "Baps" Image number 3 is a winner
British Association of Paediatric Surgeons...?

Oh you meant an image search...
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  #14  
Old 15 April 2009, 08:18 PM
Jaime Vargas Jaime Vargas is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Winston O'Boogie View Post
Maybe google just isn't as dirty as you think it is.
Google has got much better over time. I remember a time in which I used to say that the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button could be accurately renamed "I'm Feeling Horny".
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