More about Google search algorithms

[jasong]

Sometimes Google seems psychic in the way it does things, and sometimes it seems like a petulant child.

All I want to do is research what happened on October 17th, 2018. Not October 17th, in general. Specifically the one that happened this year.

But Google appears to be paying exactly zero attention to the number 2018. It's so infuriating.

Does anyone know why the algorithm can't handle the damn year?

(I notice Yellowstone erupted on that day, and Israel had a meeting between Jews and Christians. It's like my complaining made it behave itself, could it be as simple as entering a comma?)

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by jasong

Sometimes Google seems psychic in the way it does things, and sometimes it seems like a petulant child.

All I want to do is research what happened on October 17th, 2018. Not October 17th, in general. Specifically the one that happened this year.

But Google appears to be paying exactly zero attention to the number 2018. It's so infuriating.

Does anyone know why the algorithm can't handle the damn year?

(I notice Yellowstone erupted on that day, and Israel had a meeting between Jews and Christians. It's like my complaining made it behave itself, could it be as simple as entering a comma?)

https://www.google.ca/search?q="Oct+...17%2F2018&tbm=

[Batalov]

That's a hot damn fine algorithm! Mighty difficult, too!

[a1call]

There was a time when google would by default return only documents which contained all the terms (keywords) contained in the query string. The "algo" evolves continuously usually for the better. However, recently the engine acts as if it knows better (than you) and returns documents which it thinks are more relevant to the intention of the query rather than taking it literally. I too find this frustrating. The solution is simple however (at least for now). Enclose any terms that you wish absolutely present in the SERPs (such as "2018") in quotes. If you enclose the whole phrase in the quotes, then the SERPs will all contain the whole phrase (key-phrase) in the order that you have enclosed them.
I hope this helps.

[jasong]

Originally Posted by Batalov

That's a hot damn fine algorithm! Mighty difficult, too!

lol, shots fired.

Yeah, I can see how quotes might help me get me what I want.

Thanks to the person who solved the problem. science_man_88.

Off-topic: I assume the 88 means your birth year. The internet must've started taking off around the time you first became old enough to care. Do you have "before the internet" memories? Or maybe memories of its evolution?

[jasong]

Originally Posted by a1call

There was a time when google would by default return only documents which contained all the terms (keywords) contained in the query string. The "algo" evolves continuously usually for the better. However, recently the engine acts as if it knows better (than you) and returns documents which it thinks are more relevant to the intention of the query rather than taking it literally. I too find this frustrating. The solution is simple however (at least for now). Enclose any terms that you wish absolutely present in the SERPs (such as "2018") in quotes. If you enclose the whole phrase in the quotes, then the SERPs will all contain the whole phrase (key-phrase) in the order that you have enclosed them.
I hope this helps.

I'll use the quotes method for now, but I wonder if there's a way to do things that covers things like the way Europeans do dates.

This is a "Jesus freaky" search about October 17th, so I'm not really sure what I'm searching for. So anything that improves the search is helpful.

And, yes, science_man_88 is awesome, even though I must look like an idiot. What can I say, I'm 44. I'm old.

I'd tip the dude if I could. You want a $5 Amazon gift code, science_man_88?

[jasong]

Can we change the name of this thread to be more about Google search algorithms in general?

For instance, is there a way I can get Google to recommend stuff without entering a search term at all? I just tried a period and a space, separately. Period gets some unwanted stuff, and a space won't go through at all on its own.

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by jasong;499406.

Off-topic: I assume the 88 means your birth year. The internet must've started taking off around the time you first became old enough to care. Do you have "before the internet" memories? Or maybe memories of its evolution?

I have a lack of memories of anything in my life until age 6 ( at least to my knowledge). Knew how to use it, didn't really know google searching deeply until much later. All I did for your search was random search terms + desktop site -> tools-> any time-> custom range ...

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by jasong

I'd tip the dude if I could. You want a $5 Amazon gift code, science_man_88?

No Thanks. I'd probably have to report to ESIA and I don't use amazon, or have a credit card.

[jasong]

Originally Posted by science_man_88

No Thanks. I'd probably have to report to ESIA and I don't use amazon, or have a credit card.

Yeah, international money exchanging tends to be tricky.