In many cases, autocomplete makes our lives lazier easier. For some gays, though, it’s a source of anxiety when others — and parents in particular — use their computers.
One user in the r/askgaybros subreddit said that the “G” key one of the biggest culprits. “Guys talk about how they panic when their parents type ‘P’ in the Google search bar on their computer. That’s only for straight guys,” he wrote. “For us, its ‘G.’”
Related: Watch gaylebrities reveal the last thing they searched for on Google
His observation rang true for other Redditors. “It has [happened] to me,” one wrote. “My cousin was searching for ‘games’ and saw a myriad of gay porn.”
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Other users, however, pointed out that Pornhub’s gay channel can come up when one hits the “P” key. “Certainly got an interesting convo started with my wife!” one wrote.
And other gays noted that Pornhub isn’t the only “p” search term that can out a dude. “I totally just searched the term ‘penis’ into Google Images,” one wrote. “My strategy was to then search a bunch of other ‘p’ words and ‘pen’ words to push the penis search down. [I don’t know] how the f*ck I didn’t figure out that history existed, though, with genius solutions like that.”
Related: Google autocomplete reveals serious and disturbing anti-gay discrimination
Another divulged he has “anxiety” about his Facebook search, since he’s been crushing on a guy whose name starts with a P. “I’m nervous one day he’ll say, ‘Add me on Facebook,’ and he’ll see the Facebook search suggestions on my phone the moment I type in ‘P,’” he added.
A bisexual user, meanwhile, said he’s “just resigned to using an incognito window for everything.”
More than one user suggested going incognito for XXX browsing, but remember, that’s a relatively new web browser feature. Quoth one Redditor, “Some of us didn’t have those software luxuries when we were in our teens lol.”
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
If you don’t know the basics like how to erase your search history, you should have your internets privilege revoked. :-p
Doctor Benway
When I was a teen, the first times I got my computer, I didn’t know about history search and how to delete it.
My best friend once came to my place and wanted to know what porn i watched. What he found in my history search wasn’t what he was expected to. That was the most awkward moment in my life, especially whalen you’re not ready to come out yet and nobody suspects you’re gay.
He laughed very hard when he saw the gay porn search, it was less funny for me.
(years later, when I came out, he wasn’t surprised).
wellinmysoul
what-the-fu*ck ever….?
Diplomat-G
this is rather silly, its rather simple to have guest / family /frds use your computer, just sign them on a guest.
AnthonyS23
I assume (hope) the people with all this search engine anxiety are teenagers or very young adults who still live at home with their parents.
JessPH
When I was sharing a PC with my siblings when we were young, I would always erase search and browsing history on the browser. That is a rule of thumb for anyone who shares computers with other people.
maddog
How much easier and nicer life would be if you could just say “Yes, I am gay and yes I like looking at porn”…..