"self-diagnosis" and the internet

[Sadsack]

One of the chief criticisms that is launched to support the contention that we are delusional is that virtually all of us are self-diagnosed via the internet.
Duhhh...where else? The dermatologists, the ER??? Occasionally someone will see a story on the news, but almost always people get so frustrated by the traditional means of getting help that they begin researching their symptoms. What else would one do???
This is an article from Discover Magazine that describes a Google program that has been developed to predict flu epicenters. Going back over the last 5 years, the number of items googled that relate to the flu (fever, thermometer, body aches, etc) in geographical areas correlate perfectly to the CDC's reports on flu occurences.
So....googling symptoms is an excellent tool for tracking "real" diseases. Very interesting, don't you think? Are flu sufferers delusional, looking for support for their imaginary symptoms?

Hoping this link works: Since Sick People Surf the Web, Google Now Tracking Flu Trends | Discoblog | Discover Magazine
SS

[Mat]

Originally Posted by Sadsack

One of the chief criticisms that is launched to support the contention that we are delusional is that virtually all of us are self-diagnosed via the internet.
Duhhh...where else? The dermatologists, the ER??? Occasionally someone will see a story on the news, but almost always people get so frustrated by the traditional means of getting help that they begin researching their symptoms. What else would one do???
This is an article from Discover Magazine that describes a Google program that has been developed to predict flu epicenters. Going back over the last 5 years, the number of items googled that relate to the flu (fever, thermometer, body aches, etc) in geographical areas correlate perfectly to the CDC's reports on flu occurences.
So....googling symptoms is an excellent tool for tracking "real" diseases. Very interesting, don't you think? Are flu sufferers delusional, looking for support for their imaginary symptoms?

Hoping this link works: Since Sick People Surf the Web, Google Now Tracking Flu Trends | Discoblog | Discover Magazine
SS

Don't worry SS, they will all be afflicted soon.