When I learned about Google Trends last April, I thought I would use this Internet service quite often—say, once a month, if not more often. I have used it only twice so far, though. I searched for “Motovun” in April, and I searched for “Antichrist” in May in connection with the American presidential elections. The results of both searches were rather interesting, which makes my negligence of this Google service even more startling. At any rate, today I searched for “World War III.” Amazingly, there is one sharp and tall peak in 2006, and there is one sharp and short one in each of the three subsequent years. The frequency of use of this term is quite low and flat between the peaks. As far as I can tell, a single article in a third-rate American newspaper caused most of these peaks. Now, is there any need for a better index of universal human stupidity than this particular one?! So, if and when you wish to check how stupid humans really are, just search for “World War III” on Google Trends.

Addendum I (April 16, 2014)

I just checked the ominous phrase on Google Trends once again. As it turns out, the present crisis in Ukraine, which is getting worse by the day, is not causing any major blips on the chart. There was a small one a short while ago, but that is all. According to an insignificant newspaper, the crisis in Ukraine may lead to a new cold war, but not to a major conflagration. At first I got relieved by what I found. But then I realized that the onset of World War III is unlikely to be picked up by the humans. Too stupid. In short, the tiff between Ukraine and Russia has a good chance of escalating into something pretty serious. Fingers crossed.

Addendum II (September 4, 2016)

Having come across this piece purely by chance, I searched for “World War III” on Google Trends one more time. What the heck, I figured, the war in the Middle East must have had some effect on the results. To my disappointment, the chart I found showed a steady decline in interest in the topic. Following the peak in 2006, it looked rather flat. But then I looked into related topics, and was surprised to find “ww3” among them. When I clicked it, I could not believe my eyes. Interest in this particular item has been growing ever since 2010. There are ever-higher peaks in 2013, 2014, and 2015, as well. Wars in Syria and Iraq are prominent in this connection, but so is the fear of a major conflict with Iran. In short, World War III is very much alive in people’s minds nowadays, but they do not search for it using the old-fashioned expression, like I do. It is too long, to be sure. Also, the old acronym “WWIII” is both capitalized and it uses Roman numerals, neither of which is acceptable any longer. At this day and age, it is “ww3” instead. Live and learn.

Addendum III (July 3, 2019)

Once again, I came across this piece entirely by chance. Having read the previous addendum, I searched for “ww3” on Google Trends. This time around, I learned that interest in this subject had peaked in late 2018, when Donald Trump announced that America would withdraw from nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Ever since, the interest has dwindled, though. Even the recent crisis with Iran is apparently of little interest to the general public. Although the nuclear arms treaty with this country has been abandoned by Trump earlier this year, there appears to be little fear of its military might. All in all, it is high time to leave Google Trends alone, and especially on this tricky subject. World War III is beyond the World Wide Web and its fans. The ignorant masses are much more interested in entertainment in all its forms, sports included. Good luck all around!

Addendum IV (October 7, 2024)

World War III is everywhere by now, which is why it does not even cross my mind to use Google Trends in this connection any longer. The only question at this juncture is exactly when it will come to pass (“2034,” June 3, 2021). According to many an expert on the World Wide Web, and it brims with experts of every description, it has actually started already. Wars in Ukraine and around Israel are the proof, as it were. Sooner or later, fighting will spread far and wide, and eventually engulf us all. For my sins, I am quiet on this topic as of late. Whenever I get a chance, I admit that I am happy to be as old as I happen to be, and that is all. Goodness gracious, in ten days I will be seventy-eight and a half years old! Among the oldest babyboomers on the planet, I am comforted by my age. Ever since my birth, I have not experienced a single war. During the civil war in Yugoslavia, which lasted about four years, I was in Great Britain, of all places. Ensconced in Istria of my ancestors for more than two decades by now, I am not likely to experience World War III in any perilous way. Perhaps the greatest horror I will face is intermittent loss of electricity and access to the World Wide Web. The pits.