Who programs the Ask.com search algorithm?

Are the Ask.com programmers a bunch of beer-drinking Linux lovers with hot cousins, or is this truly what's on searchers' minds?

(Credit: Ask.com)

Among the features added to Ask.com since its sleek makeover in June are auto suggestions that appear as you type.

A friend steered me toward this Thursday night after trying to find out if it's legal for a landlord to charge for water in New Jersey. I reminded him that you no longer have to phrase your Ask.com search in the form of a question, then tried it myself and grabbed this screenshot.

You can disable the feature, but after this laugh, I never will. Check out what happens when you type in the phrase "can you."

[deanwhit]

aren't the auto suggestions automatic

Most auto suggestions are based on most popular search questions that start with the string you are typing... if so there's lots of people interested in the legality of marrying their second cousin (yikes)...

[camp88]

Can you . . .

. . . finish a freakin' sentence . . .

that's what came back for me.