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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Black Monday

Since my blog is about food and love, this post is about love.  For all my business school friends out there, don't you remember Black Monday when so many couples broke up?  And, it was a perfect time to figure out which ones were now single because you secretly felt some disappointment when you heard they were taken?  Well, interestingly, I did ask myself at some point, I wonder if there is some stat that shows just how many breakups happen, and does it really happen after Thanksgiving?

[interject eerie music].  The stat exists.  And, the source is even better - it comes from Facebook.  Based on Facebook status updates, the number of status changes to break up dramatically increases to a peak after Thanksgiving and to another peak during Spring Break.  There could be so many explanations for why, but isn't it interesting that people think alike?  Maybe it was after arguing over who's house to go to for the holidays.  Or, someone didn't invite the other for the holidays.  Or even the new year is coming, and the last few months gave people a reason to reflect, and the reflection was: I am with the wrong person.


Interestingly, aside from Mondays, summer holidays and April Fools' Day, which are more popular days to break up, the one day that people rarely break up on is...Christmas.  Labeled as "too cruel."  Maybe people still do desire to show a little kindness -- and give some sort of gift at Christmas...

Check out the site, you really should, if you read this blog posting:
www.informationisbeautiful.net

Lastly, to all my single friends out there, we have at the very least one thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  And, no need to listen to breakup songs.

2 comments:

cwistol said...

This is hilarious Tina :) Nice research summary. Hope you're doing well!!!

Christy LaVanway said...

yay info is indeed beautiful! And i'm with you... no fear of breaking up as there is no one to break up with! I 'took out the trash' in september. haha