I am SICK of people answering my questions with "Don't you know to try Google first?"

[Jodi]

I have to admit, in all honesty, that my reaction to questions such as “My friend wants to know about X, and I don’t know anything about it, and I’d love to gather knowledge and maybe websites I can go to” is generally “Have you tried Google?”, though I usually try to be polite about it.

The way to find out general information on the Web is to do a simple search for it – not necessarily on Google, but on whatever may be the search engine of your choice. I personally hate it when people post these sort of “I’m too lazy to look it up myself, so why don’t you tell me” generalized questions, which are very similar to all the “please do my homework for me” questions. It’s one thing to post a question that is specific and that might take some time to look up; it’s quite another to post a question that is so generalized or easy that it is obvious the poster hasn’t even attempted to find out anything on his own.

And if I want to post to inform someone that there are easy ways to discover the information he wants all by himself – which often breaks down to “Have you tried Google?” – then I am going to do so, not to showcase my knowledge, vaunted or not, but rather to explain how the poster can easily increase his. If that for some reason pisses poor old INKY off, well . . . Sorry, INKY.

[Jodi]

I hope most people are trying to find answers themselves before coming to GQ, and it’s good to encourage self-reliance. But sometimes when you ask a question, you want a thought-out, tailored answer to that question from someone who knows what they are talking about, not 15,000 websites on the subject.

This is true, MAGDALENE, but if you read the question posted in this case, in the GQ thread, you’ll see that it pretty obviously was not of this type. I agree that “try Google” is not a great answer to a specific or specialized or difficult question. But I still maintain it’s a perfectly legitimate answer to a question like “tell me about mushrooms.”

[Kamandi]

You guys are taking the Google suggestions way too personally.

You ask a question because you want an answer. Google’s a legitimate answer. Simply suggesting Google is not the equivalent of “fuck off you ignorant loser, answering your query is below my dignity”.

If someone actually posts “fuck off and try Google, you ignorant loser, answering your query is below my dignity”, then yeah, that’s rude. I agree that the person suggesting Google does not have to be snotty about it. Then again, Bob Scene’s response in the shroom thread was pretty funny.

The polite suggestion of an avenue of research should be appreciated. The person who suggests Google has no idea that you’re a Google master. They have no obligation to do your research for you. Maybe they’re posting because [shock!] they’re trying to be helpful!
[sub]Wow, seven instances of the word “Google” in one post. Make that eight. Google. Google, Google, Google. There, an even dozen.

[Turbo_Dog]

I have doubts that anyone in here has ever been forced at gunpoint to look up an answer for someone in GQ. If your time is that valuable that it shouldn’t have to be wasted looking up any answer, don’t do it. If you do it anyway, your time apparently isn’t that valuable. If people asking questions in General Questions annoys you that terribly, don’t go there. If you must go there, is it really that hard to be half-assed polite? There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.

But we can still work with the “Teach a man to fish” idea.

This entire board now has no purpose.

GQ - In the fighting of ignorance, an email selection pops up where questions can be mailed to a designated address and people can get an automated reply that directs them to Google along with search tips.

IMHO - Opinions are everywhere and have little to do with increasing knowledge, so there’s no point for it.

Cafe - Do we really need this with all the websites on books and film with professional reviewers?

MPSIMS - Mindless and pointless stuff in an educational board? The hell you say! Kinda defeats the purpose of fighting ignorance to have a mindless section, doesn’t it?

Pit - Want to rant? Scream into a pillow. Same effect without wasting people’s time having to read about it.

GD - If anybody has a point on an issue that is truly intelligent, just send it to the proper Congressman, President, Company, Pope, School, Parent etc. and take it up with people who can make a difference or better explain the reasonings.

Comments on Cecil’s Column/Staff Reports - No point here as there is no point in Cecil’s column if he is just going to give away free answers, because as we know, you can’t fight ignorance unless you make people do their own research.

ATMB - What message board?

[Angel_of_the_Lord]

I think that asking someone to use Google (or another, inferior search engine) is perfectly appropriate. There are people who post without bothering to look things up online first, and, really, the person posting the response has no idea of what actions you might have taken beforehand to find the answer.

That being said, there’s no need to be RUDE about suggesting Google. (One exception: when somebody asks you to help them find the page for a company or music venue, and the website happens to be at (insert company name/venue name).com. Annoys the shit out of me, and I have a friend who does this all the time). It’s also a good answer to give when the thread in question is. . .questionable

[andros]

If people asking questions in General Questions annoys you that terribly, don’t go there.

Nu, so who’s annoyed?

[Waverly]

*Originally posted by dalovindj *
But sometimes I don’t have the time to research things. I can post a question here and check it in a few hours and some of the smartest people in the world have cleared the subject up nicely.

I don’t know about others, but if I see a question that 1)interests me, 2)hasn’t been answered to death, and 3)I can spare a bit of time (even if I should be working), then I will answer it, even if it requires research. If I thought for one moment that the asker had the ability to answer the question for themselves, but simply decided not too, I’d be much less likely to invest my time in something they couldn’t be bothered with.

Not trying to get on anyone’s case, but that is MHO.

[Shayna]

My god you people are lazy!

Yes, it’s entirely likely that google (or any other search engine) won’t give you the exact answer you’re looking for. However, it’s polite to check there first and then pose your question to the Teeming Millions. Like this. Otherwise, you’re just being a lazy bum and expecting other people to do your work for you. That’s just plain rude.

And if you don’t like being referred to google, then quit asking stupid questions like this, or I’ll keep reminding you that google.com is your friend.

---

Jeg elsker dig, Thomas

[Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus]

*Originally posted by cazzle *
**

It’s a bit rich to come in here complaining like the members of this board owe you answers to your questions. They don’t. There is no reason they should work out the correct terms and the correct spelling, wade through thousands of commercial sites and exceed their bandwidth limits to answer your question because you’re not willing to do these things yourself. **

Well, damn, if we’re not here to share information, then what’s the frigging point of having a message board? I’m with the OP on this one. If I know the answer to someone’s question and I happen to be here I’ll answer the damn question, or perhaps suggest a website. If I don’t know, I’m certainly not going to waste bandwidth by telling them to do a Google search.

Participation is voluntary, and we can choose which questions to answer, or just lurk as we see fit, but I certainly don’t think it’s out of line to ask any reasonable question on this message board, whether or not it can be easily found via Google. The answers we post around here have an added value beyond the mere factual content.

[Jodi]

Yes, JAVA, participation is voluntary, which means that if my response is “get off your lazy ass and look it up yourself; any nimrod could find the answer in under two minutes,” then I have as much right to post that as you do to undertake to do the search on behalf of said lazy-ass.

[Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus]

*Originally posted by Jodi *
**Yes, JAVA, participation is voluntary, which means that if my response is “get off your lazy ass and look it up yourself; any nimrod could find the answer in under two minutes,” then I have as much right to post that as you do to undertake to do the search on behalf of said lazy-ass. **

…and you feel compelled to do that because…? What purpose does it serve? Hey, would Cecil respond to any reasonable question that way? If it’s stupid question he maybe he wouldn’t answer it, but he wouldn’t go out of his way to deride the asker.

I don’t suggest that you have a duty to do other people’s research for them, but if you know the answer why not pass it along and make somebody’s day better? If you don’t know the answer just go to another thread, brew a pot of coffee, or find some other way of occupying your time.

[Jodi]

JAVA –

…and you feel compelled to do that because…? What purpose does it serve?

It serves the purpose of pointing out – gently, not rudely – that they can easily discover the information they seek on their own, without relying on someone else coming by. It also highlights the fact that posting questions that you can easily discover the answer to yourself makes you look lazy or stupid, or both – even if that is not said, which it wouldn’t be by me.

Hey, would Cecil respond to any reasonable question that way? If it’s stupid question he maybe he wouldn’t answer it, but he wouldn’t go out of his way to deride the asker.

Are you kidding? Do you read much Cecil? Because he may be the world’s smartest man [sub]group of people[/sub], but he ain’t Captain Sunshine. He suffers fools badly, to say the least. I can say in all honesty and confidence that when I ask myself “WWCD?” when faced with such a question, the answer I receive is “Tell them to check Google. And call them a name.” I think I’m doing pretty well if I do the former and omit the latter.

I don’t suggest that you have a duty to do other people’s research for them, but if you know the answer why not pass it along and make somebody’s day better?

Because I think there is value in finding out things for yourself. Because sometimes the questions are so general or so stupid (“tell me about mushrooms”) that they don’t really admit of any decent answer without more information (“What do you want to know? Where you can buy them? How dangerous they are? What effects they cause? Why they’re illegal?”). Because it bugs me on principle to read things that are thinly-veiled – and sometimes not veiled at all – pleas for someone else to do their homework for them (“I need to learn all about the Vietnam War, and by tomorrow”). Because if someone asks “where can I find this information?,” the name of a good search engine is a perfectly legitimate answer. Where can you find it? You can find it on Google.

If you don’t know the answer just go to another thread, brew a pot of coffee, or find some other way of occupying your time.

Or, I could direct them to Google and then do those other things. Note that, as I have already said, I don’t post “Have you tried Google?” except when it seems clear to me that the person hasn’t even bothered to try to find out the answer himself. (And this has nothing to do with whether or not I know the answer myself.) Why is he posting the question when he could find out the answer in under five minutes? Is he terminally lazy? Stupid? Or does he just like to see his name in type?

[Milossarian]

quote:

If people asking questions in General Questions annoys you that terribly, don’t go there.

Nu, so who’s annoyed?

Well, andros, according to Google, “annoyed” is this, this, this, and this.

It wasn’t that hard to look up. Why don’t you try doing it for yourself, instead of wasting our time next time?

[Jodi]

He didn’t ask what annoyed was, MILO, he asked who was annoyed, and implicitly limited the “who” to this board.

So maybe you should do another Google search and tell us who on the Board is annoyed.

[Milossarian]

Should I jump for joy at whooshing Jodi? Or should I lament my lack of comedic skills and effective use of irony?
Methinks the latter.

[urban1]

Actually, I have had using Google suggested to me in my early posting days. I don’t believe I got upset (at least not very much) and I wasn’t aware of Google before that.

Now I use it for just about everything. It’s a great search engine.

[urban1]

What I really need is a piece of software that will take my ungrammatical posts and turn them into readable prose.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

originally posted by Javaman:
**…? What purpose does it serve? Hey, would Cecil respond to any reasonable question that way? If it’s stupid question he maybe he wouldn’t answer it, but he wouldn’t go out of his way to deride the asker.

**
cough

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_155

I hope that you can answer a question that has plagued me since childhood. If every man, woman, and child in China each stood on a chair, and everyone jumped off their chair at exactly the same time, would the earth be thrown off its axis? Also, if prior to jumping, they all yelled at the top of their lungs, would we hear it here in the United States, and how much of a time delay would there be? --Robert P., Los Angeles

Dear Robert:

Amazing as it may seem, I am actually going to answer this incredibly retarded question. But first Uncle Cecil wishes to have a word with his devoted readers.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_109

Can you tell me if the rumor is true concerning Catherine the Great, her unusual interest in horses, and her resulting death? --C.S., Baltimore

Dear C.:

I knew if we waited around long enough somebody was sure to ask this question, C., and I and the entire Straight Dope staff wish to thank you for coming through for us.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049

We were having a heated argument the other day that it’s impossible to clap without using both hands. But then someone piped up that the Chinese have found a way of clapping using one hand only. Can they do it? Can anyone? --Frank N., Baltimore

Cecil replies:

I notice, Frank, that you hail from Baltimore, a city whose residents fall into one of two categories, in my observation: (1) persons of exceeding wit and ingenuity, and (2) complete idiots. Your letter, quite honestly, lends itself equally well to either proposition. Let us start with the latter.

(1) You are an idiot. There is this thing called a “joke,” Frank, that you may want to look into sometime. A joke is a display of cleverness intended to engender yux. There are, however, certain rather thick personages who require advance notice if they are to recognize a joke when they see one. In polite society it is customary when in the presence of these personages to signal the onset of a joke by means of some subtle stratagem, such as a gong, large firecracker, or air-raid siren. Clearly your so-called friends could stand a lesson in thoughtfulness. For further insight, see (2) below.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010202.html

I myself am a Koniag Eskimo and was inflamed to see your ignorant, rude, racist, and idiotic statements about a different race than yours posted on a Web site where people ask questions and want simply the answers, not to read a bunch of redneck crap from some ignorant person who doesn’t take the time . . . --Marie G., via the Internet

Cecil replies:
Ah, jeez, Marie. Does this mean our date is off?
I confess that in my column on Eskimo words for snow I was–I know this will shatter the image many of you have of me–screwing around. I did not, for example, have a factual basis for the ignorant, rude, etc., statement that “Eskimos are not such hot spellers.” On the evidence of Marie’s letter their spelling is OK; it’s their English composition skills that blow. (Different from. “Simply want answers,” not “want simply the answers.” Delete “to read.” Divide run-on sentence.) Also, I cannot honestly state that Eskimos are laconic because “they’re conserving their strength for their next foray into their godawful grammar.” Apparently they can run off at the mouth just like anybody else.

[Cazzle]

Java - I think the whole matter depends on the question asked.

If someone asks “Where can I find information on dogs?”, then “Have you tried Google?” is a valid answer.

If someone asks “Where can I find <specific> information on dogs? I’ve used various search engines, but none of the pages that came up seemed to cover what I’m looking for”, then that does not deserve a “Google” answer, but rather an answer from a person who know stuff about dogs (or about websites relating to dogs).

Participation in this message board is voluntary, but to expect people to answer your questions because you can’t be bothered trying to find the information yourself isn’t right. If they answer, or if they don’t, or if they chose to tell you how you can look for the answer yourself, that’s not something you can dictate.

The OP states that Inky isn’t trying to look up the info because it’s too much trouble, that he just comes here for answers. If everyone did this, no one would ever get an answer to their questions. We share the knowledge that we have, and we try to encourage others to become self-sufficient researchers so that they have more to share in future. It’s that whole “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” thing.

It’s fair to say that (rudely) telling everyone to check Google is wrong, but it’s also wrong to say that you shouldn’t give Google as an answer. Some questions deserve such a response. If the OP states “I’ve searched the net, but can’t find the answer I need”, then in addition to answering the question, it wouldn’t be out of line to suggest keywords to use on a search engine to find this information in the future. Perhaps Google responses need to be expanded to include suggested keywords for those unfamiliar with search engines.

[Arjuna34]

*Originally posted by Turbo Dog *
**Or do away with GQ entirely since the answer to any question that anyone could ask should be online or in the library, which would free up a lot of space here. **

I’d like to point out that just as an example, that ALL of Inky-'s GQ questions I refered to earlier were not easily answered with google, but did generate good discussions and elicted good answers from posters. In fact, in a couple of threads posters mentioned their failure to turn up anything with google searches. Many GQ questions are not easily answered with a search engine.

When I answer a GQ question with the result from a google search, I like to actually post a link to my search terms, so that the OP can see exactly how I found it (like I did in this thread). Hopefully this helps them learn how to use a search engine.

The purpose in getting people to use a search engine for simple questions isn’t to eliminate GQ, but to free up space for the good questions

Arjuna34