Community Chat

[Moonchilde]

---

@dooBdoo wrote:

          I have to agree that not everyone knows how to refine a search, or they're not sure exactly what they want to search for.    Hey, sometimes it's hard to use the dictionary to find out how spell a word because we don't know how to spell the word!😜

          I do think I understand @Moonchilde's reason for asking.  (And I don't understand replying to her OP with snark -- she asked in a civil manner, so why not reply in kind?).    The ones that stand out to me are the times when someone starts a thread about a person/place/event/etc. and another person says something to the effect of "who is that person" or "I've never heard of [name], who is that" -- those are examples when a simple search would've taken less time and effort than posting the question/comment took.

          Opening another tab and entering a name/place/event/etc. takes less time than that type of reply.

---

Yes, another perfect example, @dooBdoo. I see that all the time, and wince. 

As so often happens here, people don't read what people actually say, but respond to their interpretation of something not asked or said. 

I did not say "why do people come to this forum to ask questions and opinions?" - but the responses I'm getting are to that question - which I did not ask. I already know the answer to that question.

FWIW, when it's posted that So-and-So Died or was fired or arrested 😜, if I don't know who they are I do look it up. It takes like 5-8 seconds.

[LTT1]

@Moonchilde

I love internet research for most things; this does not include questions I may have about social security and medical insurance!

If sometimes I find an especially knowledgeable or literate poster here, I can understand the answer to my questions quicker and easier.

The other internet sites I am beginning to dread going to are the ones with TONS of ads.

It is important to me to do my research first, before just throwing it out there for somebody else to do it for me (out of laziness).

[Bri36]

I don't know the answer

Half the time if they would just bother reading all the posts, they'd have their answer.   

[suzyQ3]

@Moonchilde, believe it or not, when I read your opening post, I knew that you would have to continue to clarify that you were talking about only those questions that had easy and definitive answers, not anything else.

Problem is, you will need to rinse, spit, repeat because either someone doesn't read the thread from the beginning or they didn't pay attention to one of your quallfying posts.

I've often silently wondered the same as you. But my best guess as to the reason someone would pose the question in a thread opener here instead of the couple seconds of googling is primarily to start a conversation, to have a personal connection.

As for those who post within a thread asking an easily answered question they might have -- I don't know. Maybe although they are fairly comfortable on a site like this, they don't quite know how to navigate elsewhere.

[dooBdoo]

---

@truffle wrote:

@dooBdoo @itiswhatitis I am not talking about medical information. WOW! More explanations needed apparently!  I am talking about when one is in recovery mode but still feeling weak and needing kindness.  

---

          Thanks for the follow-up, @truffle.    As I said, I felt I understood your point.    Since you mentioned when feeling sick it brought to mind the countless requests for medical/healthcare advice.    They're ubiquitous here, as are posts with less-than-wise advice.   That was the impetus for my additional comments.

[LilacTree]

---

@dooBdoo wrote:

---

@itiswhatitis wrote:

---

@truffle wrote:

Next time I am sick and need information, I will preface my request with that tidibit so people don't think I'm being too lazy to look it up myself.  During times of illness or injury one can be very weak that include feelings of overwhelming sadness. All they're looking for and that includes myself, is just kindness from those who are stronger at the moment; those who are not ill and not feeling weak or emotionally wiped out to lend a helping hand and provide the information that we've requested.

Yes, explanations apparently are needed at all times for our motives. 

---

@truffle this website is not necessarily the best place for you to be in a time of sickness.  If it helps you that's good.  Please only get advice from your physicians on your nutritional needs; health and things of that nature.  If folks are just chit chatting with you and are there for you w/o trying to tell you how to heal ~ nothing wrong with that.  Be weary.........always.

---

              I do understand what both of you are saying.    I want to add that I've seen some dreadfully bad -- even dangerous -- medical/heathcare advice posted here.    And I've seen posters take the advice, say they're going to buy/do/try it right away, and never bother to research it first or wait to see if other posts point out the danger or inaccuracies of the previous posts.    Healthcare-by-internet is one of the most valuable and at the same time perilous outcomes of this information/misinformation age.   Beware the internet "experts" who don't know us, our history, our specific needs, and who won't be there at the emergency room if/when we show up with life-threatening problems.

---

@dooBdoo

Also beware of invitations to watch some doctors' and others' information videos that are preceded by "make sure your sound is turned on."  One, they are enormously long and boring, and two, they are going to end up trying to sell you something.  Don't waste your time.

[Moonchilde]

---

@QVCkitty1 wrote:

One more thing, people often get different results for the same search, look it up, LOL.

---

That's where intelligence and reasoning count, LOL.

[chickenbutt]

---

lovestoteach wrote:

@Moonchilde

I love internet research for most things; this does not include questions I may have about social security and medical insurance!

If sometimes I find an especially knowledgeable or literate poster here, I can understand the answer to my questions quicker and easier.

The other internet sites I am beginning to dread going to are the ones with TONS of ads.

It is important to me to do my research first, before just throwing it out there for somebody else to do it for me (out of laziness).

---

Some websites have gotten a bit annoying if you use adblockers.  I've had to back out because they wouldn't even let me in unless I stopped the adblocker.

I 'get' what their point is, but I just happen to be somebody who doesn't want to be bombarded with ads and then spyware because they data-mine you.   

The thing is, if they would let people on the site maybe those people would recommend their site and they would still have plenty of people to data-mine and such.  I don't think it pays to reduce the number of people you allow on your site, but maybe that's just me.

[Moonchilde]

---

@Bri36 wrote:

I don't know the answer

Half the time if they would just bother reading all the posts, they'd have their answer.   

---

That too, lol.

[Marp]

---

@itiswhatitis wrote:

---

@Marp wrote:

@Moonchildeasked:  "My question is - other than sheer laziness and "I don't want to bother, I'll ask a stranger & get them to do it" motivations, why would you not look it up yourself?"

I strongly suspect that for some the answer is as simple as the often overwhelming search returns and inability or unwillingness to read and evaluate what is found.

Some would rather have others do the work then present a synopsis.

Some have done the searching but didn't find the answer(s) wanted so the question is thrown out for others in hope of getting the answer wanted.

There are likely as many answers to the question as there are posters.

---

@Marp, this is only true when one is seeking opinions.  We all have those.  Factual information is another story entirely.  Facts can't be changed ~ they can be interpreted in various ways but as long as the understanding is congruent to the facts that's all there is.

---

The question to which I responded is why not look it up yourself.  I stand by there likely being as many answers to why posters don't as there are posters.