Community Chat

[SahmIam]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

IMHO, often asking someone how to do XYZ gives up info that is more helpful than ANY book or site can provide. I read all the books on childbirth but GIVING birth gave me insight that NO book could.

Same thing when applying for Social Security for my son; I did research and I called and I ordered pamphlets and OMG.... I was lost. I asked here and so many offered advice, help, insight that they had gained having gone through it themselves.

That's the answer for you; We ask here because of the insight from those who have actually gone through it themselves.

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@SahmIam, I don't mean people asking others for their personal knowledge or advice. I'm not talking about going to a website to learn to ride a bike (for example), but rather asking  "where can I buy ABC shampoo" when a 10-second google will tell you.  You can ask "what do you all think of ABC shampoo?" and get feedback and advice and maybe where to buy gets thrown into the conversation. But I'm talking asking flat out simple, not complicated and not subjective questions.

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Ok, well, because they're part of a conversation. Look at this way:

You're at a dinner party. Someone mentions a shampoo. Do you A) ask, "oh, where can I get that?" or B) whip out your phone to look up where you can purchase the item while everyone looks at you.

We're sort on real time here. It's part of conversation. I asked on a beauty thread where to purchase Josie Marans large tubs of whipped moisturizer (because it just mentioned they were available). I knew it was either here or on her site but simply asked as part of a conversation. No one answered me, lol, so eventually I looked it up. I suppose, by your definition, I was lazy. Alrighty then, lol.

In the end, why does it matter? Being honest, I've never asked myself that when reading a thread and something like that pops up.

Last, yeah, I'm a researcher. I've had to be in order to do the work I once did and earn the degrees I have. Still, I'll ask when in a conversation.

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@SahmIam,

Me personally? Unless it was a shampoo I suspected might only be available at 1-2 salons, I would google as readily as I would ask, or more ;-)

Your scenario posits someone else as first mentioning the shampoo. My point was more if you had started (out of the blue without it being mentioned) a conversation by asking "anyone know where I can buy this shampoo (that no one had previously been talking about)?" That's the sort of easily and quickly searchable type of question I'm talking about.

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@Moonchilde LMAO. I would answer them politely but to myself I would be thinking something along the lines of  "what a weird thing to ask. Go find out for youself". Indeed, an odd thing.

[ROMARY]

Oh, well.........'much to do about nothing'.........I'm only guessing that there wouldn't be many posts if each of us G**gled/Web searched every single thing, thought, item, bit of news/bit of anything.  Just thinking out loud, of course.  .....  I enjoy most of the threads, whether or not  I can easily research them by myself instead.   ......... Edited:  'I know, I know'........first read the other posts.  I'm a bit lazy right now.  I'll read them tomorrow, lol.  Everyone, enjoy your Sunday.

[Moonchilde]

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@chickenbutt wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

IMHO, often asking someone how to do XYZ gives up info that is more helpful than ANY book or site can provide. I read all the books on childbirth but GIVING birth gave me insight that NO book could.

Same thing when applying for Social Security for my son; I did research and I called and I ordered pamphlets and OMG.... I was lost. I asked here and so many offered advice, help, insight that they had gained having gone through it themselves.

That's the answer for you; We ask here because of the insight from those who have actually gone through it themselves.

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Good point.  However, there are those times when some chime in and have no idea what they're talking about.  So....sometimes a book is needed.

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What you said (underlined by me) really struck a chord with me.   I can't even tell you how many times I've seen somebody ask a question on this board and there have been people giving completely wrong, inaccurate, and just plain false answers/advice.    It's staggering.

The worst part is that you can't even challenge false information here without getting a fight and, for me, it's just not worth it.  But I have been known to advise people to look further into it to make certain they have the correct information.

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I decided long ago (well before these forums) that I'm not going to be "responsible" for other posters if (1) they come to a forum to look for serious medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, (2) want others to "give them the answers" (that they clearly want to hear), and (3) announce they're totally going to go with some quack thing they read on a forum with zero indication they will do any research.

If people are not going to be careful, consider the source or do their own reading, I'm not going to play nanny other than perhaps a one-time comment (or perhaps not).

I feel the same about posters with mental or emotional issues or conditions. If they are behaving irrationally in a "public place" such as a forum, I'm going to treat them like every other poster. No kid gloves, no babying. I respond to what they say, period. That holds for "permanently fragile" posters as well. [Note: I am not saying that directed at anyone who has posted in this thread, but as a generality.]

[Moonchilde]

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@SahmIam wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

IMHO, often asking someone how to do XYZ gives up info that is more helpful than ANY book or site can provide. I read all the books on childbirth but GIVING birth gave me insight that NO book could.

Same thing when applying for Social Security for my son; I did research and I called and I ordered pamphlets and OMG.... I was lost. I asked here and so many offered advice, help, insight that they had gained having gone through it themselves.

That's the answer for you; We ask here because of the insight from those who have actually gone through it themselves.

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@SahmIam, I don't mean people asking others for their personal knowledge or advice. I'm not talking about going to a website to learn to ride a bike (for example), but rather asking  "where can I buy ABC shampoo" when a 10-second google will tell you.  You can ask "what do you all think of ABC shampoo?" and get feedback and advice and maybe where to buy gets thrown into the conversation. But I'm talking asking flat out simple, not complicated and not subjective questions.

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Ok, well, because they're part of a conversation. Look at this way:

You're at a dinner party. Someone mentions a shampoo. Do you A) ask, "oh, where can I get that?" or B) whip out your phone to look up where you can purchase the item while everyone looks at you.

We're sort on real time here. It's part of conversation. I asked on a beauty thread where to purchase Josie Marans large tubs of whipped moisturizer (because it just mentioned they were available). I knew it was either here or on her site but simply asked as part of a conversation. No one answered me, lol, so eventually I looked it up. I suppose, by your definition, I was lazy. Alrighty then, lol.

In the end, why does it matter? Being honest, I've never asked myself that when reading a thread and something like that pops up.

Last, yeah, I'm a researcher. I've had to be in order to do the work I once did and earn the degrees I have. Still, I'll ask when in a conversation.

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@SahmIam,

Me personally? Unless it was a shampoo I suspected might only be available at 1-2 salons, I would google as readily as I would ask, or more ;-)

Your scenario posits someone else as first mentioning the shampoo. My point was more if you had started (out of the blue without it being mentioned) a conversation by asking "anyone know where I can buy this shampoo (that no one had previously been talking about)?" That's the sort of easily and quickly searchable type of question I'm talking about.

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@Moonchilde LMAO. I would answer them politely but to myself I would be thinking something along the lines of  "what a weird thing to ask. Go find out for youself". Indeed, an odd thing.

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Which has been my point - that I find it odd when there is no context, no ongoing conversation to jump into.

[Moonchilde]

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@ROMARY wrote:

Oh, well.........'much to do about nothing'.........I'm only guessing that there wouldn't be many posts if each of us G**gled/Web searched every single thing, thought, item, bit of news/bit of anything.  Just thinking out loud, of course.  .....  I enjoy most of the threads, whether or not  I can easily research them by myself instead.   ......... Edited:  'I know, I know'........first read the other posts.  I'm a bit lazy right now.  I'll read them tomorrow, lol.  Everyone, enjoy your Sunday.

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If you do read the other posts, you will see that the OP and subsequent posts affirm that the point is not "every single thing, thought, item, bit of news/anything" and never has been. Nor would I ever suggest such a thing.

[Moonchilde]

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@x Hedge wrote:

@Moonchilde,  I understand what you're really asking, and to that, I'm as baffled as you are.

I spend volunteer time with younger people who literally grew up with Google in their pocket, yet constantly ask me and each other questions that I would've directed straight to Google.

Some people actively avoid self-reliance when it comes to Googling up an answer to a simple question. Even when they look it up they'll ask others in the room to confirm they're drawing an accurate conclusion. 

○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○     ○   

IMO very little banter, but TONS of nattering.

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Very (genuinely) interesting observation, @x Hedge.  I can only guess that critical thinking skills are neither taught nor valued the way they were a few decades ago. It's all too possible lack of funding, courses cut, etc have an impact.

Wow, your second paragraph sounds more like Japan and other "group" rather than individualistic countries like the US has traditionally been.

Whatever the cause, it sounds like self-confidence and self-reliance are missing, or they are being taught that there is only "the truth of the concensus." 

[feline groovy]

For some, I think it might be a feeling of trusting their fellow Q posters' info more than the rest of the world's.  It's understandable that familiarity can help someone's comfort level.

But while I appreciate gaining more knowledge here, I prefer to first get it from a wider diversity of people.  And there's plenty of opinions based on user experience.

Google truly is my friend  ;-)

Plus it's waaayyyy faster.  

[Moonchilde]

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@Marp wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@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.

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@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.

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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. 

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The question, per the OP, is "why not look simple, factual, basic questions up yourself," not "why not look anything and everything up."

[software]

Sometimes I think it's more about bragging.   For example, "I just bought this fabulous, expensive _________ (fill in the blank), how should I care for it??""   Batting eyelashes.

Some requests are sincere.    I do my own research as well but I do like to hear the opinion from someone who actually uses the product or whatever.   In their own words, not some blurb from a manual.   If the request seems sincere and it's not the same poster asking questions over & over all day long, I will reply in kind.

@Moonchilde

[VaBelle35]

Where is this Google for academics that you all are speaking of?