Community Chat

[Moonchilde]

We all see people ask questions on these forums (and all over the internet, really) that could have been answered by a 30-second google. Sometimes it takes longer to post asking the question than to google the answer.

Yes, there are always people who actually do the looking-up for these "requests", so the questioners invariably do get their answers.

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'm not talking a complicated question you'd need specialized knowledge to find out, but really basic things. How to contact a business. How difficult is it to type the name of the business, go to their website and get the info you need? Very occasionally a PITA (depending on how user-friendly the website is), it's straightforward and quick 95% of the time.

It's my opinion that anyone who buys online at QVC, maneuvers these forums, can find the latest news online and report it here, and can post links, is equipped to do a google search. So for simple questions, why wouldn't you? Just about anything can be found out fairly quickly and fairly easily online. It's not usually something one really needs to ask someone else to do for them. So why do they?

I do understand physical handicaps, but if you made it here...

So, am I (seriously here) missing something? Why would a person continually ask/expect others to do this and not do it themselves? Everyone has to learn. We all started sometime. 

[Preds]

A connection?  An idea?  A conversation started?  Maybe not sure exactly what they need to ask in order to Google it. 

[chickenbutt]

Hey Moonchilde!  

Ya got me.   I'm a total Google-maniac.   If I have a question about something - even something I read on a board or whatever, I look it up.  Easy peasy, as some would say.  

But then I've always been a doer, and not a follower.  If something needs figuring out I will do the best of my ability to figure it out.   If I cannot figure it out or find an answer on my own, I might (just might, because I hate asking anybody for anything) ask somebody.  

[Mz iMac]

[SahmIam]

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.

[Winkk]

I've often wondered that too.  I Google all the time.  I usually only post when I want opinions.

[Noel7]

There are other facets to that...

If someone does know the answer or something about a certain subject, they can be accused of looking it up because no one actually knows things.  At least that's how a few people think.

[Noel7]

I think there are some people who don't know how to google.  Sometimes it does take some skill knowing how to refine a search.

[Marp]

@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.

[LilacTree]

I am an avid researcher.  If I post a question it's usually because I wonder how others would handle something, or the experiences they have had with something . . . not to ask what something is because I always know that before I post.

Opinions and experience with certain issues cannot be found on the Internet.  One can read "comments," but I'd rather have the comments of someone I know, then comments from strangers six years ago.