“Google Is Your Friend” or “Is Google Broken”.

Myles,

I agree with what you are saying. The posting or enquiry may appear frivolous or mundane to some of us but in reality it may be an effort to just be a part of something and this is the only outlet the writer can find. Checking Google will not provide the interaction they are seeking

Sometimes we get so involved with our own lives that we stop seeing that others are having difficulties when it comes to fitting into a social scene. There are a lot of people out there in the big wide world who just don't have the confidence levels to interact. Getting an answer to a posting may well be the biggest thing that happens in their day.

Kevin J

I agree with you Myles if you haven't got some decent or reasonable contribution then leave the post alone, the occasional tongue in cheek or bit humour is OK but some just go too far.

In talking with users privately for some ExplorOZ has been their first introduction to computers and/or they just use email and known websites so they are unaware of the benefits of Googling stuff.

Regards Paul H

Also handy to provide a useful link if possible, like this one: useful google link ;)

I have found that the "google is your friend" option is used here infrequently and usually only when the answer is that obvious in many cases. Sometimes it would have been far quicker to google some answers than spending the time typing in an answer to wait for someone to answer it here. A one-word answer style question comes to mind.

"Google is your friend" is a worthwhile comment and is someone's opinion....i'd suggest that if you don't like THAT answer then just ignore it ;)

Myles, I'm not having a go at you, rather that we all must be tolerant of all answers...if they aren't acceptable then the modsquad will surely help us out.

Andrew

A very sensible comment Myles.

If the question anoys you, do not open it, simple, and if you, do not answer it.
Who cares if it's on Google.

Google has to get it's answers from somewhere like this anyway.

Nick

Myles

I guess that you will have to live with it.

We cannot all pander to everyones 'pet hates'. A certain amount of Internet Growing Up is needed. This, after all is a Social Network where people interact and we are all different in our approaches to answering questions.

And please don't tell us not to have our say just because the answer might displease you.

Google is referred to when someone asks a seemingly simple question that may not need the time wasted on it by whosoever is reading the post. This person is trying to help the hapless poster by giving an educational hint. Google, being the best Search Engine around for now, may come up with a variety of answers to the question posted.


So thats my take on your comment.

I agree with what you are saying Myles, but even though alot of answers might be on google, it is also good to hear other peoples real life experiences or different ways of doing things. It is always good to get opinins and someone might have a better idea, or done it "googles" way and it could have been improved. I have found on here when a question has been asked about the stupidist thing, there has been some quiet interesting and useful comments.

Plus you dont get the social side out of "google" that you get on here. And you also cant stop and have a beer with "google", even if he is your friend.

Karen

"The reason queries are posted... "
I think the majority of posts is more than just wanting an answer to a question. In fact I think 'query' should be changed to 'post'.

What most of us want is COMMUNICATION. A sharing of ideas and thoughts.

This is a community and as a group we develop understandings and outlooks. That's why I think 'off topic' posts are often actually right on the mark. Certainly inane and pointless or crude stuff should be moderated, but notice the posts that get the most responses? The more general ones... the ones tha look for views, opinions and thought.

So.... a thoughtless brushoff " Google Is Your Friend" is not appropriate. I agree!

Good point Myles but I must confess that one thing that peeves me is people not making enough use of the search function on this site before posting. While it's not perfect it's a great way to identify threads, articles and blogs on common topics. I'm the first one to try and assist with an enquiry if I can but in many cases, the information is available, all you had to do was search.

Cheers Mick

Hi Myles,

I would only partially agree with your comment.

But it seems to me there are different types of questions and they get different responses.

Often the questions that get the best responses, both in number, length and thoughtfullness are the ones that are looking for thoughts, opinions etc and that is not something that can be gained from any search function. They are perhaps the online equivalent of having a yarn around the campfire. On the social aspect I guess one has to be confident to join in any conversation, be it around the campfire or online. For example many women don't seem to have the confidence to come online here (or to contribute in a mixed group around a campfire either!) but recently it has been good to see an increasing number of women contributing to this site.

Another kind of question is the sort that is more factually based but it is clear that the person doing the asking has put some effort into trying to work out an answer. We are always happy to respond if we can to such questions.

Then there are those who seem to jump onto the site and ask a staight-forward factual type question without seeming to have made much effort to do any research themselves. We may hold back on making a response in that situation. I have sometimes seen a question asked when something very similar was there a few threads back on the same page. In that case a bit of gentle nudging towards a search engine is not inappropriate surely?

I do admit that the search facility on this site can be a bit frustrating at times, but surely google is not that hard?

I remember an old journalist's saying: "if you want better answers, ask better questions".

Cheers,

Val

I have found that, if before posting it pays to read the last 10 pages of the

forum as probably more than 50% of the posts for info have been asked

before and answered as well

EG what is the best GPS Gets asked at least twice a week

What size tyres. The same.

Indicates they have just whacked the post up without searching at all

Also if the poster indicates "Ï have done a search and Googled"

it would indicate they have done something to help themselves and therefore will get a better response.

To answer the question a lot of us would Google it anyway.

It is also nicer to use a Forum name as we are getting several

"Name Not Found" with different vehicleswhich makes things a bit confusing.

Perhaps David can change things to disallow a post without a name in the heading .

I dont mind helping but am a bit over seeing the same subject day after day

sometimes within 10 threads of the same thing.


Cheers

“Google Is Your Friend” or “Is Google Broken” is a valid response to educate the poster.

May I suggest, if you don’t like the answer and don’t have a worthwhile comment just skip past it.

Personally i too find such a response 'rude', particularly if to a new comer. At least they could have the tact to say "I did a search on Google and came up with x x x and a few other links you may find useful". Maybe the person asking has already done a search on Google and just wanted some on the ground experience such as members have here.

Similarly i find a lot of people seem to post without doing a search (as there are often recent threads with the same question and answers). Perhaps they need a subtle reminder to do a search. Maybe the search wasn't working that day - it often lets me down.

For those who post a reply in a rude manner, you are welcome to do so (unless it offends our Mod Squad), but remember, all the world will see you, and think you are a rude person.

Motherhen

just to divert a little. on other forums it has said that one google search uses the same amount off power as a 100w light bulb in 24 hours.
so a simple question here is better fur your environmental footprint.
and now the fun begins
mauri

I mentioned before that what I said last was the end of the matter....BUT!!!

After reading all of the above answers (yes, nothing better to do in the heat) and excepting my contribution, I come to the conclusion that Australia is on a sharp downhill run with all the Namby Pamby ideas put forward here.

What a bunch of sooks you are!

Pet hates......I don't like....What peeves me.....and so on.....ad nauseum

How dare someone upset you by commenting 'Google is your friend' or alike!

How dare someone be rude to you!

How dare they put forward an alternative idea.

Go fight a war with you mob........................:-)

Myles,

I agree that sarcastic, caustic, responses really serve no purpose other than to feed the ego of the poster.

They are, for the most part, totally unneeded and unwarranted.

I, too, find them offensive.

Jim.