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Don't reply "just Google it" (lemmy.zip)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by sith@lemmy.zip to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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It is clear that the signal to noise ratio of the WWW is getting worse. It's much harder to find good content when using a good old search engine. And if it's good it is usually hosted on Reddit or Stackexchange.

So remember, even if it's easy too Google something (well, it isn't nowadays), we want to create a fediverse of good content that helps people (I hope). So, it's always better to write a real answer if you have the time and energy. Please help boost the SNR and reverse the AI fueled information degradation loop.

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[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 days ago

While I agree that the search engine has gone to shit, the problem I have with people who ask really simple questions is that they haven't done the bare minimum to ask for help.

Simple questions have fairly popular answers and even an enshittified Google search will return the correct result within their fucking AI.

If you have a simple question and the answers seem confusing, tell us why the answers are confusing. Don't just ask the question.

Being able to Google your question is an important skill, but so is asking a question in a forum. Since forum posts are at their very nature asynchronous, being able to do your own searches shows those who are trying to help you that you have the skills to read their responses and extrapolate to your situation and then take the appropriate action.

I provide a lot of free support on various Linux and developer forums. The sheer number of people who want me to hold their hand is too high.

[-] Kichae@lemmy.ca 16 points 4 days ago

There is no bare minimum to ask for help.

There is a bare minimum to responding to someone asking for help, though: Being willing to provide some. Replying to tell them they haven't earned the help yet is just being an asshole for the sake of feeling self-satisfaction, and it's actively making the Internet a worse place.

Don't do that shit. They don't need to know your feelings on the issue, and neither do the rest of us. Nobody asked about them.

[-] half_fiction@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 4 days ago

Yes, it also leads to people like me feeling like they need to go down a rabbit hole for 5 hours before they're "allowed" to ask. Then, upon finally asking, they come to find out the answer was quick and simple and they could have saved many hours.

This is such a problem for me. Hot damn do I envy people who don't let the fear of seeming stupid keep them from just asking the damn question.