My fav is finding one of these via the top google result
I used to be that guy. Then I realized asking eachother questions is just part of the human experience. I know we can both google it, but maybe you just wanted to talk to me instead of a computer. Maybe ill ask you something I already know or could easily google so you can feel smart and helpful answering my question. Life is nicer when you have positive interactions with people instead of searching for every minute way you could belittle them
Obviously context matters here. I’m usually happy to answer most questions. I reserve those types of ‘just google it’ responses for the people who skip FAQs, ping me when they know I’m focused/busy and generally don’t respect my time.
I lowkey think the website Let Me Google That For You was part of a psyop making people think search algorithms are the superior option for obtaining new information, and therefore leaving people vulnerable to how algorithms have been manipulated to push disinformation.
For me experiences from real people are worlds better than googling. “Go from A to B” might seem straightforward but a human could tell you be carefull in the middle because there’s a pothole. Information from people is more helpful.
So fucking true. People ask questions on forums and social media to talk to other people. So many have forgotten the entire purpose of this whole thing.
If I wanted to Google it I would. I’m asking you because I have reason to believe you are knowledgeable on the subject and also because i’m lonely and value conversation.
I might accept “just Google it” as a helpful answer back before when Google actually fucking worked.
If it’s not that hard to find a source, then it’s not that hard to provide a source. You’re not doing other people’s work for them by being kind enough to provide evidence for your assertions. They’re less likely to hear what you have to say if you just brush them off and say “it’s common sense” or “it’s easy to find just search it yourself.”
If someone asks nicely, I’ll give them a source. But if the request is just “source?” they can look it up themselves.
I wouldn’t trust strangers on the Internet to spoon feed me information, so the only time I ask for a source is if I’m unable to find one.
Shit, a large chunk of my knowledge was gained by searching for a source to prove people wrong.
Counterpoint: your point is in no way credible without a source (in many cases, and only for things that would run contrary to current knowledge). So if you claim that Ivermectin cures Covid, your comment isn’t even worth making unless you cite a source.
In other words, a fleshed out comment of : “Actually, blah-blah-blah for three paragraphs” carries exactly as much credibility as “No it isn’t” without any citation, so why bother writing it if you don’t source it?
You see, I’d have to care about others thinking I’m credible for that to matter.
Chiming into a discussion without caring if your point is considered is certainly a choice. Why comment at all, then?
