Showerthoughts

29852 readers

1289 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

All posts must be showerthoughts
The entire showerthought must be in the title
Avoid politics
- 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
- 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
- 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
Posts must be original/unique
Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

767

The "just google it" mantra has probably held back quite a lot of interesting conversations and debate (self.showerthoughts)

submitted 1 year ago by jeremoose to c/showerthoughts

114 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've always been a "lurker" on all platforms and communities because when I do have a question or would like to contribute my first thought has become:

Actually, let me google it first

In which case I'll usually have some answer. Usually it isn't a complete answer but enough for me to not want to share my question anymore.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I feel "just fucking google it" culture is toxic and driver away new users on a lot of discussion boards.

[–] gk99 12 points 1 year ago

Dumb questions that could be easily answered with a search engine or AI are not my idea of ideal discussion and I don't see a point to retaining it. "Noob questions" are fine, using a discussion board as a first resource for a basic question is not.

[–] 0235 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It really really depends.

"What time does ASDA shut?" - well the answer involves someone in the comment section googling it, I can see the "just Google it" frustration.

But

"Why is the bottom of my 3D print really messy?" - anyone who could claim to be intermediate at 3D printing would know that it is either a support material issue, or maybe they haven't got "bridging" settings turned on. Replying with "a simple Google would find it was an issue with bridging" but the person asking the question may not even know that phrase to use.

Edit: I like to do the old "this is what i think it is, but here are some terms you could use to better understand in case my solution doesn't work"

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That second scenario you've described is why I loathe this "just fucking google it" mantra.

Searching for stuff needs some amount of information to begin with. You need to know what search terms to use, which means you have to know something about the problem you're trying to solve. And a lot of times, that is precisely the problem: not knowing what even to include in the search query. With a human on the other side of the tube, it's something that could easily be remedied with a few follow-up questions, but a search engine can't do that--nor do you want for it to do that.

EDIT: Clarified things.

Changed "And a lot of times, that is precisely the problem: not knowing how to formulate the search query" to "And a lot of times, that is precisely the problem: not knowing what even to include in the search query."

[–] pexavc 6 points 1 year ago

I agree to an extent. I feel discussions have lost depth online. Since most of the time online users don't have the same caliber as one may be more used to in the 2010 and prior era of the internet. I feel, on sites like Reddit, i leave discussions feeling more confused and/or exhausted rather than enlightened.