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    phillysteakandcheese's Avatar
    phillysteakandcheese Posts: 973, Reputation: 356
    Senior Member
     
    #1

    Feb 3, 2006, 02:47 PM
    Google?
    How come so many people can't figure out how to do their own research into topics they're interested in?

    Is Google still that much of a mystery?
    Nez's Avatar
    Nez Posts: 557, Reputation: 51
    Senior Member
     
    #2

    Feb 3, 2006, 04:10 PM
    Agreed.When I was at school,we only had books from the public library.Now everyone (mostly) has the internet,or access to it.How easy is that?
    Maybe that could be part of the problem.Instant problem solving.No need for a map,pen,and paper.Ask AMHD,and they will do your homework.No.I will point kids in the right direction,and offer advice,if they are genuinely stuck,but do 2+2 for them.Get a life... :eek:
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
    Uber Member
     
    #3

    Feb 3, 2006, 04:53 PM
    I am amazed at how happy some people are to have somebody do a search and post a link. We still have some forums where we lack good people. If somebody has time to do that, I see no problem if nobody here can give a good answer. With all the junk on the net, it is easier find a site than judge its quality.

    With what I have seen of advice on housebreaking a dog on most web sites, no wonder I see so many questions from people having trouble. They would be far better off coming here and getting my advice than doing a web search.

    If I ask a question, I am hoping for somebody that knows more than me to answer or direct me to a web site they were able to judge is reliable.

    Good point Nez. I have made it very explicit in my profile on another site that I will not do homework, and still have many obviously homework questions sent to me.
    rudi_in's Avatar
    rudi_in Posts: 251, Reputation: 45
    Full Member
     
    #4

    Feb 3, 2006, 08:41 PM
    Interesting point.

    Here is my take...

    I figure many of our users are a part of the "Net Generation", a group of people for whom the internet has always been available. They do not know a world without the internet. They may even have used it in their kindergarten classes. They DO know how to Google. But for many in the net generation, the internet is also their primary mode of social interaction. This is an age where they communicate with others by text message on cell phones, instant message on Yahoo! Or whatever, e-mail, discussion forums, and chat rooms. We even have dating, mating, romance, and marriage that result from the internet. This is a medium where they are comfortable.

    My point is that for many, a place such as the Ask Me Help Desk is just another comfortable means of socialization. It is often times perhaps more rewarding to engage in this type of "interactive research" as opposed to simply googling and filtering the "meat from the bones" all alone.

    We should also understand that other groups of customers with whom we interact may have very little computer experience. A couple of senior citizens that bought a computer so they could e-mail their grandchildren but are afraid of their computer at the same time.

    Perhaps WE were a part of the results of a Google.

    Maybe we were recommended to someone as a reliable source.

    We need to be sensitive to the needs of our diverse customer base and perform our jobs as experts in a polite, professional manner regardless of the reasons our customers come to us.

    Let's not scare them off by responding to their questions in a rude or demeaning way. We want them to come back.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #5

    Feb 3, 2006, 08:54 PM
    Hush, don't give away our secret tricks, How am I suppose to be considered such a genious ( besides so good looking) if everyone starts going to Google and not asking us.


    Ok, seriouslly I have often wondered, I don't personally use Google much but I do know what you mean. Many of my answes come from a simple web search and the answer is found in the top 10 results normally.
    klmgb's Avatar
    klmgb Posts: 114, Reputation: 13
    Junior Member
     
    #6

    Feb 3, 2006, 10:42 PM
    You'd be surprised at the INTERNET GENERATION, and how little they actually know about how to really use it. I use my son as an example. He is 19, started learning "keyboarding" in kindergarten. We've been online since the days of Prodigy and 14.4 modems. He is always on line, downloading stuff, yakking w/friends, etc. Well after he got laid off from his first real world job and had to apply for UI benefits he fretted about how, where, etc. When I suggested he get on line and at minimum get the info from the state site or even see if he could apply on-line, I got the deer in there headlight look. He had no idea you could do such useful things online.
    manojrane's Avatar
    manojrane Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #7

    Feb 4, 2006, 02:18 AM
    Check out...

    http://www.useit.com/alertbox/search_engines.html
    And
    http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20040816.html
    fredg's Avatar
    fredg Posts: 4,926, Reputation: 674
    Ultra Member
     
    #8

    Feb 4, 2006, 06:31 AM
    Hi,
    Research can be done using a Search Engine, or taking the faster, easier way out and asking questions at a good Q&A site, like this one.
    If everyone did their own research, there would be no need for Q&A sites, and all of us answering questions would have to find something else to do for fun.
    phillysteakandcheese's Avatar
    phillysteakandcheese Posts: 973, Reputation: 356
    Senior Member
     
    #9

    Feb 4, 2006, 08:15 PM
    You are an awesome bunch.. thanks! :)

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