This may be a bit of a but:
I have noticed lately that quite a few of certain posters seem to respond to any question posted here with the phrase "google it", apparently assuming "google" to be the end-all definitive authority on all subjects from "how do I change a magna-matic coupler" to "was there ever a 3-3-3 steamer?".
In days of old, when knights were bold, and computers were barely invented, there was a phrase, that went quite a ways, known as "GIGO"......Garbage In Garbage Out. The info "IN' the computer is only as good as what/who put it in.....if garbage went in....then only garbage would come OUT as an answer.
Even an enclopedia {forgetting for the moment "wikipedia"} is not the ultimate authority on eveything and has all the answers. {You will find "trains" in the encyclopedia, but most likely not how to change a coupler}. {and wikipedia can be changed/updated supposedly by anybody who has more better info.....perhaps I could write an authoritative expose on the 3-3-3 steamer and have it published there as fact?! Then again, maybe one really did exist}.
If "google it" solved all problems model railroading, then there would be no need for this forum at all, and the personal interaction and experience that comes with it would there?
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I think "Google it" is a polite way of saying, "Y'know, you could look this up yourself, instead of posting such a trivial question here and expecting someone else to look it up for you and post the answer so you can come back and read it."
On the other hand, such posts often lead to interesting discussions and lots of marginally related information. Sort of like googling.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Even if one googles something you still have to know what it is you are actually looking for... because there is a lot of "stuff" in there...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
galaxy In days of old, when knights were bold, and computers were barely invented, there was a phrase, that went quite a ways, known as "GIGO"......Garbage In Garbage Out. The info "IN' the computer is only as good as what/who put it in.....if garbage went in....then only garbage would come OUT as an answer. If "google it" solved all problems model railroading, then there would be no need for this forum at all, and the personal interaction and experience that comes with it would there?
g:
Ah, Google, the geek conundrum. It has all the standard earmarks of an evil corporate gyascutus, and yet it works so well that we love it anyway. Microsoft should take note.
GIGO indeed. It can be hard to feed the beast something that returns good info. Use of the + and especially the - operators can be useful. For example, if you want threads on Tyco, but aren't too interested in the more flamey ones, from this forum, you could try this:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%2Btyco+-junk+site%3ATrains.com
Searching the Net doesn't solve everything, of course, but it sure can be helpful.
I agree. but would like to throw in my on the first half of Mr B‘s. I think you are correct but I look at these questions similar to conversations at the local restaurant around the “gossip table“. When asked what is the temp supposed to be today, no one says “watch the news“. Most times they are trying to touch on the knowledge that others have . Admittedly if the question is what is the difference between a GP 35 and a 38, it would be easier to supply a web site (if you know it) than to explain it. But some just cruise the forums and feel the need to answer to everything with those type comments. If it isn't a question someone feels is worth answering, then don't. I know if I ask a question I’m not expecting someone to do research and report back to me. But if you know, maybe you can make something a bit easier. I do not totally disagree with you because there are questions that are just so..well… “google it” is a good answer, as long as it doesn’t just turn into a blanket statement because I know something simple and you don’t.
Just MHO
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
galaxy If "google it" solved all problems model railroading, then there would be no need for this forum at all, and the personal interaction and experience that comes with it would there?
Try googling the phrase "straw man argument"
Grin, Stein
Maybe if the OP started off with, "I tried to Google this, but couldn't find..." a lot of the, "Google it," comments would go away.
Of course, that assumes that the OP actually did try before jumping into the pool here.
In some of my posts to threads asking for information, I will say something to the effect of, "Try Googling (specific key word defining what was being looked for.)" If I have done so, I will include a comment to that effect, and any links I found potentially useful to the OP.
Note the difference - rather like the difference between a shotgun and a sniper rifle.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I look at these questions similar to conversations at the local restaurant around the “gossip table“. When asked what is the temp supposed to be today, no one says “watch the news“.
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Is that any kin to
"Where's the browns playing Sunday?"
"On the field John,On the field".
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
steinjr Try googling the phrase "straw man argument" Grin, Stein
I know some recent political losers that fit that phrase!
You can literally find anything you want through Google if your willing to do 2 minutes worth of reading.
I rather enjoy the questions and answers. I never was much for research, I prefer people. When I returned to the hobby, the questions were all new to me. I appreciate those who took the time to answer them.
I recognize that you have to keep answering the same questions because there are always new people. That is what teachers are for. A second grade teacher can't say to a new class, "I taught that last year, go look it up." Part of what I do here is to answer the few questions I have learned the answers to, each time they come up from new people. That's how you treated (treat) me.
Every time I branch into a new aspect of the hooby, I have questions that are new to me, but I hope not new to someone who can answer them for me.
SO, google if you like, but if you ask a question to which I know part of the answer, I will try to be helpful.
MisterBeasley I think "Google it" is a polite way of saying, "Y'know, you could look this up yourself, instead of posting such a trivial question here and expecting someone else to look it up for you and post the answer so you can come back and read it." On the other hand, such posts often lead to interesting discussions and lots of marginally related information. Sort of like googling.
AMEN BROTHER!!!
Bro. Forrest Gump should have said "Laziness is as Laziness does!" or perhaps "Mooching is as Mooching does!"
Look, I am far from the most pronounced modeler in the business but when a forum member comes up and asks something like "I'm modifying the XYZ kit to fit into an odd shaped lot. I need to bend one wall inward but when I do it leaves an unsightly gap at the corner. What's the best way to fill in that gap?" and I have encountered the same problem on occasion I will try to draw upon what experience I have and give him an answer. I have a somewhat weatherbeaten copy of Kalmbach's Guide to North American Steam Locomotives so when a forum member asks something like "When did the XYZ railroad acquire its first 2340 Class 2-8-2s I will drag it out and give him an answer. But when the question becomes "What were the manuifacturing dates for the GP20?" its:
GOOGLE IT!
Does this at all sound familiar?: "I don't wanna buy the book--I want you to buy the book! I wanna spend my money on railroading!" What makes Joe Blow think that I've got any more money to spend on railroading than he does! (Rhetorical Question)
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
steinjr galaxy If "google it" solved all problems model railroading, then there would be no need for this forum at all, and the personal interaction and experience that comes with it would there? Try googling the phrase "straw man argument" Grin, Stein
LOL I was waiting for someone just like you to say "google it" to something in my post. LOLOLOL
I googled "google it" and came up with a google of googled answers......
....Now, about that 3-3-3 steamer....
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http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lilyth/strawman.html
Sorry,I just couldn't resist.
galaxy steinjr galaxy If "google it" solved all problems model railroading, then there would be no need for this forum at all, and the personal interaction and experience that comes with it would there? Try googling the phrase "straw man argument" Grin, Stein LOL I was waiting for someone just like you to say "google it" to something in my post. LOLOLOL I googled "google it" and came up with a google of googled answers...... ....Now, about that 3-3-3 steamer....
Trying to go through all the tricks in a old musty freshman text book on rhetorics you found in the attic while cleaning, eh ? First a straw man argument and now a red herring ? But okay - you clearly prefer rhethorics to facts. Guess I'll reply in the same manner.
I quickly scanned through the posting history of poster "galaxy" during the last four months. Pray tell, noble Sir Galaxy - do you change into another secret identity when you spend of your time answering general questions from other posters ?
I also did a quick search for posts containing the word google during the last two months. It rather seems like this thread represent almost 50% of such post in this time period. Clearly people being told to use google must be a problem of huge extent and huge importance ....
Smile, Stein
I, like others here, think of this and other forums as I would a continuous conversation in a large room. As I 'walk' around the room, listening to this or that group, I may not be particularly interested in the topic, but as the conversation goes on someone will add a tidbit of information that I am interested in or something I didn't know, and there are an awful lot of things I don't know.
It's this interaction between people that puts a more human 'face' on internet forums and makes them more interesting. Google has a place and I use it several times a day, but I also like to listen to and sometimes take part in a conversation.
JaRRell
jacon12 I, like others here, think of this and other forums as I would a continuous conversation in a large room. As I 'walk' around the room, listening to this or that group, I may not be particularly interested in the topic, but as the conversation goes on someone will add a tidbit of information that I am interested in or something I didn't know, and there are an awful lot of things I don't know. It's this interaction between people that puts a more human 'face' on internet forums and makes them more interesting. Google has a place and I use it several times a day, but I also like to listen to and sometimes take part in a conversation. JaRRell
My point exactly
TMarshI know if I ask a question I’m not expecting someone to do research and report back to me. But if you know, maybe you can make something a bit easier. I do not totally disagree with you because there are questions that are just so..well… “google it” is a good answer, as long as it doesn’t just turn into a blanket statement because I know something simple and you don’t.
Another useful phrase might be 'use the search function." It would certainly save time--even on the part of the asker--than posting yet another topic on "how do you lay track?" or "how should I clean track" or "what kind of software is there for track planning?"
But I suspect in both cases, it is laziness that leads to asking the question again instead of looking up the info, which would undoubtedly lead to a quicker and more comprehensive answer.
If you do not like to Google for info than you can Scroogle for info.
http://www.scroogle.org/
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Once or twice I've given the reply "why didn't you google for the answer?" on this forum, but in each case I had found the question interesting and did a google search myself to find the answer quickly which I forwarded on.
If the question is interesting and I don't know the answer off the top of my head, I'll do quick research in my library if I suspect the answer is there.
Most everyone participating in this forum attempts to be helpful when they think they can, although there are isolated events caused by irritation when the same questions are repeated over and over within a short time.
Mark
So there I was, posting on a different kind of forum, when some wizenheimer says, "Google it!" So I did. Three of the top ten results where links to the very thread that I started!!! Others included a link to an online dictionary definition of the keyword, two links to OTHER forums that impolitely quoted my original post. Google, how to find out nothing very, very fast!
HEdward So there I was, posting on a different kind of forum, when some wizenheimer says, "Google it!" So I did. Three of the top ten results where links to the very thread that I started!!! Others included a link to an online dictionary definition of the keyword, two links to OTHER forums that impolitely quoted my original post. Google, how to find out nothing very, very fast!
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
THAT { a link to your own TRAINS.COM postings} would be another point. I've had that happen.
I agree. I think the search engine is fast becoming one of the more useless features of the modern internet. As it's no longer a medium for looking up information, it is instead one giant Want Ads page.
This last week I had need to look up a specific item of technical information concering the system requirements of a graphics card that my son wants me to purchase for our PC for Christmas. I have the exact make and model number, but when I "googled" that item all I inavariably came up with was page after page of advertising for internet retailers letting me know that they had it in stock. Even tweaking the search with such phrases as "technical specifications", and "system requirements" only brought me back to the same advertising sites over and over again. So I can understand how a person would get frustrated trying to wade through all that nonsense and post their question here instead.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!