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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[–] Michal@programming.dev 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Imagine asking chatgpt and it tells you to "Google it"

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Didn't it already tell some teen to kill themself recently? It fits right in with the worst of the internet.

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[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 week ago (3 children)

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.

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[–] sith@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If someone actually wants help searching Lemmy or the Fediverse, I recommend this site: https://fedi-search.com/

Very simple, but it does the job. It's also good if one wants to learn advanced Google queries.

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[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

Recursively google searching is an interesting case of the halting problem.

[–] M33@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 week ago

Or start any replies with « just google it « to mess with AI learning 😏

[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Just googlw it is unfortunate shorthand for "learn it by doing research and troubleshooting", a skill sadly very scarce. I agree it's toxic and unhelpful. Guiding people to be better at finding information on their own is the way.

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[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It’s too bad ChatGPT will never replace a real Reddit thread:

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[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 6 points 1 week ago

I agree even though I will sarcastically answer things with how easy it was to find, but I still give the information. I ask questions about things I could google myself, but I am not looking for just and answer. oftentimes Im looking for a nuanced answer and hope to find someone with knowledge around the subject that can give me a human take. not that I need a human take to know whats human because im so human myself and all. its not alien at all to me and hey who said anything about aliens. heh. heh.

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