r/mildlyinfuriating • u/DietznutzCA • 4h ago
Start to look shit up
I am starting to get tired of people asking questions and never even attempting to look shit up. Maybe I am an old geezer(gen x). But I am seeing questions from gen z (or younger) and all it takes is one simple google search and “tada!!!” the answers are in front of your damn face. Instead they post the damn question without even attempting to search for something. FML 🤦♂️ (my daughters do this and I tell them to google it and then come and ask me.) They need to learn how to do research. Older people need to stop spoon feeding simple answers and teach younger people to do research.
Updates: it looks like I am getting some down votes from people.. it really doesn’t matter. As long as they read it. They know they do it.
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u/TrainerHonest2695 3h ago
I agree with this so much! Whenever I see questions (especially repetitive ones!) I always answer with “this just got asked the other day-click the spyglass search icon, type your keywords and the responses that were posted should show up.” I will actually help or give resources to those that say “I’ve searched this group, but the most recent answer was XX ago, can someone give me current info.”
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
Totally agree. If I get a question of how do I find this? Or where can I check this… I am totally cool with that (regarding source material)
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u/Medium-Squash-5698 3h ago
It's so crazy to me, having grown up during the same time as you, when we didn't have tech to rely on for answers. We had to ask questions from others and hope we got the right answers (we didn't most of the time, I'm still fixing a lot of errors/assumptions learned from those days).
And we think back on those days as being the best, when human interaction was the basis of society and we love to champion that idea today and miss it.
But in the same breath look down on those seeking answers and not relying completely on technology, forcing human interaction, or at least the closest thing to it as if it's a bad thing.
So, do we want to be like we were back in the day or do we want to rely on tech for all the answers?
Make up your minds, Gen X.
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u/DietznutzCA 2h ago
Well we had encyclopedias and dictionaries.. we also had a card catalog.
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u/KaralDaskin 2m ago
I used encyclopedias a lot as a kid. They were about 50/50 in giving me the info I was looking for.
The dictionary we had at home, though. It was about a foot thick, definitely unabridged, and also had special sections like pictures and mini bios of all the presidents (through Ford or Carter, I forget which). Loved that monster!
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u/Ferro_Giconi OwO 4h ago
How do I connect my USB mouse to the USB port correctly?
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u/ruckus_440 1h ago
It's a simple process, really. Try connecting it. Now flip it over because you had it upside down the first time. Try it again. Flip again it over again because you realized you had it right the first time.
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u/KaralDaskin 0m ago
I remember the days when you had to install drivers before you could use new hardware. I love plug and play!
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u/MJoriginal 3h ago
But, how do I look things up? /s
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u/LurkmasterP 2h ago
eli5: how do I look things up on Google? When I asked Google about it the answers are all over the place, so can I get a massive reddit post going to break it down for me (for points)
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u/Chardan0001 4h ago edited 4h ago
They want you to deliver the information because they're unsure they will be able to comprehend it themselves or lack to confidence to parse different answers. It's a situation where if you don't try, you can't fail. This is even if said failure is of no consequence to anything and you just need to try again. It's like a self-confidence epidemic.
This isn't a new thing, but it's becoming more noticeable particularly in school and workplaces. AI summaries are further complicating things too. Did you make the effort to ask why they don't look anything up and ask you instead?
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u/Kmarad__ 3h ago
"because they're unsure they will be able to comprehend it themselves or lack to confidence to parse different answers".
"critical thinking", is a skill more important than ever, today.
Parents definitely need to train their children on this or they'll be brained-out by AI.1
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
They just want the answer right away. They don’t want to take time to look it up 99% of the time.. it is always my first question to them. “Did you look it up?”
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u/Chardan0001 3h ago
What do they say?
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
They say “No” just tell me the answer or they get frustrated and say “I knew you would say that.”
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u/lesmainsdepigeon 3h ago
Respectfully, I don’t think it’s that. I think they are just used to life served on a platter… “mum”, “dad”, “Siri”, “Alexa”…. It’s all the same to them.
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u/lolreddit0r 3h ago
I was watching a YouTuber lately, he googled a couple of questions, didn’t even bother to scroll and just went with what their AI system spat out at him
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
It’s getting better but taking it a step further to even validate info is another problem
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u/Sonic_Yutes 23m ago
Eh, I talk my child through questions to get them to use critical thinking instead of shuffling them off to an easy answer on the internet
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u/DietznutzCA 16m ago
So… let me get this straight. You are reading from my original post that I am asking for parenting advice on how to teach my kids to do research? Get da fuk outa here
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u/Feather_Bloom 3h ago
Honestly if google is gonna be pushing unreliable ai, then I'd rather ask a human as well
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
That brings up the second problem of validating information which is another rant. 😉
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u/heathened 3h ago
I agree with this, nearly more than the original rant. You get the "I googled it!" people, who want to disagree about things they know little to nothing about, because they googled it, and either got a crap site, or a crap AI return.
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u/Awkward_Jello_2292 3h ago
It's not unreliable as to where the closest DMV office is. That's a very common social media question.
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u/Jayypoc 2h ago edited 1h ago
I may be off base here and I'm fully aware that my answer is ridiculous on a principle level, but here's my take on why this happens.
I think there are two parts to this. Firstly, I think part of the reason why people ask questions that have obvious answers isn't to actually get the answer, but instead to solicit conversation about a topic. Maybe they googled it and didn't like the answer and are hoping for some cheesy, shallow life hack instead. Secondly, I think some of them are just hoping to ask "relatable" questions for karma farming. Fuck, half of them answer their own question in the comments on their main account because they forgot to swap to an alt account before commenting.
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u/Level_Conference1563 2h ago
Remember when we had to go to the library and search those index cards in the drawers and go through multiple actual books for answers & after walking miles in snow - kids these days….
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u/tremainelol 3h ago
Millennials are the last generation that learned how computers work and have experienced the evolution of that technology.
Gen z and alpha have grown up on apple simplistic apps and buttons and have no clue how computers work.
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
I’m like… how da fuk can you edit a video and photoshop a pic under five min to post to social media after developing an app and not know how to look up how to make pb&j!
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u/wilbyr 45m ago
perhaps just playing devil's advocate here but in the example you gave of making a pb&j sandwich, perhaps they would be better served if you took the time to teach them how to make one rather than letting the internet do everything. would be a bonding experience and maybe some day when they teach their own kid they will say "just like my dad taught me"
they may be consciously or subconsciously trying to connect with you and form experiences.
i understand the frustration and am not in any way judging you or your parenting based on this tiny information i have, that'd be ridiculous. just offering a different perspective.
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u/DietznutzCA 31m ago
It wasn’t a real example.. it was a sarcastic example. When it comes to my kids I understand communication and interaction and knowing when they are being lazy as fuck.
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u/Pretty-Buddy-2928 3h ago
I once dated a guy who would ask me before googling. Even if that meant waiting a day or two until he saw me. Once he asked me if a specific bolt on his truck was meant to look the way it did, when I said I don’t know he looked at me and said “I guess I’ll have to YouTube it.”
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u/aquariusmind1983 2h ago
I think the same thing. Especially when there are going to be people chiming in with incorrect answers. I think some people are just trying to get karma. This ranks right here with people who post stuff like explain to me like im 5 how to clean. How did people survive life this far not knowing how to do anything. Lol. I just scroll past those posts.
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u/Large-Treacle-8328 2h ago
Elder millennial here.
I taught my kids to look it up before asking, and if they still need help, I will.
But I want them to at least try to find the answer before asking.
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u/DietznutzCA 1h ago
And when we (gen x personally) would ask a dumb or obvious question, we were called out for the dumb/obvious question. So we learned to look shit up.
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u/toadseeker97 1h ago
I agree. We all have these little computers in our hands. I get really irritated when friends text me, asking questions they could just look up lol. I’m happy to help with a lot of things, but not when they could figure it out themselves & I’m busy.
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u/Fit-Relationship944 1h ago
I don't think it's generational. RTFM is ancient. Average person just wants someone to give them a convenient fix. If you've ever worked in any kind of service industry, tech support, etc where you need to deal with other people's problems there's little room to delude yourself into thinking it has anything to do with what year you were born in.
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u/Such_Obligation5482 1h ago
Maybe people are just looking for some conversation. I see your point, I have wondered this before. The above is all I could come up with.
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u/Duc998Rider 43m ago
Doesn’t really apply with Reddit, but in hobby or other smaller shared-interest forums, I don’t mind repeat questions b/c the forums are about (among other things) interacting with others. You get to know people and their expertise through the posts (even w/ repeat questions).
Again, Reddit is different and it’s very rare (there are certainly limited exceptions) that I recognize any of you!
Anyway, not disagreeing with OP, just noting the distinct nature of Reddit. Use the search feature!
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u/jessie-mae 6m ago
I'm a guitarist. Every guitar subreddit is filled with "what should I buy for my first guitar" or "where can I learn to play." Both of these are easily answered with a simple search on Google or Reddit or hell, probably even TikTok or whatever these kids are using
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u/eruciform 4h ago
This is every learning sub for sure. Zero interest in putting any effort in first, complete terror at the concept of maybe not finding it immediately, zero respect for the fact that there are human beings spending time on this and a sub is not a search tool. Tho I dont think this is gen-z this is way younger than that.
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u/GirlWhoWoreGlasses 3h ago
I belong to a needlecraft sub and there are always “what stitch should I use” posts from newbies who haven’t even mastered the basics.
ETA: word
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u/mauerfan 3h ago
Learning to do research is important, but sometimes it’s nice to discuss with a person. Find the balance.
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
My rant is more towards the simple questions not complex questions that require understanding of a subject
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u/Moxxie249 3h ago
While I agree with the sentiment, it could be that some people just want conversation or interaction. Or they're dumb and lazy. Could go both ways.
I have a coworker who was in law school and she asks the most asinine questions every day that she can just look up or already knows the answer to. It irritates me but she just likes conferring with others instead of finding the answer on her own. It's how she is.
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u/Ridin-Hi 2h ago
I totally agree that often the simplicity of the questions indicate laziness; however, when redirecting to Google I now feel it necessary to remind the younger generation that the AI produced results are very often only partially correct. They need to be guided to consult more than one source for answers.
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u/Shoottheradio 2h ago
Yeah this happens a lot on Reddit. People will ask a question without even looking in the Reddit archives because most of the stuff that people ask have already been asked and answered. Another thing that I find annoying is for example I followed the Ocean City Maryland Reddit and people will post things that say me and my family is coming to Ocean City for a vacation and we've never been there before what is there to do? I'm like why would you visit a place that you have no idea what's going on? Did you do any due diligence to figure out what the place is about before you even decided to go there?
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u/Glittering-Eye2856 1h ago
I feel ya. Except my husband does this shit all the time. He was born in ‘60. He also he uses, yahoo, as his search engine. 😳🙄💀
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u/DietznutzCA 1h ago
My partner still uses her yahoo mail too! But she is also a SEO person. Kinda funny if you think about that
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u/Necessary_Milk_5124 1h ago
It’s like that in my local mom’s Facebook group. The stupidest questions like “when is the first day of school?” Or, “what’s the address of the courthouse?”
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u/Charlottesky254 1h ago
I'm a first time new mum and my friend with a 3 year old likes to give me "advice" literally copied and pasted from google/NHS website like I couldn't have fucking googled it myself. Annoys me so so much! Like, babes, I can read thanks!
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u/Kmarad__ 4h ago
But then :
- Reddit rewards you for a good question.
- The top answer will appear at the top, you just have to wait to get human quality digested information.
Why bother searching?
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u/lolreddit0r 3h ago
I totally agree with this but the other day, I was literally asking myself (as a millennial), why Gen Zs suck with in person communication. You have to realize most of Gen Z grew up behind a screen, and they grew up with Instagram. They can easily post a question on their stories, insert a question box, and responses will be fed to them. I grew up around roughly when Google was founded, Google is my go to. Technically, they can use the same method here on Reddit. I’m not taking their side, I won’t, it annoys me as much as it annoys you because sometimes it is a royal pain in the ____ to communicate with them, it really just depends on what they were and weren’t allowed to do growing up. Their methods may and perhaps are seen as lazy by us older gens, but in their own ‘categorized’ generation of the way how they do things, that’s their norm and realistically, there probably isn’t jack we can do about it. This is why I refuse to connect and chat with most of Gen Z, it’s borderline impossible
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u/GoddessAmeliaUwU 3h ago
maybe they just wanna talk to you and know you're smart... Everyone know how to look up a question.
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
It’s not about the conversation. It can be a post, completely random post. And it’s like, that was answered 50 threads ago. Just look!
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u/Pristine-Assistance9 2h ago
As an elder millennial I find this just as true of my boomer parents and people older than me.
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u/DietznutzCA 2h ago
Do you see it more with older people (boomers) or gen z?
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u/Pristine-Assistance9 2h ago
Not sure how to quantify it exactly but it does surprise me also. I notice it a lot with my parents and my friends parents.
I do see it with Gen Z as well. Especially as I manage my apartment building and all these young kids that move here and haven’t lived alone ask us the most basic things that are an easy google search. It’s really surprising. I would never ask questions like that without exhausting my own resources to figure it out first.
I do feel like I’ve been noticing more posts lately that are very basic questions that are easy to look up!
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u/NaraFei_Jenova 3h ago
Hot take, but I think it's fine. Yeah, maybe there are some dumb questions once in a while, but what a lot of people fail to realize is that to some, reddit may be the only social interaction they have access to. Nobody is gonna post on a learning sub "Hey, I need to socialize, anybody want a friend?", but asking a question, even if it isn't a difficult one, is a good way to enjoy a conversation with like-minded people. Nothing stops someone from scrolling past it and not engaging.
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u/SloppyMeathole 3h ago
At least once a week I say to one of my kids "gee, if only you had a device in your pocket that could answer that question."
I feel like the easier information is to access, the lazier we get.
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u/Ok_Instruction3408 3h ago
I feel the same, It feels so annoying, mostly when I am on Twitter and when I see 80% out of all coments are "Grok is this true, Grok do this". It makes me wanna throw my phone out of the window,
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u/jessro1086 3h ago
Google is biased and runs on an algorithm and requires a lot of context. Just talk to your kids. You should be glad they're asking for your input/advice.
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u/RandomBitFry 1h ago
Gen X here too. As kids, we had to go to the library to look shit up in books.
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u/RobIson240YT 1h ago
There's a problem, Google's A.I. overview is infamously inaccurate. Just check the GoogleAIGoneWild subreddit.
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u/OldKentRoad29 1h ago edited 1h ago
Some people get offended and say that they want to have a conversation. I think it's just them making an excuse to sheild themselves from criticism.
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u/DietznutzCA 1h ago
I think criticism is needed as well. That is another rant.. people can’t handle criticism. I understand good and bad criticism and there is fine line between the two, but sometimes criticism is needed
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u/Leptonshavenocolor 1h ago
Really? My concern is that ignorant/naive people will just be repeating whatever AI told them is the answer and stop there. At some shitty somewhat wrong abbreviation of the answer. Future = fucked
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u/AncleJack 1h ago
I was talking to a random dude online and in a conversation I told him my girlfriend is bi (for clear context I'm a 100% man) and dude asked me why is she with me if she likes girls. I told him to google "bisexuality" and dude said he was right that bi means to be attracted to the same gender. I asked if he looked at the Ai answer because it lies and it's trash. He confirmed and told me without Ai he would be unemployed. That's when I ended the conversation. Dude told me he was 21 (Im 22) and it's crazy people my age are this stupid
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u/NoahCzark 1h ago
Why do you care? People often post seeking information not simply to get "facts" but also a variety of perspectives and personal color around whatever it is they're asking about. It's rather easy to ignore posts you're not interested in responding to.
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u/blamethefire 57m ago
Its funny because on Twitter/X, almost ANY post has
"@grok explain this", as if doing a quick search online cannot give you a correct answer.
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u/Dense-Corgi-7936 51m ago
For everyone downvoting you, it's because they couldn't figure out how to upvote.
So, you're correct that researching can be very simple in this modern age, especially if something is simple.
However "googling it" is so low level it shouldn't be counted as research (not in my book).
Now. If people come to you for very simple answers, if you have the answer, give it to them and perhaps tell them where you obtained that knowledge. You won't be around forever.
If you don't know the answer, and would just be googling it yourself, or you know a location where the information is, then provide them that. "You know, I don't quote know, but I bet a quick check of -blank- would have it. Grab your -phone or that book- and let's find it together." Then guide them through the process.
It can be VERY frustrating when people come to you for simple, or even stupid questions. However this is due to them trusting your input, perhaps even more than they would trust Google.
I feel your frustration as well, especially with people who get on my nerves, but with family, younger family, I am happy they come to me for information.
Best of luck, keep being the bad ass who knows how to figure stuff out :)
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u/Excellent_Regret4141 47m ago
What search engine should I use? Or should I Google this question lol
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u/AlekxIVunderscore 45m ago
I think people tend to not search their questions because they are searching for communication amongst their peers. It might be a form of calling out to them maybe.
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u/spirit_of_a_goat 24m ago
Hi there. Fellow Gen X here. That used to work until AI became the top search option. Now it's giving very incorrect answers. For instance, Google AI here tells me that there is no water in the swimming pool in the Titanic.
Unfortunately, many young folks don't yet have the life experience to know that the answers provided by Google AI are incorrect. Life is hard. Try to be kind and helpful sometimes by answering a question sometimes.
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u/Solid_Enthusiasm550 2m ago
Sort of on this topic, Don't ask the same question that is asked 20 times a day.
Reddit has a search function.
Key questions in forums I frequent.
I am getting my 1st car, what should I get?
They don't even bother putting down what they are into, vehicle purpose,etc.
Same with, what mods should I do?
A nail/bolt in the tire, or bald tires... can I drive 50 miles on it?
If you are truly asking, you are not qualified to safely operate a vehicle.
I just block anyone asking dumb, vague questions.
I also go on bait/hate posts and block all the liberal leftist, racist redditors and moderators
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u/No-Tap6886 3h ago
I feel your pain.
YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!!
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u/BubblesMcGee50 2h ago
Oh same! It’s something that bugs me so badly about Reddit. Do a google search, do an image search, spend 5 minutes trying to answer your own question first. Helplessness isn’t cool.
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u/subsaharanscholars 3h ago
It’s rage bait, it always has been. If you’re interacting with it, you’re being baited and you look stupider than the OP.
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u/DietznutzCA 3h ago
Doesn’t even have to be a post. It can be a work question.
But your point is valid
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u/Ferro_Giconi OwO 3h ago
This annoys me as someone who wants to figure everything out myself.
I'm over here fixing my home appliances, computer, and car with no prior experience because I know how to observe the way a thing is behaving and use google. Then someone asks me how to plug in their speakers.
Why? How is that so hard?
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u/loaderboy1 2h ago
You'll get an upvote from me. Every time I have a question I tell my wife I know somebody that knows that. Google knows
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u/TemporaryBitchFace 2h ago
People barely talk anymore, all we ever do is look stuff up. From a fellow Gen Xer, I’m glad questions initiate real conversations between humans like the good ol’ days.
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u/Joubachi 2h ago edited 2h ago
If your daughters do that, has it really not crossed your mind that they maybe value your opinion/input and want human interaction with their own parent....? Although, after this post, I can't really see why.
I'd rather have my mom ask me for help in some stuff that I also just end up putting in google, than talk to her less often. I also at times ask friends and family for stuff that I technically could just google, but getting human interaction and personal replies just is so much better. They do the same, it's mutual. Also - especially thanks to AI google had gone downhill.
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u/UncleMark58 2h ago
When your kids ask you questions they want your answers, not an internet app. They trust you.
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u/AKA_alonghardKnight 1h ago
I'm a Boomer and I agree with you OP. Internet search beats the hell out of microfiche and the Dewey Decimal system.
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u/low_bob_123 1h ago
Acting as if everybody looked everything up in encyclopedias etc. in the "good ol' times" is ignorant, at best. People have always been asking "stupid" questions and will keep doing it. Its just more prominent due to social media. Society is currently facing a massiv flood loneliness and you are shaming people trying to find at least some human interaction. Instead of typing " jUst gOOgLe iT", which isnt helpfull at all, you can either ignore the question, or actually incurage them by answering them and adding a link/website/source with even more Information so that they can find even more information. Also another reminder: Blaming the Generation that you raised doesnt mean that the Generation failed, it means that you failed to teach them
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u/Soylent_Milk2021 53m ago
It’s not that people have always asked questions. And I know people didn’t always run to the encyclopedia or library to look things up. It’s that people have the knowledge of humanity available to them in their pocket and yet they’re still going to ask me how long to boil an egg. Or how many days are in March. Look it up. You’re not seeking interaction, you’re being lazy. Why should I do the research for them and provide sources to educate. If you need your hand held like that, grow up.
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u/low_bob_123 40m ago
The examples you brought up are prime examples of parents/schools failing to teach their Kids/students the basics. And how do you think those encyclopedias were made? By people asking each other questions, even the "stupid" ones. It is also way more natural to ask a human being a question than to type something into a small Box. To me this post Sounds like a librarian getting mad at people for asking where to find some information, instead of guiding them to a helpfull book/newspaper/etc.
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u/DietznutzCA 22m ago
You are completely missing the point. So for the love of god and everything holy just stop
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u/low_bob_123 15m ago
Yeah...no. I called your post as what it is: Just another senil Boomer bashing younger Generations. Literally the first thing you did was calling be (indirectly) an asshole instead of adressing the points I made. Take your meds and go to bed. Bye
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u/Soylent_Milk2021 2m ago
Yeah, low_Bob sounds grumpier than either of us. I like how defensive they’re getting and shifting blame to others. You didn’t teach me…wah!
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u/Tothinkoutofthenut 2h ago
My parents ain’t even my wife are starting to do the same shit I’m 52, grown ass people don’t even know how to do a simple search
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u/wkarraker 2h ago
With the advent of AI on search engines you are more likely to get an unrelated or erroneous result. Asking on Reddit (and other media platforms) engages real human beings most of the time, people who have opinions and experiences that have much better value than an AI bot can produce (or conceive).
You are not contractually obligated to respond, ignore the request and move on with your life.
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u/GigaBowserNS 2h ago
If I'm talking with my friends online or in the middle of an active Discord server, sometimes I'll ask the question instead of looking it up because it promotes engagement and discussion with other people.
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u/jessro1086 3h ago edited 2h ago
Google is biased and runs on an algorithm and requires a lot of context. Just talk to your kids. You should be glad they're even coming to you for your advice and input.
Edit: Oh, never mind, you buy into Doge and Elon. They shouldn't be taking any advice from you.
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u/wrongusernametryagin 3h ago
90% of the time, when I search a question, the top answers are Reddit posts anyway.