Is it my imagination or do many people not know how to use the search engine?

Question

Sometimes I will mention to someone that they can find something on the computer.
They ask for the exact URL and they are unable to look it up for themselves.
Some thing are .com some .org and of course there are others at there but....
I have found that if you ask the computer for what you want in a search engine, it will give it to you...and you can also change search engines if you cannot find it...there is google, yahoo and others.
Has anyone else noticed, that not everyone seems to know how to use a search engine?

Answer 1

You betcha. There are many people out there that don't know what 'key' words to put into the search engine to find what they are looking for. Personally, I usually don't have any trouble finding what I'm looking for when I'm on my browser. Maybe some of us are just more computer literate than some of the other people because we spend more time on our computers than those that try to use the various search engines only for special projects, people who are ignorant or don't have a clue as to how to use a search engine. And yet they manage to find their way to Yahoo Answers! Strange, isn't it?

Answer 2

Spend any time on Yahoo Answers, and this becomes very obvious. I would say as many as 50% of the questions asked in some categories are ones that could be answered in less time by just typing the question into a Google search.

It's one thing if someone is asking a specific question - like about a video released date - and they don't know the available resources. But people who ask general question drive me up the walls. Then again, half the kids asking questions here would probably have a hard time finding an answer since they can't use proper grammar.

Answer 3

Ok...I do know how to type in things on google that I have an interest in. However, when I am asking a question about something and I ask for a link, the weird thing is someone else ALWAYS gives me a better website than the ones I found on my own by googling it. So, even though I can find answers on my own...it never hurts for me to ask for others to give their websites either because you often find out a better site to explore.

Answer 4

Absolutely! A lot of people know what Google is, but beyond that, they have little concept of what a s/e is or does.

If you really want to confuse them... drop the term 'metasearch engine" on them! I've showed a lot of students in my IT classes what dogpile.com does... you should see their facial expressions.

One nice thing about Firefox and Internet Explorer is that if you enter a non-url, it will auto search the web. In a way, it kinda 'idiot proofs' searching the internet.

Answer 5

Well, I'd make a search engine and give TV ads about it, that would be great..! right??? lol

Answer 6

I can use a search engine but I enjoy getting answers from real people sometimes you get a better answer, or a different angle

Answer 7

Well , there are many who don't know how to use a computer. So , what's the problem , if some peaple don't know how to use a search engine?

Answer 8

I've noticed that here.. many people will wait for days, even weeks for answers here when it should have taken them less than 5 mins on google or wikipedia...

Answer 9

i dont know..but then im stupid...i know nothing about computers....its all new to me....im self taught so that would make me the worst teacher in the world....i cant spell...i am losing the will to live...i have good reason to end it all....but ile keep going for a while longer...cos out there,..i know somone loves me......joke people......i was kidding about the last part..........cheers ....seamanab

Answer 10

Yes.