【Chat】Searching VS. Asking

[SithLord 10]

Pending revision by SithLord...expected time completion: day after apocalypse

Searching and asking are basically the same action, the quest for an answer.

When one searches, there is most likely some form of answer available. (When did who do what at where)

Simple, obvious facts can be found easily; a simple search on the Internet, a flip through the reference book are just two ways. While in asking a question, via a post on the internet, one can get some unexpected responces.

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Original article follows:

Which do you think is better?

With the massive information flow within the Internet, one can find just about anything if they know where to look.

Still, the information available is so large that one has a hard time separating fact from fiction.

Asking the question, however, one is not concerned with what is answered, but rather who is answering and his/her creditability. This is similar to searching for the answer, except that one knows who is answering.

I like asking a question, it generates a flow of information between people.

-----

In my job, however, I hate people asking me questions.

They are not speaking the same in the same tounge as I am and sometimes they are not clear as to what they as asking or what they want. = =#

[MikiRei 10]

They are not speaking the same in the same tounge as I am and sometimes they are not clear as to what they as asking or what they want.

Or maybe, you just don't have the patience to listen :p

Nah...I kid. I'll only get annoyed with questions if that person CLEARLY never thought through the question at all. Ie. GENERALISED question

eg. How do I do the assignment?

However, if it's more specific questions eg. "I'm trying to shift the array 3 to the left but it'll go out of bounds, how do you ensure that it doesn't get out of bounds? I tried this and that etc.etc...."

These kind of questions, I like. It means the person clearly THOUGHT about the question and hence I'm more willing to provide the answer.

As for searching vs. asking. Well, it's kind of the same don't you think? The information is ALL provided by fellow human beings. It's just a matter of being observant enough to do good analysis in judging credibility (in your own accords that is)

HOWEVER (I'm guessing this thread was generated after I poked around and made the comment that people don't search for the answers enough), as I've said, I prefer answering questions after people made an effort to think and LOOK for their answers. So yes, asking is good because you generate a flow of information - but how much flow of information can you generate if one party never bothered to GATHER some information of their own?

Both are important. However, I go by the general rule - do your homework first before asking! :p

I say this because TWICE had I answer people's question with a simple google search link. If it's general information your asking for, search for it. If you want to discuss your findings and polish your answers or you're unsure about certain information you've gathered, then ask. It's a matter of effectively combining the two. One doesn't outweigh the other.

Asking the question, however, one is not concerned with what is answered, but rather who is answering and his/her creditability. This is similar to searching for the answer, except that one knows who is answering.

Wait...asking questions isn't concerned with what is answered, but rather who is answering and his/her credibility?

I beg to differ. How can you ask a question WITHOUT concerning the contents of the answer? Regardless of the person's credibility, if he/she provided me with an incorrect or irrelevant answer, I WOULD be concerned. That's because it doesn't answer my question!

As for the internet, you CAN tell who's credible or not - at least to your own discretion. For example, if I search for information about the music composer, Bach, I'll find it more credible if the information is coming from, say, a music university site as oppose to some cheaply-made, personal website that is littered with porn ads. Of course, that is to the extreme - but that's exactly why you search for MULTIPLE resources. Check the abundance of references for many of the Wikipedia articles. It's a matter of being skillful at gathering, pruning and selecting what's relevant to your own cause.

Flipping the argument around, even if information comes from credible sites, you still won't be 100% if it's correct. However, let's face it. Since when is ANYTHING 100% correct? How can you be COMPLETELY certain that a site is credible? Similar argument, are you 100% sure that whoever you're asking is credible? I sometimes find certain lecturers in uni full of trash, yet, in the eyes of society, they are credible. It's a indistinguishable thin line. One must judge according to their own principles - and even if you're being completely logical in your judgement, someone will DEFINITELY yield a different opinion - and of course, you can't rule their opinions out.

Anyways, I end my erratic rant.

[SithLord 10]

As for searching vs. asking. Well, it's kind of the same don't you think? The information is ALL provided by fellow human beings. It's just a matter of being observant enough to do good analysis in judging credibility (in your own accords that is)

HOWEVER (I'm guessing this thread was generated after I poked around and made the comment that people don't search for the answers enough), as I've said, I prefer answering questions after people made an effort to think and LOOK for their answers. So yes, asking is good because you generate a flow of information - but how much flow of information can you generate if one party never bothered to GATHER some information of their own?

Both are important. However, I go by the general rule - do your homework first before asking! :p

I say this because TWICE had I answer people's question with a simple google search link. If it's general information your asking for, search for it. If you want to discuss your findings and polish your answers or you're unsure about certain information you've gathered, then ask. It's a matter of effectively combining the two. One doesn't outweigh the other.

Well, you've clearly thought this through very thoroughly.

I agree with you on thinking the question through first

(sometimes it comes out without passing through my brain first.)

At least I'll know to look it up on Wikipidia before I ask for a bashing of words from you :E

Wait...asking questions isn't concerned with what is answered, but rather who is answering and his/her credibility?

I beg to differ. How can you ask a question WITHOUT concerning the contents of the answer? Regardless of the person's credibility, if he/she provided me with an incorrect or irrelevant answer, I WOULD be concerned. That's because it doesn't answer my question!

As for the internet, you CAN tell who's credible or not - at least to your own discretion. For example, if I search for information about the music composer, Bach, I'll find it more credible if the information is coming from, say, a music university site as oppose to some cheaply-made, personal website that is littered with porn ads. Of course, that is to the extreme - but that's exactly why you search for MULTIPLE resources. Check the abundance of references for many of the Wikipedia articles. It's a matter of being skillful at gathering, pruning and selecting what's relevant to your own cause.

Flipping the argument around, even if information comes from credible sites, you still won't be 100% if it's correct. However, let's face it. Since when is ANYTHING 100% correct? How can you be COMPLETELY certain that a site is credible? Similar argument, are you 100% sure that whoever you're asking is credible? I sometimes find certain lecturers in uni full of trash, yet, in the eyes of society, they are credible. It's a indistinguishable thin line. One must judge according to their own principles - and even if you're being completely logical in your judgement, someone will DEFINITELY yield a different opinion - and of course, you can't rule their opinions out.

Anyways, I end my erratic rant.

Guess my argument wasn't precise enough.0_o

YES, questions with clear answers, correct answers can and will be found on the Internet.

Questions like:"Where is the capital of Australia?" Answer:Canberra.

"What did Bill Clinton have for dinner yesterday?" Answer: I have no idea, but someone knows.

Those questions have answers. Sometimes the answers one finds may not be correct, but they can be found.

But what of those without?

When I posted this thread I had other questions in mind, questions like:

"How am I to survive in office politics?", "What is the meaning of life?"

While one can find answers to these questions on the web, asking someone one trusts is so much better.

This is like asking for advice or guidance or sometimes just faith.

Sometimes, one just needs to hear another person say what one wants to hear(i.e. Does this dress make me look fat?).

And in asking these questions, I believe the credibility(amount of trust I have) of the person answering.

(I'm guessing this thread was generated after I poked around and made the comment that people don't search for the answers enough)

You got it.

Trying to focus your distaste of people asking random questions without looking them up first here.

Focus your hate, feel the power of the dark side of the Force. :P

Just kidding.

I'm not saying you are wrong, just not completely right. :E

Now why did I post this thread? I don't remember.

a trap to lure MikRei to the dark side of the Force

[MikiRei 10]

Well, you've clearly thought this through very thoroughly.

I have? There's a few holes in my argument but since I was only taking a 5 minute break, I didn't bother brushing it up.

At least I'll know to look it up on Wikipidia before I ask for a bashing of words from you

You know, it's not really Wikipedia I'm referring to. It's something as follows:

"What's the storyline of Lord of the Rings"

Ans: http://www.google.com/search?q=Lord+of+the+Rings+Plot+Summary

One line search in a Google search - takes 3 seconds. This is why I don't comprehend why people wouldn't search first. :p

But what of those without?

When I posted this thread I had other questions in mind, questions like:

"How am I to survive in office politics?", "What is the meaning of life?"

While one can find answers to these questions on the web, asking someone one trusts is so much better.

This is like asking for advice or guidance or sometimes just faith.

Sometimes, one just needs to hear another person say what one wants to hear(i.e. Does this dress make me look fat?).

And in asking these questions, I believe the credibility(amount of trust I have) of the person answering.

Well, just as you've mentioned before, BE PRECISE with your question. One was thinking that you meant getting answers in general. Well, of course, if you're going to ask philosophical questions, there is only so much you can get off the net. You won't even ask the net - it's a relative question - depends on yourself.

Trying to focus your distaste of people asking random questions without looking them up first here.

Have a check on the ones that I actually poked fun at - people were asking REALLY general questions that was easily answered by a 3 second google search. Your last post tells us that you're referring to unanswered or debatable questions - hence this thread is no longer relevant for discussion. Actually, I should say, your question was far too generalised. What you REALLY wanted to ask (or what your topic SHOULD have been) was "Is searching on the net for ideas better or open discussion for ideas better?"

I'm not saying you are wrong, just not completely right.

You haven't even point out what I was wrong about.

Conclusion: You've asked an INCREDIBLY general question but expecting a very *specific* answer from a certain angle. I, on the other hand, have interpreted the question in yet a different angle. I thus deem this discussion no longer relevant to continue unless you insist but first, you'll need to reword your question in the angle of perspective you're aiming at. :p

*returns to whatever she was doing*

[訪客]

Asking people for answers is just a way of searching. You search in library, you search on the internet, you search your brain...and you ask people. It's all "searching".

[SithLord 10]

Well, just as you've mentioned before, BE PRECISE with your question. One was thinking that you meant getting answers in general. Well, of course, if you're going to ask philosophical questions, there is only so much you can get off the net. You won't even ask the net - it's a relative question - depends on yourself.

Your last post tells us that you're referring to unanswered or debatable questions - hence this thread is no longer relevant for discussion. Actually, I should say, your question was far too generalised. What you REALLY wanted to ask (or what your topic SHOULD have been) was "Is searching on the net for ideas better or open discussion for ideas better?"

You haven't even point out what I was wrong about.

Conclusion: You've asked an INCREDIBLY general question but expecting a very *specific* answer from a certain angle. I, on the other hand, have interpreted the question in yet a different angle. I thus deem this discussion no longer relevant to continue unless you insist but first, you'll need to reword your question in the angle of perspective you're aiming at. :p

*returns to whatever she was doing*

lol

I can say that I have not been expecting any specific answers, just that I posted an article from my point of view.

Your reply was from your point of view.

I can understand that, respect that; but I don't have to make it my own.

Now when I said you were not entirely correct, it was from my point of view. hr

I didn't mean to make this thread into an argument on which is right or wrong.

But it might be fun xd

Posting your views, providing a guildline for someone who's looking for a way, ect. that sort of things.

I might revise my original post, if I'm not too lazy this weekend.

[MikiRei 10]

I can understand that, respect that; but I don't have to make it my own.

Noone's telling you to make it your own. My point, to put it simply, is merely that we were looking at the topic of the thread in different ways so ummm......the discussion is sort of pointless to go on. It's like 2 parallel lines travelling down an endless road - it's not going to cross. Reword the topic if you can be bothered so that we can start the discussion afresh in the *same* direction. Otherwise, it's like swimming around in two different fish tanks.