This thread is a microcosm of everything annoying about reddit.

A guy posts a photo of a spider wondering if it is a "brown recluse" gets a bunch of different answers many repeats, several people calling him stupid for not 'just googling it' a few calls to burn down the house and move.

It's not a brown recluse. Even if it were they aren't aggressive. Move to a remote location. There is a really good video about the reputation these spiders have I'll link next.

reddit.com/r/whatbugisthis/com

I think it's nice that people go to expert forums to find out about insects. It would be nice if everyone would read the other replies before adding their own.

It would be nice if taking time to tell someone to "google it" would just die... particularly with how google and other searches have... become much less useful over time.

@futurebird

I think the term 'google it' probably means one should try and find the answer or at least make some effort before asking. However I agree this is less helpful, our vocabulary has changed so we google something rather than search it implies google is the only way to search for information, this is not helped by basic IT classes using google and not mentioning alternatives.

Same goes for promoting facebook or zoom, it makes it much harder for replacements to get a proper foothold.

@zleap @futurebird We're also at a point where online information is increasingly suspect and flooded with bad info. ChatGPT will confidently give you a very wrong answer, particularly on things like this.

Expert forums are probably going to get more important.

Follow

@MichaelTBacon @futurebird

Yeah good point, like science forums as it is friendly but the people there do actually know their stuff.

Sign in to participate in the conversation
Qoto Mastodon

QOTO: Question Others to Teach Ourselves
An inclusive, Academic Freedom, instance
All cultures welcome.
Hate speech and harassment strictly forbidden.