BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: SeanM
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 07:33 PM

I think part of it on the 'cat may be a function of this from the homepage...

"And if you don't find what you're looking for in the Digitrad Lyric Database try posting a message to our Forum. Odds are your question will be answered within hours."

For someone without knowledge of the site, limited patience for searches, or who is just plain lazy, may seem easier to just come in to the forum, post a request for lyrics, and get the answer. I don't know... maybe when someone posts to the forum, they feel more 'connected' to the process than they would just browsing the DT.

Besides, sometimes requests for tunes that 'everyone knows' spawn discussions that prove to be enlightening.

On the whole, though... I do sometimes sympathize. I remember a patch where we went through about 8 requests for "Drunken Sailor" in two days... you'd think SOMEONE wouild notice the previously created thread at the top of the pile...

M

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 07:18 PM

I think it takes a certain amount of knack, getting used to a search engine, understanding how it "thinks".....that kind of stuff. I too hate Jeeves and I'm pretty much hooked on Google. I notice that's a trend here. The iNBC is working for me a bit, but Google is my favorite.

I too get aggravated with the folks who ask questions that can be found VERY simply on Google, but what the hell.......That's kinda' why we're here too. Learning to search THIS site is something even a lot of members need to learn. Its not all that hard, but a lot of folks don't make use of the number of LINKS we have (not Quick Links).......We get guitar questions and the like that can be found out about in the Instrument Related section of the main LINKS pages.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:43 PM

Well.. when I first started at Mudcat, about a year ago, I'd use the Search function, and come up with not much of any use. Now, though, I find all KINDS of stuff.

I think that what is searchable must be growing and that how searching is done must be evolving, because it's amazing what can be found. But see, if you don't know it's gotten better, you don't repeat what seemed to work so badly way back when.

But when someone TELLS me HOW they found something-- I feel more curious about going to go look for myself. Wouldn't it be great (for me) if you could easily post the series of steps that took you to the thing you found? And that would map your thought process on how and where to search, also? But you know as well as I do-- it is easier to just DO a thing than TEACH someone how to do it.

Also, though, and this is a BIG factor for me, and zillions of people like me (a googleplex!!!)-- despite having put a lot of time and money into equipping myself with a good computer, etc., right now for a variety of reasons I am on a 486, signed onto a cheap ISP that crawls, and going through phone lines that creep through slow local switches before they get out to the BIG WORLDWIDE WEB. And so it can take me hours to find out that I am NOT going to get my answer. That thread on Heroes of the Blues I started yesterday-- I spent a whole day waiting for pages to load, and such, and I am pretty good about figuring out how to move around things fast.

Now, unlike Zeb (*G*), I AM beyond the grip of most intelligences-- I am in fact very, very smart. But spend the day searching? I don't usually have time to wait out the equipment.

So if Zeb (I mean the whole of Mudcat search whizzes) can find something faster, and is willing, I accept that help while I learn what I can. I help too, in other ways.

See? Community. Doing our part. Giving what we can. As a gift-- minus resentment. See?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: MMario
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:11 PM

Rizla may not be being sarcastic either. I've SEEN some browsers which make it next to imposible to get to a search engine (other then their own - which is usually a crippled, lame, poor excuse for a search engine in the first place)

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: mousethief
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:08 PM

I think people don't know HOW to use search engines well. It takes something of a knack. Like MMario says, the "knack" needed by various search engines is different. It's not something you're born knowing how to do.

If the first time you search, you get a bunch of garbage and none of it is helpful, knowing what words to add or delete from your search string to get what you really want is really a fairly advanced skill.

Like MM, I can't get a decent answer out of Jeeves, but I can usually find what I'm looking for fairly quickly on Google. Is this because I'm stupid? I would think my success on Google proves my inability to use Jeeves isn't a case of stupidity. It's a knack I haven't mastered. And some people don't master ANY of them, and give up in disgust, perhaps thinking something like, "I've tried those search engines. They're rubbish."

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: MMario
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:03 PM

Zeb - I often wonder the same thing. Just as I wonder why people are calling the Help Desk at work to tell me their computer isn't working when there is no power in their county. (It works over the phone lines, doesn't it? The phones are working...)

I can tell you that various people have different "patterns" they use when searching. My sister can get answers out of www.askjeeves.com. I guess I ask the questins incorrectly or something because I can't get a decent answer out of Jeeves to save my life. On the other hand, I have a knack of getting "hits" on google.com where my desired answer will be in the top ten.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: Rizla the Green
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 05:59 PM

I can never find a search engine.

Subject: Why don't people use Search Engines?
From: Zebedee
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 05:57 PM

The vast majority of my posts here are in response to lyric/music requests. (my other posts tend to get taken wrongly and upset people)

Generally, I enjoy searching stuff out, and finding the answer, I wouldn't do it otherwise.

I like to think that I'm fairly competent at searching the web, but I do nothing beyond the grip of the averagely intelligent person.

What I don't understand is why people post requests here for obvious stuff, when using a search engine is a lot easier than posting a message here.

Any ideas?

Ed