I wish people would just to a basic Google search

[CwF]

interesting discussion, some test to sign up a good idea, but to the original point:

Even for a fluent user the signal to noise ratio of a google search nowadays is very low. I'm thrilled when a lengthy specific query yield NO results. Google couldn't figure what to sell me... Identical Google searches from different credential don't even return the same results anymore. Well written guides and how-to's are the best bet, organized in maintained communities like this.

[GarryRicketson]

Yes , but , well Google, is certainly not the only search engine, fortunately.
I do agree, google is the last choice , when I do any searches.
For those same reasons, all the results are just advertisements and spam sites. I guess they pay google to make sure they are in the first results but that would be another topic.

The other search engines usually get better results.
Other search engines that are better then google

[debiman]

• searching the web is an underrated skill. it's not that easy, and providing the troubled newb with a useful search phrase or link is better than just saying "wtf, it literally took me 5s to find a solution for you". plus: still adhering to the "teach a person to fish" principle.
• google == filter bubble. it can get positively annoying sometimes. for computer-related stuff i found duckduckgo.com to yield better results.