What the Internet does really, really well is what it's really good at.

[kentauros]

60. I exaggerated the "hour" spent sifting through google.

Normally, I do use it, as I also use Wikipedia and other sources specific to certain easily-answered topics.

However, for most of the political and social topics we discuss here, I assume there are more people with far better (and immediate) knowledge than having to sift through google results that are just as likely to be RW talking points. Without a handbook of said talking points, it can make the search more difficult and take longer.

DU teaches, mostly because it's a message-board filled with people that are willing to teach. Just as is the case with your examples for the marine community message-board. Places filled with people that want to share their information.

My "problem" is with those people on this and other boards that are not willing to teach, and resort to the "just google it" mantra. It's dismissive and condescending, and I see it even here on DU.

This is my "complaint." That even on DU and the rest of the boards that welcome questions, you still have the worst of the bunch giving a bad name to the idea that the Internet is a wealth of freely available information. It is that, and it's aggravating having to deal with the immature ones that make you wonder why they're even online at all.