"Google it"

[Skittles1101]

Is it just me, or this this very short phrase severely over used? Yes, google can be a very helpful resource with certain things, but I really feel like the whole entire POINT of reptile forums is so that people can come on here and ask very specific questions and get very direct and PROPER responses from EXPERIENCED keepers. It takes a lot to "irk" me online, but I can't help but cringe when I see seasoned reptile keepers responding to threads with "google it" or "you know google is really helpful". Google is NOT helpful when it comes to reptiles. Google helped me find this forum, amongst others, but as far as PROPER husbandry, health, and species specific info, google is just as bad as getting info from Petco! Seriously, google "ball python care sheets" and look at how many incorrect caresheets show up.

Especially when it comes to the more "experienced" species, such as burms, condas, etc, why in the world would people tell someone to google the info on them?! I don't trust google. I mean, I get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, but if you don't feel like taking the time to respond....then don't! Sorry for the rant! I'm curious what others' thoughts are on this.

P.S. Sorry for all the caps I'm not yelling, I'm emphasizing lol

[chet1028]

I am very new to this board and new to snake keeping. The thing that stands out most to me about this board is the laziness. People need to do a little research on their own before coming on and asking the same questions about set ups, temps, basic feeding. This board (and google) are filled with tons of info that is right at your fingertips. I think people should do their homework before coming here and trying to take the lazy way out. I can only imagine how annoying it must be for the seasoned members to see the same questions repeatedly. So for them to tell someone to "google" it is probably nicer than I would be.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

The worst part is that when googled, and I have done this, there is SOOOOO much wrong information!!

I have actually emailed several blog owners to ask them to fix, update, correct information. Usually I get no response. makes me so mad

I understand that some people just don't know they are wrong, I've been there - but when someone corrects you - then correct your info! urgh.

[Skittles1101]

I am very new to this board and new to snake keeping. The thing that stands out most to me about this board is the laziness. People need to do a little research on their own before coming on and asking the same questions about set ups, temps, basic feeding. This board (and google) are filled with tons of info that is right at your fingertips. I think people should do their homework before coming here and trying to take the lazy way out. I can only imagine how annoying it must be for the seasoned members to see the same questions repeatedly. So for them to tell someone to "google" it is probably nicer than I would be.

Yes, but then again the search function on here is 100000 times better than google...

[h00blah]

I completely agree with your little peeve. It only bothers me when people ask to see certain pictures of animals that are super common. I haven't seen such a thread in a while though. It's one thing to say "can someone show me what a bumblebee looks like?".. It's another to say "Show me your spider combos!"..

When I first got into ball pythons, google actually sent me HERE. All the links that showed up in my google search sent me to this forum... I had never been an active member of a forum before this one, and I found that it was really easy to ask my questions. I was surprised at how fast people answered my questions. When I got a zero point warning (Thanks Dr Del ), I knew this forum was going to be something I wanted to take seriously.

I also agree that the information you find on animals, specifically reptiles, is often incorrect or outdated...

There's no use in trying to correct these websites, because more often than not, the website is outdated and abandoned... I don't want this forum to turn into one of the other forums where people get scolded for asking questions that have been answered previously. It's up to the members to maintain the helpfulness of this forum. The admins can't install more helpful users lol.

[brooksy]

The internet is like a bathroom stall- anyone can write anything and it doesn't have to be true in the slightest.
So google can be great when you know how to search things and take everything you read with a grain of salt. The first 10 or so pages that come up when you "google" my other interests all come up with very harmful, incorrect information but those sites have paid someone to have their sites come up first to make people biased. So remember that you might have to look at 30 or more sites before you attain accurate info.
Luckily finding various reptile forums has helped enrich the lives of my reptiles. I do agree that the search function or reading old threads should be done more often, however when I was new to forums I did not know this, as they don't teach forum etiquette in schools. So as much as reading the same questions numerous times a day isn't fun, we al have the choice to read them and the choice to respond and how our attitude is towards the newbies.
Just saying to remember it could be the posters very first time on any forum, or they might not know the etiquette to attempt to search it first as well.

[DooLittle]

I hear ya. Any idiot can (and do) post all kinds of wrong/stupid/untrue info. So basically you can't really trust anything you "Google". You have to take it with a grain of salt, do more research and form your own opinions. I agree, this place is 100% the best place for not only bp info, but many other snake species and reptiles as well. First hand experience from an owner is way better than "Google" info.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[Anatopism]

There are a select few questions I think are suitable for googling, but I'm familiar enough with the ignorance of new keepers to know that with most questions, it would be irresponsible for me to direct anybody to google. A lot of people simply don't know how to tell fact from fiction, when so many places spout fiction as if it is fact. I've also had a few moments where I've searched and found 15 different pages or articles, where most were copied and pasted from one central location, or where one variable was off, and I felt it was significant enough to post my exact situation on the forum just to be safe.

I would like if more people used the search function here on the forum, but I also usually try to search the forum myself, post the relevent links as a response, rather than typing everything out that's already been said word for word in several other threads (e.g. tricks to getting a BP to eat, mice vs rats?, how do I kill mites???!?).

While I ultimately feel it is the responsibility of the owner to research the animal they are getting or have, I feel some responsibility is placed on the rest of the community to point them not only in the right direction, but to teach newcomers a skill I feel a LOT of people (outside and within the hobby), have failed to ever pick up: reseraching, and how to ask questions/seek answers.

[mikel81]

The worst part is that when googled, and I have done this, there is SOOOOO much wrong information!!

Worst seconded only to googling and you find a post with one response telling the person to "google it".

[Mike41793]

Leah if you want my opinion youre just gunna have to google it...