Google It!

My (completely unsubstantiated) theory is that most such people:

a) have poor English language skills and are actually trying to ask a specific question.

b) have poor English language skills and are unable to understand what Google is telling them.

c) Are just poor lonely fools who crave some sort of human interaction.

d) all of the above.

I agree completely with Guest. Also, I would like to know if Google, or many of the sites that it leads to, are blocked for political reasons in some countries?

Thanks charsley99,

A very useful link. I have not been getting the most out of Google. Had no idea there were so many operators. I have bookmarked this page for future use.

Good day charsley 99,

thanks for the googleguide, I am also not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to using PC's

Regards,

Leon

Good points -

Another reason I see is that there are NUMEROUS results from Google - particularly from suppliers when you are looking for technical information, although some supplier sites have very good information. And instead of sorting through all the "fluff" material I suspect the question asker is looking for a "good" website or information specific to what they are asking.

I normally bookmark the really good sites with information (particularly handbooks, design guides, whitepapers, (essentially a lot of stuff on pdfs).

Google will also provide conflicting views.

Think for a moment on Googling the question: "How do you rate the Pres. of U.S.A.'s performance?" Results back would be split; "halo"/"horns"

I think what's being requested is some filtering of what's out there.

Why Google it?

Since I found CR4...I have found that about 80-90% of my questions can be answered very susinctly by serching CR4's Archives. Pure Gold.

Thanks for all the Questions I didn't have to ask.

Regards,
Sapper.

I believe it comes down to learning to ask the right questions. To eliminate all the junk that does not pertain to the item of the search. There is also language barriers that some have to over come.

Even I find it sometimes discouraging when I thought what google was simple enough but was not.

I agree, having a technical background helps you find answers more quickly on Google, and when google does not find it the first time around rephrasing it or asking it in a different way usually helps.

Maybe "google it first" should be included in the "tips for posting". Or am I being too cynical?

It's my most commonly used statement when answering a question. Quite a few of the answers to questions can be found easier than locating CR4 on the web (as in enter a few key words and up pops the answer in the first 5 hits).

I wonder if search engine theory and use should be taught in school.

Oh well, I can always continue to help educate people by teaching them how easy it is to find what you are asking for on the web themselves, so that when they have a real problem that cannot be solved in this way they can turn to CR4.

You are probably right about Google searches, but often you guys have insights that Google doesn't have beecause most of Google's responsses are 'book based" while your responses are experienced based.

I like your answers better. ....and it does give one an opportunity to interact with some pretty clever guys.

Don't underestimate your abilities.

Maybe "google it first" should be included in the "tips for posting". Or am I being too cynical?

Nah, it's more fun getting it straight from the horses (as in.. many horses) mouth. Even more so if the answer comes from a horses' ass mulings.

Does that make CR4 an ad hoss committee?

I think as a general statement, yes- the initial answers can be answered by Google or other search engines. However the value in the forum has been the interaction and added input beyond the initial question. Also my experience has been most people need to ask 3 questions to get to what they really want. Hence the forum brings up the the other two questions. Good observation which I think will get people using both resources more.

I agree, hit the nail on the head. score 1.

I also would like to join a bridge club, however due to the aridness of my location I fear that I would only get to play once.

It would be very interesting to read what you do. Looking forward to your post.

What do I do for a living? I'll try and explain it. I am called a Trade Compliance Expert and I specialize in tariff classification. I work for a customs broker in Canada and what I do is work as a liaison between commercial importers and Canada Customs.

To import goods among other things they must be classified under the Harmonized System of international Tariffs. The HS is a book of about 18,000 different tariff numbers and everything in the world has a tariff. The book is divided into 98 chapters ranging from live animals (Ch.1) to art work (Ch.97). The tariff number will dictate the rate of duty that applies, if any, and also alerts Customs to any products that other government departments are interested in. For example a tariff in chapter 2 (meat) will flag the import as being of interest to the Canadian Food Insp. Agency.

Now the tariff is a very complex legal document, the first 6 digits of a tariff are international, written by the World Customs Organization. So the first 6 digits of a U.S. or India's tariff item are the same as the first 6 in Canada. The 7^th and 8^th digits are written by Revenue Canada and set the duty rate. The 9^th and 10^th are written by Statistics Canada and are there to provide detailed trade statistics for Canadian Industry. It is these last 2 which give me the most problem. Lets look at some examples in your areas of expertise. Valves, found in chapter 84 (machinery) heading 8481, the WCO has created 5 sub-headings for some basic different types of valves, Revenue Canada has agreed with them that there is no need for more than 5 categories however Statistics Canada has created 95 different tariff numbers for valves. Asking me to describe any imported valve in such detail that I have to know what it does, how it is activated, what is it made of (and is that bronze valve cast or forged) and the exact end use of the valve.

So in order to discuss valves intelligently with my clients and their suppliers I need to know the difference between a check valve and a relief valve, or between a gate valve and a butterfly valve.

The same degree of detail is required in almost every are of the tariff, 15 different type of iron or steel screws, liquid pumps cover 5 complete pages, steel pipe section talks on API grades as well as ASTM and AISI specifications.

So sometimes when Google, Wikipepia or Britannica (or a host of others) can't supply me definitions I come here. Yes the API themselves can probably answer the questions, but they want to sell me a $400.00 book to do it. And you guys only see my questions from 5 or 6 of the 98 chapters. I use textile associations for help on decitexe and denier, warp vs weft, and so on. Pulp and paper industry associations for questions on chemical vs mechanical pulp, the difference between the sulphate and sulphite pulping process. And don't even think of the chemical chapters of the tariff (28 and 29), I have shown those chapters to chemists with PhDs and they are amazed at the degee of detail found there. Anyone here know if 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane) is a Halogenated derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons or not?

So basically my job consists of trying to know everything about everything but then being a curious guy I love it. Where else would you be paid to learn stuff?

The CR4 forums have taught me a lot about so many things. I would hate to see you guys stop answering our questions, or reduce your answers to "look it up". Believe me, I'm not here to waste anyone's time, if I ask for your time and help I have exhausted my other sources.

Oh did I mention the valuation or origin aspects of the importation business? No? Perhaps another time.

Glad I asked and glad you find this forum helpfull. Thanks for that illuminating discourse. Your work and Kafka come to mind.

I import a lot of strange parts for my instrument repair business and occasionally get calls from customs trying to classify it. After 26 yrs in the biz I've gotten to the point where I know many of the brokers by name.

A bit of salt with the grumbly types here helps. When I'm in a bad mood and am able to reach out and set one of 'em off ,well, hey, I don't feel so bad anymore.

It's good to know there are more professionals here than just engineering people. Different perspectives and resources are a HUGE asset!!!

A site that most always pops up during a Google search is "Wikipedia". That is a good place to start as there are many links associated with it. It also sets out the basics of the topic.

I Google first. But after 20 min of sifting through ads and pay sites I then post here. But I usually continue researching elsewhere. Besides, why is it such a bad thing to make CR4 part of research instead of a last resort?

Many times I believe people don't even know the terms to search for on Google. If it's technical it can be very specific. I know I've been in that situation. I may sound stupid to someone that knows the topic well. But after my question is answered I am at least educated. And hopefully not so stupid next time.

For me, a lot of the information I look for is available in specifications and documentation that is copyrighted. Like SAE or AWS. I can buy it on line. But if I have to pay $100 for a spec every time I need a bit of information it gets very costly.

Yes! And that was part of my frustration in posting:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/31719/Too-many-times

lol

I didn't think of how others may or may not be 'asking' google how to do the searches... Opps!

From many long years of experiance I know that to get what I do want out of google and other sites is to 'rephrase' what I put into google. Also, if I know the site that the information is on I know I can have google check that site and that site only with: "site:" <- Add www.*.com here and then a space and what your looking for on that site :) IE: site:www.google.com Advanced Search Made Easy

But many times there are posts in which the Op just posts a question without any additional information that is usually extremely helpful in obtaining a 'decent' responce to their query.

To all,

I was referring to those who post questions that are very common or easily answered, not the more detailed, and sometimes fun to kick around, questions. I should have been more clear. ( again, please note my name ). There are many querries on where to find common goods that we, all around the world, can find in a hardware store. Or the engineering student who doesn't get E=I x R. that was what I was referring to.

For example, if I needed to wire a three way light switch I would not first come here and post that question, I would look it up on line or ask at the store. I would exhaust all other options first. But if I wanted help with the design of an atom smasher I would definately come here first ( if only for the comic value ).

Well.... to some, wiring a light switch is like smashing atoms. And I have never been able to get energy out of hitting heavy things with a hammer. No matter how many times I've tried.

I believe that if the "lazy" questions get ignored then the associated people will eventually go away.