Hello @ all,

I open this topic as a new discussion of the week because I want know what you think about the sentences in the headline.

"We don't think, we Google!"

Do you think this is right ? Do humans today not use her brain enough ? In which kind of situations do you use google ? What do you think about search engines like Google ? Do you like it ?

Hey!
While we're in a generation which should favour innovation and creativity, we're actually facing the big problem of copy-and-paste. Youngsters do not visit their local libraries anymore as they are supposed to find everything on the web. Do you feel any symptom and want a cure? Go to Google. Don't you know the meaning of a word? Go to Google. Do you want tips for dating? Go to Google. And everything you want is in there, no matter the quality of info.

I'm aware I use it a lot for vocabulary exercises, ideas for my classes and info on spare time activities. But I'm also concerned about the way in which I depend on this search engine - by the way, I use no other website for my quest.

Students love it, too. They barely write, most of the times they copy or adapt what they find on the web. Pity!

I don't agree with you in all because I think that many people use only google or other search engines. I agree with you that not all people use google on this way but in my opinion the number of users they use google on this way grows more and more.
In my office we have many young boys and girls they work the first time in an editing office. When they have to take a little research they only use google and they believe in all what google says but in a editing office is it important to proof your research results. Another example when you want know something for example from a city you can look in google. But Google would give you only a short overview. The most people think they know all from the city when the have take a look in google. Google can't give you the same information who gives you a book with more than 200 sites in ten or twenty sites.
I think to use google as help it 's ok but to use only google and don't think self is terrible.

Nicole wrote:Most people think they know all from the city when the have take a look in Google.

Well, I agree! Some people believe they're knowledgeable enough once they Google, but sometimes the info is so poor and inaccurate that you may be shameful...

Nicole wrote:I think using google as help it 's ok but to use only google and don't think by oneself is terrible.

I agree. Technology should be a tool, a support. Sadly, we rely too much on it, mainly when it makes our life easier. Google's a perfect example of that. The content in Google should be inspiring. Yet, instead of that, people just depend on it and copy what they've found, they don't go further. And now that we've got networks and services such as Google+, GoogleDocs, we're meant to have a GoogleLife where we'll be unable to depend on our own thoughts and capabilities.

Well, everybody, I think...I don´t know because is a different opinion for you. I mine ... Google is. The man who knows everything ...
I´m sorry for my writing is little...

No problem for the writing. Yes I agree with you that everybody think on they one way but what I mean is that to many people use her brain when they can use google. Not all thinks in google are right so I think sometimes it is better to think about a problem by your one than by google.

LIKALEL wrote:Well, everybody, I think...I don´t know because is a different opinion for you. I mine ... Google is. The man who knows everything ...
I´m sorry for my writing is little...

Correct me if I'm wrong... So you disagree with the fact that Google makes us dependent?

Nicole wrote:I agree with you that everybody thinks on they one way but what I mean is that to many people use her brain when they can use google.

Well, I do think that resources like Google make some people stupid. Fortunately, some people are critical enough to use this info as a support to their knowledge, which is acquired by different sources, preferably traditional sources such as books or even oral tradition.

But I have seen people - mainly youngsters, but not exclusively young people - who just rely on what they Google. Now, I think, it would be OK if at least they read what they found, analysed the info and reached conclusions. But they don't! Indeed, they just focus on the first paragraph or the title, and that's it! That's when you say... Total fail!!

Hey Anita,

I totally agree with you many people don' t think when they can use google. They believe all what google say without analyze what they read.
Out of topic:
I see that when you one word forget in a sentences the meaning it's totally different because I want wrote " what I mean is that to many people not use her brain when they can use google.

Nicole wrote:Many people do not use her brain when they can use google.

So true, but I wouldn't dare to generalise in such a harsh way. They do use their brain, but in a comformist way. They do identify items for their own convenience, but they sometimes don't reach the level of analysis, and of course, there's no level of critical thinking, either. That's when Googling can go wrong.

I think one way to solve the situation - because there must be a solution - is to encourage students to go for meaningful quests and report by means of discussion what they found. In that way, they do not only present what they learnt by heart, but they also have the opportunity to express their opinions or doubts on what they have found.

Spaces of discussion like these are also meaningful, mainly when there are critical people who give their opinion on posts and do not only post their very first finding.
Wikipedia has a very interesting thing about it: hyperlinks. As you go further on your search, you enhance what you've just read. I think that's a powerful aspect of the web which we shouldn't take for granted.

I agree with you. Humans must learn to use things like google in a better way.

SOMU wrote:Using Google search is not a bad way to enhance your knowledge. But its definitely not correct what Google say is right and you stop your thinking there. For clue and what others say to know Goggle is necessary.

I couldn't agree more with you! Undoubtedly Google is very practical and necessary. There's a proverb which says, the bad worker blames his tools. Some people pose all the responsibility on Google, which is just one out of many tools we count on in order to enrich our knowledge and the topic at hand. So once more, it's clear we shouldn't rely on Google 100%, as it's just one source of information, not the source of information.

SOMU wrote:For students its not a good practice to Google everything. They should read various books in library and also use Google to get some eBooks those may not available in the library .

So true. Sadly, going to the library's time consuming. But this practice is second to none... You find a lot more info than googling. I remember when I was sriting my disertation paper for the master programme. It was hitting the books in the library which made me fall in love with the topic I chose, because I could find more significant information to contrast, analyse and explore.

Google isn't the best, but it's not the worst, either. One of the things which in my opinion is great about Google compared with books is that it updates every then and while, whereas in the case of books we have to wait for years before there is a new edition or volume. Today, it is that new info what we need.