Is using Google a failure?

[Tesla]

Anyone who ends up with mysterious toolbars and homepages on their browser generally aren't very good with Google... and that's a LOT of people.

[LosOjos]

Using Google is absolutely not a failure. Even if I know a task inside out because I've done it so many times before, I'll still sometimes Google it. Why? Because we work in a constantly evolving field and what applies one day may be obsolete the next. A task that takes me an hour to complete today might have a 5 minute solution tomorrow, but I'd never know that if I never researched.

 

As for Googling new products being a failure - give me a break! It's a far better use of my time to research the current printers on the market at the time I'm in the market to buy one than to pointlessly keep a mental log of model numbers in case anyone happens to ask.

 

Research is an extremely important skill in any field, especially in one that evolves as rapidly as ours. We live in a digital age and we're supposed to be the pioneers - if we can't use the biggest digital research tool that ever existed, who can?

[Arreks]

Meh, if I go to a problem and I genuinely have no idea after troubleshooting what the fix is or the root of the problem I'll say I need to go and "research".

 

It's entirely acceptable, technology is an ever-changing and immensely complex thing - no one can know everything. Plus 90%* of people wouldn't think to Google a problem anyway so it's a plus.

 

*made up figure

[sidewinder]

Plus 90%* of people wouldn't think to Google a problem anyway so it's a plus.

 

*made up figure

 

That's what I don't get about staff sometimes. Fair enough if the problem is a technical one but for example finding out where an option is on a program, no-one seems to think to Google it, they ask me...and I end up googling it and finding the answer in a second.

[korifugi]

Google is a research tool.

 

Researching is part of a Tech's job.

 

No more needs to be said.

[Oaktech]

Not sure if the OP is trolling or not, but I have a question: what do you do when you don't know something?

 

 

Never happens... I am teh GOD of technogoly, I knowz EVERYTHING!

 

In all seriousness, not knowing the answer is fine. Not knowing how to find the answer is unforgivable these days.

 

I google lots of stuff, mainly because I did it once and I remember key points about it, but not the whole procedure and on a live system, I'd rather get it right.

 

For instance, I have a RDP certificate error. 12 months ago I imported a certificate into Remote Desktop. Could I remember how to do it this afternoon, could I hell. I could have spent an hour or more poking about and eventually I may or may not have got it right. What I chose to do, was google the problem, find the technet article, and fix the problem in 5 minutes. Oh look, Google just made me more efficient.

[Joanne]

There are times as a tech when Google is my friend. But some seem to think it indicates your not good at your job, true?

 

Just call me Mrs Failure then!

[Oaktech]

What happened before Google?... Books?

 

In IT?

 

you RTFpaperM or you went and delved into that massive wallet full of CDs that contained TechNet.

[sonofsanta]

Of course it's ok. It's on the flowchart!

 

 

Seriously, though: don't be so daft. It's like asking if using pencils are OK, shouldn't you always be confident in what you're writing down, why would you need to use something erasable? Google is a tool and no tool is off limits* when troubleshooting.

 

*except that one, you perverts.

[jinnantonnixx]

It's an old joke, but....

 

But seriously, for me Google has replaced tedious and limited programming and reference manuals. If one solution isn't *quite* what I want, within a few clicks I can find what I want. When I'm stuck for a syntax or programming technique, I usually find it on Stackoverflow.

 

To regard searching for information as a failing is the same as saying not knowing everything is a failing. That's absurd.

 

We are all ignorant. Only the subject varies.

[claireadams]

It's surely better to admit you don't know, google it and find a solution. What's the alternative? Say you don't know and leave the issue not fixed?

 

- - - Updated - - -

@sonofsanta I'm stealing that chart!

[comrade]

Thanks for the reply guys, it did stem from a comment I heard a deputy say to the head. It was along the lines of "so-called technician, he uses Google".

 

And I do.

[Norphy]

What does the so called deputy do when he doesn't know the answer to something then? Scratch his armpits and put his finger up his nose?

 

I tell you, if Google got blocked where I used to work, there'd be a riot.