You too can be a technology guru

Here is how I answer probably 95% of the tech "how-to" questions I receive...

Uh, Doug, how do I add a graphic to my signature file in GoogleMail?

1. Type "Add graphic to signature file in GoogleMail" into the Google search engine box.
2. Select one of the first few credible-looking hits.
3. Find the process. Read the steps.
4. Try the steps out on my own computer.
5. Reply to the person asking the question as though the answer was my own hard won discovery.

If I started telling folks how to find their own answers, I'd lose my aura of omniscience!

Comments

[Kenn Gorman]

I found a similar picture I got from a student - wasn't sure how to get it to you so I created a drop...

http://drop.io/techsupport2085

I was going to make copies of this and get it to every freshman I teach, but I think they would have thought it was satire and deleted it...

[Meg]

I have begun to use, Let Me Google That For You, lmgtfy.com. Funny, still gives them the answer they need, and shows them how they could find it.

[Elona Hartjes]

I too introduce my students to Google and encourage them to get acquainted. I, myself, am on intimate terms with Google.

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[Leigh Ann Jones]

Aaah. Now we know your secret, Doug.

[John Connell]

You're giving the game away, Doug, for those of us who pretend to be omniscient in all-things-computing. My brother emailed me a few months ago to ask about some obscure Windows issue (I can't even remember what it was). I did exactly as you describe: typed the problem into Google, found a couple of forums discussing the issue, and emailed him back within 3 or 4 minutes with the solution. He came back immediately with "how the hell do you know that?"

I replied: "I don't" and left it to him to work out.

:-)

[Bill]

I do precisely the same in giving desktop support, but then hit "Enter" twice and type the following:

I found this information by typing the following search string into Google: "[place your choice of string here]"

I don't recall being asked a second time.

-Bill

[Lori J.]

Yes, I'm always slightly shocked and appalled when members of a school librarian listserv I belong to ask questions that could easily be answered with a simple google search. We are supposed to be information specialists! By the time we email the list and wait for responses (and I'm often shocked and appalled at the guesses in the replies to these questions, as opposed to the factual answers one might expect) we should have been able to search out the needed info ourselves!

[Dennis O'Connor]

Doug, Have you tried this little tool: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=&l=1

It's called let me Google that for you! This is a curious little program. The designers intent is to give a quick lesson in how to search.

As an online teacher I often get questions like what is Moodle? If I type that query into this program I get a url that I can sent back to the student. It shows them how to query Google then delivers them to the Google results page. Hmm I wonder if that would be enough to make the point?

I also wonder how long this will be around? I'm guessing Google didn't authorize the use of their logo on the site.

I like it for now!

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Kenn,

I've got a copy of this on my bulletin board. Thanks for sharing it!

Doug

Hi Meg,

It sounds risky to me - they might become independent learners!

Doug

Come on, Elona, aren't we in the dependency BUILDING business!

Doug

Hi Leigh Ann,

I've always said that an "expert" is someone who can speak with confidence...

Doug

Hi John,

I expect most folks will figure out the secret sooner or later. Enjoy the aura of superiority while you can!

Thanks for the comment,

Doug

I don't know, Bill, empowering others seems like a dangerous path to me ;-)

Doug

Hi Lori,

Yes, I've noticed that librarians, the information experts, are not immune to this condition.

Doug

Hi Dennis,

I think this has been around for a while, and I like the concept. Snarky, but useful!

Doug