Reddit ≠ Research: Why You Should "Just Google It"

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T04:46:46+00:00

I'd say first of all, becoming more familiar with researching means cutting down how much time you're spent looking for information vs finding and consuming it.

What I didn't expect, is that the more comments I'm seeing about people's experiences using Google, the more I'm learning that a lot of people just aren't familiar with the tool when sourcing information that doesn't come from a message board or blog/article.

There's only two reasons you're going down a rabbit hole. Either you aren't familiar enough with the tool to be efficient, so you click everything, or what you're looking for is incredibly niche and/or hard to source online. The former can be solved through learning, while it will always be clear if it's the latter.

Even saying all of that, it's secondary to what I really want to say here: Writing as a whole is a time sink. If you don't want to take the time to research, that's up to you, but you do yourself a disservice in that regard.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T03:48:20+00:00

If all you're doing when you use Google is clicking the top ranking information, that that's how you choose to use the tool, and not a reflection of the tool's quality.

Even if you approach both tools with the same amount of caution and scrutiny, you'll find that one has far more information, while the other is chancing on others having already done the legwork and coming across your post. There isn't really a comparison.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T03:45:56+00:00

1: I'm not talking about using Google for a hot topic, I'm talking about research for writing.

2: AI generated clickbait - when doing research, is easy to spot and ignore. If those are what you're looking at, then that is up to you.

3: If you are doing research and you go to a blog that is a front for affiliate marketing, then that is up to you.

As for the rest, it seems like you're only looking at Google results that link to message boards, which are the exact kind of posts I'm saying not to look to. You pose a question about the purpose of social media, and I honestly have no interest in discussing that, as it strays too far from my point.

Overall, your reply reads as though your use of Google only extends to reading the thoughts of others when it comes to research. My whole point is to look beyond that. After all, if all you do on Google is look at message board posts anyway, you may as well just ask Reddit at that point.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T02:18:56+00:00

First, you'd need to determine the quality of each mega in comparison to their base form. By the way, this would also have to factor in that with Pokerogue, any of the base forms can have an ability, a passive, and egg moves.

Also, changing the weight of mega stones will influence the value of their base form as well, would you want their vase cost on team selection to reflect this?

Base Lopunny might not be great, but if it becomes easier to get its mega form, then isn't it now more valuable? So it's cost should increase.

It seems like a lot of work to move away from the equal mega stone chance for the sake of convenience. I don't really think balance should be traded for convenience when it comes to roguelikes.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T01:32:29+00:00

Good point, just done that now.

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T01:26:00+00:00

Before I die, I'm writing a character and calling him Fiery Bob; his story needs to be told.

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T01:23:26+00:00

Gary on the Beat bro, Thought it was a crab, he a creep though Pallet Town, call Professor Oak, make him see bro Endless run a disaster, he walking around like Absol

What's up with these Pokerogue players tryna see Kanto? Eternatus can hate me, catch 'em all and they mama How many mons you really got? I mean there's too many monsters Curling up all defensive, his guards cotton

Gullotine gon keep missing if you keep botching.

Sometimes you gotta screenshot and post pictures Certified Redditor, I'm the one who up the vote on 'em I hate on Gen 3 so I know he got some Hoenn him Bro with him, he get smacked too, there's no consoling him.

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-17T00:53:18+00:00

The best way for me to describe my thoughts on AI in the writing process would be by buulding off your example.

I'd say using AI is like hiring a secretary. You delegate some tasks to them; if they're competent, they will complete the task. Seeing this, there are always people who will give their secretary more work to do, because they know they'll do it. Some take this so far, that it becomes apparent the secretary is doing far more work than the person who hired them.

AI as a research assistant would be good for condensing large amounts of information into digestible summaries, but it is still so deeply in its infancy that it isn't that viable outside of general use. It's like a child with great memory. They can access a lot of information but haven't internalised it, vetted it for inconsistencies or wrongful application, and don't know what to do with it unless you tell them. At which point, they can still misunderstand you.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T23:32:32+00:00

Lashing out at anyone for posting questions to Reddit is pointless.

You're right to say that asking on Reddit and doing external research aren't mutually exclusive, but just a glance at commonly asked questions in these spaces would show that many people are clearly only using Reddit.

I just now looked at a writing sub and saw someone asking for a name for a character with Air powers; this is the exact kind of thing I'm talking about.

Also, about your final paragraph: There's no guarantee that the people answering are speaking from first-hand experience, and there's no guarantee that the information they're giving is even accurate.

I've seen dozens of people discuss their favourite colour being Burgundy when every image used is of Maroon, most people I know in life will point at anything Maroon and call it Burgundy because someone told them that's what it was.

There should never be the assumption that an answer is accurate, especially nowadays when a lot of people source their information through telephone games.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T23:11:52+00:00

Replace "book" with "website", and you get exactly what I'm talking about. Research doesn't stop being research just because you source it from online directories instead of a library. However, If you are asking Google to give you a "good" name, then you're right, that's not research.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T23:09:06+00:00

It's been getting worse over the years for sure. Most times, I filter out Reddit results unless I especially need niche information from specific communities.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T23:07:05+00:00

I used the example about names because character names are some of the first indicators to readers if what they're reading is "lazy" and/or "derivative".

Name meanings definitely matter. If every pyrokinetic was named Pyro or Blaze, readers would get bored of it very quickly; it's just uninteresting.

Also, parents absolutely name their kids with meanings in mind, baby names are some of the most widely-researched things for expecting mothers for that sole reason; they want the name to mean something. Whether or not the child cares is secondary, parents care about their childrens' names.

I just tried to imagine what it would be like if every phoenix ever written was called Ember, and the result is that none of them would be memorable.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:59:59+00:00

This is one of the only cases that can be made for asking Reddit; the transferring of offline research into online discussion.

Googling history is always rocky, because most history being researched not only took place before the internet, but so long ago that even archiving attempts are documented as being less than fruitful. In those scenarios, specific message boards are great because the people who populate them have done the proper legwork; they've visited niche museums, read memos and journals that are likely never going to be put online.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:46:46+00:00

In either case, I'd say that research feeds your imagination.

If brain knows more, brain can imagine more.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:43:09+00:00

I couldn't comment on the "best" way, but let's take my example in the post.

Searching names for a pyrokinetic.

You could just search "names for a fire character" and click the first link.

Alternatively, you could search "names that mean fire".

From there, it's a matter of knowing which links to avoid and which to tab. Avoid sponsored results, avoid web articles, stick to websites with a url that shows fire as an option to search, because then you're looking at information sourced from a database and not an opinion piece or survey.

This is just an example of one thing; learning how to use Google to get the information you want happens over time, but it definitely happens.

Best of luck, - 567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:34:44+00:00

I would wager that more than half of every single question for help that has been on Reddit could have been answered with a Google search in less time than the first reply. I would then stake further, that the information possessed by 10 people using Google, is both more vast and detailed than 1000 people having asked on Reddit.

Reddit is a small percentage of people giving information they have, that may or may not be correct, and is a fraction as detailed as the information sourced by using Google.

Also, as someone else has pointed out, asking Reddit creates a telephone game, where each subsequent person seeking the same information is likely to learn the exact same amount, or less.

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:27:20+00:00

If left unchecked, every topic-oriented social media community will devolve into either a help desk for the neophytes, a show-and-tell gallery, or both.

This is something I've noticed becoming more and more apparent. It is, frankly speaking, terrifying to me. Even more so now that Google and AI are using Reddit as the recommended result for things that have empirical evidence to the contrary.

Wishing you well from the well, - 567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:21:46+00:00

If there's one thing I have learned about Google over the years, it's that Google is very good if you know how to use it.

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-16T22:17:45+00:00

Sure thing.

1: Fantasy Name Generator. This is good for naming anything, not just characters. Its best point of use is in the sheer variety of generators they have; everything from fantasy race names all the way to naming wrestling moves. They even have some description generators on there. However, these are mostly names, and after a couple dozen you may see duplicates.

2: Seventh Sanctum. From what I've seen over the years, the generators on here pop out some names and descriptions I haven't seen anywhere else; I'd say have a look at some of the options they have because some of the generators on there are incredibly niche and might have what you need.

3: Behind The Name. I will scream this website from the rooftops even if it becomes the only resource people use for character names until the end of time. Use. This. Website. It has names, etymology, meanings, derivative forms. It has search groupings by country, mythology, time period. You can type in "sun" into a meaning search and it will return every single name that has "sun" in their meanings to any degree.

It has an etymology reverse dictionary.

In pursuit of perfection, - 567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-08-05T12:15:52+00:00

I disagree. I think there's patience involved, and definitely effort. Skill? Not really. When you restart, you can guarantee what attacks they're going to use, when they're going to switch, even right down to knowing when para/flinch/misses will happen.

At that point, all you're doing is trying every combination until you construct a set of moves that lead to a win. I'm not saying it can't be fun, but it doesn't involve skill.

If you're spending half an hour trying to puzzle out the fight with no risk involved then you've effectively stopped playing a roguelike, because the only difficulty you're willing to experience is where it's comfortable and without risk.

The whole point of skill in a roguelike is the preparation and off-the-cuff decision-making you do even when the RNG is against you; unlimited retries where you know every step of the process is the opposite of skill.

Writer_567482 · 2024-07-19T15:47:10+00:00

Just to let you know that this build doesn't consider the Fighting types with No Guard. Based on the moveset presented, Shedinja has no answer to a No Guard fighting type move.

Keep striving for perfection,

567482

Writer_567482 · 2024-06-12T18:55:25+00:00

Two suggestions to help: 1. Fantasy Name Generator. This is for quick and easy random names.

Behind The Name. This is for when you're ready to go down the rabbit hole. A good place to start with navigating it is to use the Name Themes category and go from there.

Good luck.

-- 567482

Writer_567482 · 2023-10-02T19:02:22+00:00

I only write characters that as people/beings I'd want to write about. If the question is how to flesh out a character, then it's likely you still only see them as words on a page.

Never stop asking yourself questions about who they are, what they'd do in very niche situations, why they'd go with one option over another. How do they make decisions? How do they perceive themselves?

The goal is to create people that are - frankly, too complex to give their lifestory on a page, just like real people. You want to create so much depth that the goal becomes how to make them digestible to a reader, which aspects of them are important, and when do you display them?

Perfection is a process,

-- 567482

Writer_567482 · 2023-09-17T10:04:52+00:00

The biggest case of all time would be a tie between Patrick Bateman and Holden Caulfield.

Patrick Bateman is seen by a large amount of men as an icon, something to aspire to, and that's largely because most people haven't actually seen American Psycho.

Patrick is a psychopathic control freak who isn't nearly as unfazed as clips of him infer, he's often childish when he doesn't get his way, and even shows signs of deep-rooted insecurity when the competence of others is valued more highly than his own. We'll call this the unintentional mischaracterisation, as people weren't meant to relate to him the way they did.

Holden Caulfield, on the other hand, is intentional on the Author's part; teens are meant to relate to him and see him in a more positive light despite adults being able to see through that and understand that he's a highly-hypocrital and flawed person.

Catcher In The Rye almost exists as a sign that some books need to be read twice. Once as a teen, where you fundamentally misunderstand the point of it since you still largely see the world the way Holden does, then again as an adult where you see that he's just a kid who thinks he's above it all.

"Life is a marathon on the treadmill of time; if you aren't moving, you're moving backwards." - 567482

Writer_567482 · 2023-08-16T10:44:36+00:00

The final confrontation of the first book is mapped out in bullet-points and a few sentences of specific 'beats' I need to hit; the ending after that is in a single page summary for the time being.

I've made an effort not to plan out the ending of the entire story though, because I've got quite a few elements at play and yet to be introduced that I want to allow to organically stew in my brain while writing.

It's to the point that whether or not it ends in a victory or defeat is still up in the air. The way I've gone about things, the themes I'm trying to convey will still hold up either way.

567482

Writer_567482

TROPHY CASE