It is clear that the signal to noise ratio of the WWW is getting worse. It's much harder to find good content when using a good old search engine. And if it's good it is usually hosted on Reddit or Stackexchange.

So remember, even if it's easy too Google something (well, it isn't nowadays), we want to create a fediverse of good content that helps people (I hope). So, it's always better to write a real answer if you have the time and energy. Please help boost the SNR and reverse the AI fueled information degradation loop.

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[–] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 65 points 1 week ago (11 children)

"just Google it" has always been a shitty reply. People are asking for your opinion because they want opinions from people, not some nameless site/author/whatever. Even if you're just regurgitating information, it's coming from a PERSON not a random article. Never mind the reliability of the source. Heavens forbid that we social creatures social about a thing for a bit.

[–] macroplastic@sh.itjust.works -2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Unfortunately, these days it's quite possible it's coming from an LLM. I agree with your sentiment, you just have to always keep in mind what other possible incentives an actor on the internet may have for sharing a fact or opinion, whether it's simply monetary (corporate wants you to buy this product), political (this state wants to you to believe this thing), or personal (this person has a grudge against this thing and is willing to use bots to amplify their discontent).

[–] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's as likely your top 30 or so pages are AI generated, paid results, SEO optimized shit, etc that's just as unsavory. No one says you can't verify information, and probably should anyway, be it one search result verifying another, a bunch of commenters verifying each other, or verifying the two against each other.

[–] macroplastic@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

Yep, agreed! Just advocating critical thinking. Part of the problems of pseudonymous platforms with open signups is that it makes it easy and imposes low financial cost to control a bunch of accounts that people can use for ends like that.

Of course other websites and search engines themselves are doing the same, the cost for setup is just higher (hosting, SEO optimization, advertising, etc.)

I don't really think that's a solvable issue for open platforms, which is why I think critical thinking is crucial as an advocate for platforms. That's why I'm here!

[–] weker01@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's exactly what an LLM would say! /s

[–] macroplastic@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

🫣

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