Encyclopedia or Google

Years ago, if you wanted an answer to a question like “what is the capital of the state of Wisconsin?”, you would have to find it in an encyclopedia — or ask a third grader. The same with how to spell and use a word correctly, such as desert or dessert, you would need to go to a dictionary or thesaurus. Today, if you have a question or want information on most anything, you use search engines like Google, Bing or Duck, Duck Go.

I think the joke is, if you want to know about something, just ask Google. Depending on how the search is asked, Google will usually give you the information you are looking for, and then add a section of questions that others may have similarly asked related to your search. Here is a sampling of questions I found on towing:

How to get a towing fee reduced?

How much is it to tow a car 1,000 miles?

What are some red flags when choosing a towing service?

How much can I make owning a tow truck?

Where do tow truck drivers get paid the most?

What is the most a towing company can charge?

What are common towing mistakes to avoid?

What are some common complaints about towing services?

What is a reasonable towing fee?

The answers given to these questions need to be viewed as a guideline for that person; giving them more information to help them find a very rough idea of what they need, or prompt them to continue searching.

They always say to work smarter, not harder. Getting information so fast is both fascinating and scary to me. I guess you need to view the information you get — as the old saying goes — with a grain of salt.