Stop Bashing the "Google Degree"

Whenever a few people start discussing a controversial topic on social media, it is never long before someone bashes another person's "Google degree". This seems to happen quite a bit especially when dealing with medical or scientific topics. "Okay, Dr. Google," they will sometimes reply to a comment.

But why do we hate on people who have done research via the internet?


The last man to be described as "knowing everything" was Thomas Young. Young was extremely well versed in science, medicine, music, language, mechanics, and a myriad of other topics. He even helped decipher the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone. He passed away in 1829.


Since Young's time, there have been too many resources and discoveries for any one person to have at least a basic understanding of every possible discipline of study. There is simply too much information available to us now. And most of that information is available at our fingertips on the internet via Google.


Of course there are many bogus sources on the internet. There is plenty of fake information and propaganda spread across the web. There are websites that intentionally spread falsehoods to advance their own agenda.


But there are also plenty of reliable resources on the web which allow us to learn the equivalent of many college degrees without paying a dime. There are websites that help us determine the validity of a resource. There are websites that allow us to know if there are lies being spread.


The internet can give us the most up-to-the-minute information (versus a book which can become outdated before even making it from the printing press to our hands).


Don't bash the Google degree just because you disagree with someone's belief. Assume they have done some research. Verify what they are saying with your own search. Ask them to share links to some of their readings. Then come to your own conclusions based on logic, reasoning, and research. We live in an amazing time where we can learn about pretty much any topic and get to know all sides of the arguments. Take advantage of that.