Many people just don't appear to know how to search and filter information on the internet. I regularly get asked questions I don't know the answers to but can quickly search and refine down to either an exact answer or something useful to the questioner.
They often ask me "What did you search for?" or "How did you find that out so fast?". My guess is that most people using HN will have significantly above average search and analysis skills.
The socializing aspect you highlighted may also stem from desire to be polite. I was recently accused of committing a "pub foul" when I used my phone to search for information on a question raised at a pub lunch. Personally I prefer to know the answer so I can put the question out of my mind (I'm more introverted). To other people (more extroverted), not knowing the answer may be preferable to briefly disengaging from the conversation.
Many people just don't appear to know how to search and filter information on the internet. I regularly get asked questions I don't know the answers to but can quickly search and refine down to either an exact answer or something useful to the questioner.
They often ask me "What did you search for?" or "How did you find that out so fast?". My guess is that most people using HN will have significantly above average search and analysis skills.
The socializing aspect you highlighted may also stem from desire to be polite. I was recently accused of committing a "pub foul" when I used my phone to search for information on a question raised at a pub lunch. Personally I prefer to know the answer so I can put the question out of my mind (I'm more introverted). To other people (more extroverted), not knowing the answer may be preferable to briefly disengaging from the conversation.