Search as a lookup works, but search as an explorative method is utterly broken. In the case of building knowledge in a topic, the ideal scenario is probably s

Search as a lookup works, but search as an explorative method is utterly broken. In the case of building knowledge in a topic, the ideal scenario is probably something like a searchable PDF, where you can get to approximately the vicinity of the information, and then you sort through the hits of relevant words to find if your info is there. It's an obvious improvement over manually using the index and then looking through the listed page for the relevant paragraph or sentence. But modern search is far worse than that because the internet of novel discussion and genuine information sharing is drowned out in the noise. It would be like going to an old-school library for research, only to find that all books have been replaced with popular magazines. You wouldn't be able to get the information you want. The best you can do in such a situation is find an article that skims the surface of what you need, and then you'd have to get the research or books by the interview subject of the magazine article. And that is the modern internet. You use search to maybe get close enough to what you want that you'll find a referral to the actual object of your search, and then only if you pay close attention.