No, really, you don't.
This is a list of ways to find answers to questions such as "How big is Nigeria?", "How do I draw a human arm?", and "What should I value in life?".
Solutions that Don't Even Require a Computer
- Ask someone nearby
- Ask a librarian
- Find a relevant book, encyclopedia, or newspaper
- Ask someone you think might know the answer, or know someone who knows
- Ask yourself. (This one's especially good when you're trying to figure out how to wear that shirt or do your makeup.)
- Sleep on it
- Go find it in meatspace
- Decide that the answer to your question isn't that valuable to you after all
Solutions that Require a Computer
- Check your web-neighbors' websites for lists of links
- See if there's a relevant file on your (or someone else's) computer already
- Email someone who might know. (Tip: Don't ask if you can ask—just ask.)
Useful Websites
- Wikipedia and its sister websites, for just about anything on anything (follow the sources cited)
- A government's website
- JSTOR, a gigantic collection of primary and scholarly sources. (If you want to read an article but can't get access, try emailing one of the authors and asking nicely.)
- A database your educational instituion or library gives you access to
- the Internet Archive, a self-described "library of millions of free texts, movies, software, music, websites, and more." Some items can be downloaded, while others must be borrowed (usually in one-hour blocks, at least for books). (Note that accessibilty can be questionable, at least when it comes to scanned books.)