I suck at research, how do I find info on topics I'm not familiar with?

[Lustfull_Creeper]

Basically, while trying to research, I've been having a bad time.

Currently, I'm trying to find information on holds for a scene where someone attempts to grab someone else from behind, Ideally with a hold that allows them to lead/push the victim around, and allows themselves a free arm while both the victim's are pinned.

Before that, I was looking on information on branding for a character that was to be permanently marked as a slave, in order to give description of the marking.

In both cases I wasn't able to find the exact info I was looking for. I kept going in circles finding the same semi-relevant pages. Maybe I suck at choosing keywords or something. Is there a specific process to finding particular details?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Basically, while trying to research, I've been having a bad time.

Currently, I'm trying to find information on holds for a scene where someone attempts to grab someone else from behind, Ideally with a hold that allows them to lead/push the victim around, and allows themselves a free arm while both the victim's are pinned.

Sometimes useful to ask yourself "who else would use this sort of info?" That sort of thing sounds like it would be a useful technique for law enforcement. So I might start by googling "law enforcement holds".

It's also helpful to know the right terminology. Even if your initial search doesn't find what you're after, you might learn the magic words to use in another search. When I start typing in "law enforcement holds", Google gives some suggestions: "law enforcement submission holds", "law enforcement control holds". Pushing the victim around, that sounds like a control hold.

So now I can google "control holds" (optionally with "law enforcement") and find a whole bunch of relevant how-to videos on YouTube; I haven't watched through them all, but there should be something in there that's relevant to what you're after.

Before that, I was looking on information on branding for a character that was to be permanently marked as a slave, in order to give description of the marking.

In both cases I wasn't able to find the exact info I was looking for. I kept going in circles finding the same semi-relevant pages. Maybe I suck at choosing keywords or something. Is there a specific process to finding particular details?

When I type in "branding", I get a lot of stuff about advertising - corporate brand management etc. One option is to look it up in a thesaurus to see if there's another word that might be more specific to the meaning I'm after. But if that doesn't help, another way is to think about words that might go with the type of branding I'm researching.

For instance, getting an infection might be an issue with skin branding. Probably not with brand management. So I search on "branding infection control". Most of the links still aren't relevant, but a few of them suggest that "body art" might be a useful term.

So now I search on 'branding "body art"' (putting "body art" in quotes to make sure it's treated as one word). This gets me a lot of info that's more relevant to the subject. And you can go on like that, using a rough search to get ideas for more specific search terms.

 

[StrangeLife]

During the recent year I have noticed that Google is curating it's searches for the more... racy subjects. They aren't censoring, but if you search for something with more than one meaning, the results are consistently interpreted in the most non-sexy way possible.

Example: If you google for "doggy" you get an entire screen of cute puppies. But if you put the word "doggy" into MS Bing you get a mix of dogs and girls having sex in this particular style.

So I would recommend using Bing in your research. Google still rules in other areas, but they aren't XXX friendly anymore.

 

[Bramblethorn]

During the recent year I have noticed that Google is curating it's searches for the more... racy subjects. They aren't censoring, but if you search for something with more than one meaning, the results are consistently interpreted in the most non-sexy way possible.

Example: If you google for "doggy" you get an entire screen of cute puppies. But if you put the word "doggy" into MS Bing you get a mix of dogs and girls having sex in this particular style.

So I would recommend using Bing in your research. Google still rules in other areas, but they aren't XXX friendly anymore.

Note that Google has a "SafeSearch" option; if it's switched on, turning it off will help find racy subjects. But you're right that even with SafeSearch switched off, Google will try to return the non-porny results unless you make your search terms porny. Looks like they changed this in December 2012: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeSearch

 

[StrangeLife]

Note that Google has a "SafeSearch" option; if it's switched on, turning it off will help find racy subjects. But you're right that even with SafeSearch switched off, Google will try to return the non-porny results unless you make your search terms porny. Looks like they changed this in December 2012: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeSearch

I see - thanks. I noticed the effect on my searches, but I was unaware of the fact that it was an official Google policy.

On 12 December 2012 Google removed the option to turn off the filter entirely, requiring users to enter more specific search queries to access adult content[7][8][9] But this happens only to English sites and non-English users are still required to be careful with their local language search as Google is not filtering most of the adult contents even with safe search on and with specific keywords.

So that dreaded "Safe Search" is on permanently for english speakers? As somebody who hates forced censorship in all it's ugly forms with a passion, I find this rather disturbing.

 

[Handley_Page]

In England during the early middle ages, a slave was indicated by a metal collar round the throat.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I see - thanks. I noticed the effect on my searches, but I was unaware of the fact that it was an official Google policy.

So that dreaded "Safe Search" is on permanently for english speakers? As somebody who hates forced censorship in all it's ugly forms with a passion, I find this rather disturbing.

Kinda. As I understand it, there are a couple of levels. The basic level, which can't be disabled, is intended not to return "adult" links unless your search terms make it clear that you're looking for adult content. So "doggy" shouldn't* give you hits about the sex position, but "doggy style sex" would.

The other level, which can be switched on/off, shouldn't return adult links at all.

I'm ambivalent about it. Part of Google's success is that they try to provide relevant links, and porn sites can be pretty obnoxious about SEO-ing - I remember back in the old days having to include "-aardvark" in my search terms because of porn sites that would include an entire dictionary dump on each page. So if the aim is just to avoid producing porn links for people who weren't looking for them, that's not so bad. (Though I wish it was optional.)

But if the purpose is soft censorship, yeah, I'm with you.

*As we all know, filters don't always work as intended...

 

[MSTarot]

I find the videos on You Tube to be a lot of help when it comes to How to research.

You can actually get to see someone doing something with your own eyes.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Basically, while trying to research, I've been having a bad time.

Currently, I'm trying to find information on holds for a scene where someone attempts to grab someone else from behind, Ideally with a hold that allows them to lead/push the victim around, and allows themselves a free arm while both the victim's are pinned.

Before that, I was looking on information on branding for a character that was to be permanently marked as a slave, in order to give description of the marking.

In both cases I wasn't able to find the exact info I was looking for. I kept going in circles finding the same semi-relevant pages. Maybe I suck at choosing keywords or something. Is there a specific process to finding particular details?

I use the ladder of abstraction to find what I need. Start with a general search, then do a specific search, then do a particular search when you know more about your subject. Like, bras existed since about 1894 but bra cups weren't invented till 1928. Sites like WIKIPEDIA feature histories and time-lines for most subjects.

 

[robertreams]

maybe try police training or military or working with the mentally disabled.

 

[lovecraft68]

If you're having a hard time finding the right hold-or having difficulty describing it-go easy on yourself and use handcuffs for the desired effect. You don't want to let a stubborn little detail hold you back too much.

As for slavery I don't know if you're doing sexual slavery or a "labor" slave. Either way simply type slave branding sexual/non sexual into google and click images then describe it.

 

[3113]

Currently, I'm trying to find information on holds for a scene where someone attempts to grab someone else from behind, Ideally with a hold that allows them to lead/push the victim around, and allows themselves a free arm while both the victim's are pinned.

Before that, I was looking on information on branding for a character that was to be permanently marked as a slave, in order to give description of the marking.

Um...have you thought of going down to the BDSM form here on Lit and asking about these two things there?

 

[PervOtaku]

When I type in "branding", I get a lot of stuff about advertising - corporate brand management etc. One option is to look it up in a thesaurus to see if there's another word that might be more specific to the meaning I'm after. But if that doesn't help, another way is to think about words that might go with the type of branding I'm researching.

For instance, getting an infection might be an issue with skin branding. Probably not with brand management. So I search on "branding infection control". Most of the links still aren't relevant, but a few of them suggest that "body art" might be a useful term.

So now I search on 'branding "body art"' (putting "body art" in quotes to make sure it's treated as one word). This gets me a lot of info that's more relevant to the subject. And you can go on like that, using a rough search to get ideas for more specific search terms.

"Skin branding" works as a google search. The obvious alternative is "tattoo" which I'm sure came up under the "body art" search.

 

[slyc_willie]

Whenever possible, I try to talk to people whom I would consider an authority on the subject. When I worked in the restaurant industry, I met people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and would conversationally quiz them on various topics. I learned a lot of stuff that way, and while much of it is used as little bits of interesting trivia that pop into my stories from time to time, some has helped me accurately describe something of which I have no personal experience (such as hang gliding, rock climbing, or restoring the engine on a '75 Coupe deVille).

If you're able, find people who would know about the topic you're researching. Not only do you get good information, but you also learn a lot of "insider terms" and little tidbits from the person's history that make writing on the subject more authentic.

Barring that, good info on doing online research has already been mentioned above.

 

[LeaHarvey1821]

I recently did so much research on illegal drugs, which I know nothing about, that my GF was concerned/teasing that the undercover cops might be spying on us from now on.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Note that Google has a "SafeSearch" option; if it's switched on, turning it off will help find racy subjects. But you're right that even with SafeSearch switched off, Google will try to return the non-porny results unless you make your search terms porny. Looks like they changed this in December 2012: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeSearch

Thanks Bramblethorn! Google is typically my "go-to" search engine and on most of my computers, I have safe search turned off.

Within Google's Chrome browser, a right click on a picture brings up an option to "Search Google for this image." It's a nice way to find a larger copy of a small picture, an unedited version of something interesting, and even who it might be. What's fun is trying it on some of the erotic pictures posted on other boards. Google loves to suggest similar pictures, but I have yet to notice them suggest a similar picture that includes sex or nudity.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Visit your local library. Get to know the librarian.

 

[Handley_Page]

Re: Branding marks. try here.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Thanks Bramblethorn! Google is typically my "go-to" search engine and on most of my computers, I have safe search turned off.

Within Google's Chrome browser, a right click on a picture brings up an option to "Search Google for this image." It's a nice way to find a larger copy of a small picture, an unedited version of something interesting, and even who it might be. What's fun is trying it on some of the erotic pictures posted on other boards. Google loves to suggest similar pictures, but I have yet to notice them suggest a similar picture that includes sex or nudity.

Yeah, Google's "search by image" is great. You can access it from other browsers too, although it's a bit more work:

- go to www.google.com
- click on "images"
- click on the little camera icon
- either enter the URL for the image, or upload it from your own computer, to search for others like it.

 

[Wicked_Nightmare]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions, refining my choice of keywords as I go is probably going to be the best all-bases option.

For the curious as why I was looking these up, I thought branding would make a permanent visible reddening or blackening, and what I did find suggested that any color in a branding after it heals is an infection, and that a non-infected skin brand will appear as raised skin.

I was looking for something easier to read. The marked person was to be a royal slave trained as an expendable medieval secret agent.

Same story called for the grapple/control hold. However the person being grabbed was a witch with a protective curse. So I was looking for the position they'd be frozen in the moment they touched the witch. I'm still writing that bit, I may or may not leave it in.

 

[SamScribble]

I don't wish to be disrespectful, but have you thought about getting out more? You know, a park? A coffee shop? Just a suggestion.

Oh, and having spent part of my early life as a chef, I have lots of scars. They are all white. No red. No white.

 

[Bramblethorn]

They are all white. No red. No white.

Did you mean "no black"?