Hrm, if someone answers "I'd google it," I consider that to be a completely valid response. Of course it automatically invites the follow-up, what if a google search fails?
If Google fails, it is an unsolved problem [1], and therefore requires study and research. A variety of communication mediums (forums, IRC, etc.) exist to communicate with others who are working on solving the same problem.
[1] At least to the extent that the public is concerned. It is possible that some skunkworks operation has solved it in secrecy.
I find I mostly use google to see how others have implemented something rather find the exact solution. But either way you have a problem to solve and google takes you from knowing nothing to at least a starting point.
