Rebecca Moore wonders why there's so much pointless basic information online

I went to my wardrobe the other day and pulled out a sundress.

Just as I slipped its strappy sleeves from the hanger and undid its zip I realised something crucial, something that would prove devastatingly detrimental to my dressing success. I had absolutely no idea how to ‘wear’ a sundress. I had to immediately Google it.

Obviously, I’m kidding. Actually, I was trawling the inner reaches of the internet when I stumbled upon a video entitled: how to wear a sundress.

On that same page there were lists of similarly-titled – and seemingly pointless – films showing me ‘how to wear silver’ and ‘how to wear pointed flat shoes’.

Last week, a very slim work colleague searched online for information about how safe it is to fast (ie to go without food) if one is already skinny.

She has decided to fast for one or two days per week for health benefits, but definitely doesn’t want or need to lose weight.

So she naturally began typing in search terms such as, ‘is it possible to fast for short periods without losing weight’.

Not a single entry she was directed towards gave her answers regarding whether it was possible to fast and not lose weight.

Instead there were thousands and thousands – probably millions – of pages dedicated to tips on ways to lose weight, and on various types of diets. Actually, there were probably billions of search entries on how to lose weight.

Everybody knows that there should just be one dieting website simply stating, boldly and clearly: Eat less, eat healthily, and move more.

I’m sorry – it’s not rocket science. We all know it.

We all pretend not to know it in the wee small hours as we frantically search the internet looking for tips and gimmicky tricks to take control of our lives and prevent us venturing down to the kitchen.

Handing the responsibility of making us slim or healthier to an online health guru always makes us feel instantly better and delays the inevitable need to actually do something about it ourselves.

Why does the internet feel the need to guide me through every step of my life, and promise answers to questions I didn’t even know I needed to ask? I don’t need to know how to wear silver.

I’ve got a pretty good grasp on how to wear a bangle, thank you.

I don’t need to know how to wear pointed, flat shoes. I have a mirror and a shoehorn and can – mainly – tell if a pair of shoes matches an outfit.

And I certainly don’t need billions of people telling me how to lose weight. I heard the first time. I just simply haven’t listened.