1) locality of knowledge - people ask questions to clear the context of the discussion, not to learn stuff in the vacuum
2) sense of community - people ask questions because it's in human nature to teach others and learn within our groups. Programming culture is even more about joy of teaching others, so I don't understand your complaint
Could you explain why you interpreted my question as a complaint? I clearly indicated that I was asking in good faith by even providing two possible explanations that seem reasonable.
if I'm being honest... combination of grandparent comment I sympathize with being downvoted, your comment being positive, while "just google it" stance I've parsed as disapproval of people it's directed towards