That ain't cheatin' that's efficiency!
One could be lazy, though, and start out with the search first, but that's no fun. Usually I try to get something close to a working solution and then see if anyone else has already asked my questions. If there's any code posted I skip right over that.
Besides, it's a way to save the gurus from having to answer the same question a zillion times.
Remember: be good to your gurus.
Pauline