billd91
Not your screen monkey (he/him)
There's no reason to assume the PC is taking an action that the player has not said they're taking. When making a simple request for more information about the environment, "I'm just looking" is implied. Unforced error here on the DM's part.
I don't think that's true, but it depends on the circumstances. If someone says they're searching for traps, I assume that there are multiple levels of caution involved - probably a visual-only stage, then maybe come careful probing. I don't assume that simply searching will trigger the trap - failing to find it and following up as if the object involved isn't trapped will usually service the purpose quite well.
But if someone says they're going to search a room, a desk, a cabinet, a bed - I assume there's touching and moving of things going on. That will be necessary to fully search one of those things - you can't do it from 10' away.