If somebody answers a question by insulting the asker, do they actually think it makes them look clever??

Question

rather than a mean-spirited person who has nothing better to do than give lame insults over the internet?

If don't want to give a question a proper answer (or don't have the ability to!!!!) ....why wastes your time and everybody elses' by writing nasty rude comments on your answers???

Answer 1

I think they do believe it makes them look clever, but hey, at least you aren't stuck with them for friends.

Answer 2

If somebody asks a question by insulting the answer, do they actually think it makes them look clever??
rather than a mean-spirited person who has nothing better to do than give lame insults over the Internet?

If don't want to ask a question properly (or don't have the ability to!!!!) ....why wastes your time and everybody else's by writing nasty rude comments on Yahoo answers???

Answer 3

I PARTIALLY agree with Pastor_H. I know from personal experience that my answers don't come across as intended. I think this is an inherent limitation in written correspondence-- there's no intonation as in verbal communications, and tone plays a huge part in conveying a person's intent.

Also, people tend to get really lazy or need to answer things too quickly, which further causes the answers to appear brusque.

I think it would be a good policy that, when an answer appears rude (unless it's absolutely blatant, e.g., profane or the apparent insult is very blunt), to re-read it in the light most favorable to the sender and give him the benefit of the doubt. Or just ask; no harm in asking.

Of course, when it truly is mean-spirited, just ignore them. Swatting at flies tends to make them more active. Just leave them alone and they'll move on. We have a duty to report people who are being extremely out of bounds of civility.

Answer 4

They're just horrible on the internet because nobody can answer back really. They're far too scared to do it in real life so the only chance they have be "clever" is on here. In the real world they'd get ripped to shreds and they know this. In real life they don't have any friends or life so just ignore them. Although some people do ask really stupid questions and deserve it.

Answer 5

Sometimes, but some of us have been brought up in environments where we have been taught, by example, to attack one another rather than use our reason to challenge propositions or arguments, and it's just an attack reflex such people have developed. Not helpful to respond in kind, but gently bring them back to the issue at question. If that doesn't work, don't engage, move on to something more productive or satisfying in your life

Answer 6

This site will become hijacked by this sort of behaviour if you don't report it I'm afraid. (REPORT ABUSE)
I'm surprised there's not a facility for 3-4 people to vote off insulting answers (+ losing 5 points).
Like being shut out of a chat room.

Answer 7

These are always the first answers you get. The amount of intelligence on the inter-net gets lower, the people using the inter-net doubles... I leave the answer to you... (Addendum; perhaps they should have a worst answer category, -10 points by people above level 4...?

Answer 8

well..yeah, it actually does make me look clever, i feel good about myself then, i feel more intelligent, my ego gets a boost, and well...i'm proud of myself then, the oh so smart Me!

only problem is, after that i turn off the computer, and i'm just as stupid as i was before i answered :(

(it always helps me to think this, when i get another stupid insulting answer to one of my questions...)

Answer 9

I think it is sometimes do to STUPID questions. And sometimes do to Mis reading the answer. I come off as rude to people sometimes (even though i'm not trying to be) and in other case the idiot answering is trying to be funny.

Answer 10

Yeah there are some smart arses out there that think its funny to make stupid remarks or insult others, try to ignore it and they go back to playing with themselves.