Is it the sense of power? the feeling of empathy towards someone else? The sharing of knowledge? the gaining of points? being part of a society?
2006-06-28 20:20:46 · 10 answers · asked by matarese_666 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I've recently came to this site , and for me it's about helping and sharing knowledge and plus it's 3 am in the morning and theres not much else to do ;)
2006-06-28 20:23:03 · answer #1 · answered by IRunWithScissors 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The point system is only the addictive factor. I've been here since January, and the way I see it is... People want a special "status", and want to be noticed. They figure if they answer enough questions, and acquire a high level, then they'll compensate for the lack of attention they receive in real life. This site is supposed to be about communicating knowledge to one another, but it's obviously morphed into something more sinister.
It's a pie, and everyone wants the biggest piece, otherwise, the high-level users wouldn't be competing with one another for the number 1 spot on the leaderboard. Personally, I don't care about the points. I learn a lot from this site, especially how people react to one another in certain situations.
2006-06-29 03:27:07 · answer #2 · answered by Psychology 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's addicting first and foremost. I answer most of my questions to help someone out...the points are nice they don't mean anything personally, to some, they do mean recognition or a sense of power in a way, pride even, if you wanna go that far. I also do it because I don't feel like going to sleep after I come home from work, just my way of winding down and to clear my mind of thoughts or to express my thoughts, better so than I can by talking to another person lol this has a backspace button when you don't say something right, oh if only I could do that in real life lol. I've always been able to write better than I can talk...in other words I'm more interesting on here than in real life...a shocker I know. Like I said though I do it to help someone out I'm helping you out by answering your question and your helping me to wind down and to get some of those thoughts of mine out! I have time to think about my answer and answer it the most educated way that I can.
Everyone answers questions differently and that's why it's a success, for some reason we enjoy reading other people's views and opinions...to gain a different perspective perhaps or to get something answered that you just don't plain know yourself.
There are endless reasons as to why people ask and/or answer questions and countless reasons for how we ask and/or answer questions the way that we do.
Thats just what makes it fun it's here for our enjoyment so...lets do just that, shall we.
2006-06-29 03:40:45 · answer #3 · answered by KitKat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, most of all, it's probably the human desire for understanding and the human thirst for knowledge...but for some, the id will crave the power...for others, it will be about something in which to invest and waste time...for others, it will turn them into insomniacs...human zombies that feed off the hours ticking by which bring them no relief.
2006-06-29 03:27:08 · answer #4 · answered by rainbowlicious7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychologically, Yahoo Answers is based on operant conditioning--the allocation of points is used by Yahoo to reinforce the behaviors Yahoo wants us to perform.
2006-06-29 04:26:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe so for several reasons:
1. the ability to answer how you truly think without worrying what others think
2. the power you feel from having knowledge of a topic
3. sheer relaxing fun, for me anyway
2006-06-29 03:25:15 · answer #6 · answered by GOUTVOLS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the need to be heard, to communicate, ...
even the most ridiculous questions will get attention, even negative attention...is still attention.
my psychological reasons are to communicate, in a form i enjoy best, writing
and to come to a greater understanding of the human mind and attitude.
this is a great laboratory
2006-06-29 03:59:56 · answer #7 · answered by sparkalittlefire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a combination. I know I come here for instant gratification. What's the dumbest thing I can ask, what's the most inane answer I can post, hey look another ten points.
I think it serves our inate need to please others, our curiosity and our ambition, so it's a pretty cleverly engineered social experiment.
2006-06-29 03:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by corpuscollossus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
boredom- like a chat room except subjects are discussed here- it's not just about people trying to "pick up".
2006-06-29 03:30:52 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs.Foster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very social, funny, expressive, and time killer.
2006-06-29 03:27:41 · answer #10 · answered by shkabaj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋