How do you know you can trust the answers of those who pretend to be experts on Y!a?

Question

Especially those who claim to have a professorship in a subject and answer from Wikipedia. Note Even wikipedia is sometimes wrong.

Answer 1

I've gotten good answers and I've gotten bad ones. Some people here might be experts but most are giving the best answer they can based on their own experience. As for Wikipedia, I have a major problem with something that presents itself as a resource that is nothing other than the compilation of opinions from various people who are self promoted as experts; it ain't the Britannica. As for Yahoo answers...it's fun. If you need medical advice you're not going to get it here. Know what I mean, jelly bean?

Answer 2

You can't. I think of Yahoo! Answers as a starting point for investigation. If you're lucky, sometimes several respondents will corroborate the same answers, but when you ask something especially obscure, a single individual may offer you a valuable lead. Wikipedia references are just the fruit of a more formalized system just like Yahoo! Answers. There's an extra layer of quality control involved (one can only take my word that I hold a Ph.D., whereas Wikipedia notes will often reference Ph.D.'s you can look up), but neither forum can guarantee the accuracy of its information 100%.

The reason Wikipedia is cited so often is that it's frequently among the first hits uncovered by an intelligently directed search. Any individual, professor or not, can read through the article and decide for herself if it seems reputable. Wikipedia itself will often note when an article includes disputed findings.

Answer 3

You can't Dorie. You use it as a prompt for ideas to look for further information. Yahoo! Answers is great for that. You should take a note from the U.S.A. We don't even believe our own doctors. We do our own research, sometimes even have to insist on our own treatment. We have the right, they resist, but often it works great. We don't believe in blindly following authority.

Look at what the religious dictatorships of Islam have lead the Islamic people into as an example! Time for Islam to rise up against the leaders who sponsor terrorism and save Islam from the wrath of the world.

Answer 4

you have to take it for what it is...user-generated content. which is also what wikipedia is. it's a great place to share knowledge with others, but with the understanding that not everyone's answer is 100% accurate.

i think yahoo answers is great for validation and for recommendations/opinions. and for those who are really experts, you should see them answering questions of a particular category or area of interest and possibly getting voted as best answer fairly often.

in the end, yahoo answers is fun and useful...enjoy!

Answer 5

Some of those people experienced what the person asking the question went through (a disease, bad relationship, a school subject, etc.) - it's good to get a lot of answers, then you can look it up yourself, and see who was the closest to being right.
Wikipedia is writtin by users, and anyone can edit.

Answer 6

You can check their profile to see if they have several "best answer" votes. I agree Wikipedia can be wrong. People lie all the time. I look to see if they've included a reputable source or reference.

Answer 7

Use the answers as a guideline and do your own research. Wikipedia is a collaborative effort. It could contain erroneous info.

Answer 8

You don't know you can trust it. You pretty much have to take it on faith, and if it's a question you have a particular interest in, follow any leads that may arise in answers. And if it's a medical question... Why are they asking Yahoo Answers when they should be seeing a doctor? lol

Answer 9

I never trust anything I read on the internet. I just take some of it as suggestion that leads my research or interest in a certain direction.

Answer 10

Don't believe everything you read. The old saying applies to the Internet. Follow up and do some investigating.