How can we answer these questions with a clear conscience???

Question

I wonder, how can we answer questions with really little knowledge except for our own experience and maybe education without taking full responsibility for the outcome of our answers. There are people out there who want to lose 60 pounds and are 125 pounds, others who are contemplating a kind of rape or people who are just very lost. How do we answer to them when they choose an answer that may cost them their future or their lives?

Answer 1

I answer because I want to help. Many people don't go for counseling so I encourage counseling. (I know it helped me) But I feel counseling is a good thing to tell people because you are sending the message to go for help.
I have always been a person where many people come to for help. If I can't help them I listen to whatever they have to say for however long they need to say it. (because that is a way of helping also.) Many people in my area can tell you that. I had a friend who told me her problems and I would ask her certain questions and she would answer them and I would assess the situation and give her an answer and 98% of the time I was able to tell her what he would do next and she would come back to me saying how did you know? Listening does wonders. And if people give you enough information you can answer the question.
It is good to give a positive answer even if you feel that person may not pursue it. You can say you have tried. I really do not feel like saying things to help someone is harmful to them.
It is easy to tell who comes to yahoo answers with a REAL problem and those who just ask question. You can feel it in the words.
But you are right in a way also. Some people come with sincere question to have some one tell them " you suck " or " do i care" . They say hurtful things when that people is FOR REAL.
Then there are the ones that are bored and have to start a problem and ask a crazy question knowing that they are going to ruffle some serious feathers.

My conscience is clear because I try to give positive answers.

Answer 2

People come here looking for answers, advice, opinions, suggestions and theories. They have to know that they are going to get a variety of responses. The person who is asking the question is the one who should accept the responsibility because they are the ones who are making the choices regarding the various answers. If I give advice to someone who asks, it's purely based on my own experiences and observations. If they choose to try my suggestions that's their choice, not mine. The kinds of questions that you're using as an example I don't answer because those people are either very disturbed and beyond any help I could give or just trying to get a rise out of people. People have to be responsible for themselves.

Answer 3

When we answer a question, unless it's a fact that can be proven, we need to let the person know that it's a guess, opinion, or our own experience. People have different ways of making decisions, if asking questions/opinions of others, there's always that chance of making the wrong decision. If we give an honest answer in good faith, and it costs them their future or lives, we must know it was their choice.

Answer 4

everyone on here answers these questions with their own opinions, what people do with our advice is not on us. They don't have to choose to do what we say. It is their choice and in no way should we be held responsible for their actions. They know when they write their questions that nobody on here is a professional and should use the answer to their own judgment. We don't make them listen to us...

Answer 5

I've thought about that, too. We do need to be careful not to encourage unsafe behavior. But we are not responsible for other people who are on the internet. If they are not old enough to be responsible for themselves, then their parents should monitor their use of the internet. We cannot save the world, we just have to try not to do too much incidental damage.

Answer 6

I think you need to have some sort of perspective on what and how you are answering a question. If you are unsure of the why and the how of the situation, make your answer intentionally broad and try to be empathatic to all aspects of the problem.

Answer 7

Sometimes people just want a sound board to bounce their thoughts off of. They need to be heard and then make they're own decisions based on feed back. Hopefully it makes sense to that person and they make wise judgements based on them. *smiles*

Answer 8

We merely provide our opinion on whatever their question is on. It's up to them to decide which answer to follow, if any. If they didn't ask their question on here, they'd ask some of the people around them- perhaps they do both.

Answer 9

I don't answer questions that I don't feel comfortable with for that reason, just go on to the next.

Answer 10

consider this fun - an assume that people here have some common sence to help them realize that people mean well, but are not professionals.