Do you cheat in answering questions?

Question

knowledge is power, if you're hungry for the illusion of that kind of power.

I've noticed that there are a number of individuals, who will post gobs and gobs of text from an unknown source, simply because they can not articulate an answer in their own words.

Also there are some people who think that just dropping in a link to another site that may or may not have the answer is the solution to the question.

Are these people just lazy or naive?

Why is it so difficult, to post an answer in your own words as you might interpet your sources of information. If you're right and your reply makes sense, then you may get the 10 point reward.

If you're just going to pollute with gobs of pointless text or useless links that only distract me from my question, especially if they are phony links with nothing to do at all with my question. Why even bother replying to a question. Just type yes or no and move on, if you have to.

Answer 1

I agree. I try to answer from life experience but that isn't always enough for some people. I sometimes worry that I get to involved and the answer ends up to long! I suppose all I can do is the best I can do!

Answer 2

No, I don't "cheat", as you seem to call it.

If a person asks for an opinion, I give mine, expressed from the heart, with my life experience to back it up as best I can. I try to give as full of an explanation as I can, without overwhelming a person in detail.

If a person asks for factual information, I will often, as you say, "copy & paste" and "drop a link". This is not because I don't want to use my own words or am lazy. It is because the information is readily available, clearly written and often has a lot more on the source page than I want to quote. I generally give multiple sources, as well -- and they are *always* valid and useful. Therefore, I will *excerpt* what is *MOST* pertinent to the question, and direct the asker to the link(s) for additional information. I also want people to understand that I did not just "make up" my answer as so many people seem to do -- I want them to see that there is a factual basis behind what I have posted.

I assume it must be working -- I'm at 28% Best Answers.

Answer 3

Half of the questions that are asked on Yahoo answers can easily be answered from the internet. People either are lazy or want attention or are bored.

Some people give definitions and then explain their answer.

Also, if you look at the grammar and spelling of people, I would rather have them copy and paste the answer because I can't understand them.

California high school test scores are at an all time low and California presently is one of the worst states for education. I don't think it's a coincidence that Silicon valley started the internet boom, plus California kids usually (not all) have a lot given to them. Computers have made people lazy and it's "dumbing" people down even more than American Idol.

It's the same laziness that causes people who are changing lanes or turning, not to use their turn signal. Laziness.

Answer 4

I often add a link if I used specific information from that site in answering the question. If the person asking is looking for more specific details, it can help.

Opinions are not facts and while some questions ask for opinions, others ask for facts. I try to tailor my answer to the question. If I have personal knowledge of a situation, I post what I've learned or know. In this information-rich society, sometimes it's not what you know, it's do you know where (or how) to find it.

One thing I do agree on, is that if you're not sure of your sources or information, don't post it. Wrong information is worse than no information.

Answer 5

I think sometimes it boils down to the fact that the same questions are being asked again and again. Some people probably don't feel like wasting their time typing the same big reply they just did yesterday. Instead they will post the site they got the info from.

I personally already have some reply written out and saved in word that I copy and paste. Again because I see the same questions (worded differently) posted.

Answer 6

I never cheat in answering these things, but if I do know the internet source where I got the info from, I insert the link.

I also say when I am not certain. I think it's only polite, because often my answers seem intelligent and I don't want anybody to be misinformed.

I think the people who do cheat suffer from low self esteem, and when you couple that with lack of intelligence, you get the people who drop incomplete links and post rubbish to make themselves FEEL smart.

Answer 7

I think some people post pasted info from, say, Wikipedia as a way of telling the question asker "You could have just looked this up yourself."
I admit that sometimes I look up answers to questions on other sites, and I will copy&paste if I think the site said it as well as I could have, but I credit the source I copied from, and I copy selectively.
I agree with you that some people out there just paste pages of off-topic info or links that don't make any sense.

Answer 8

I couldn't decide between cribbing others' text and spouting gibberish, so I decided to provide an honest, quality answer just this once...

If I'm going to open my mouth, what comes out should be worth hearing. Otherwise I'm polluting the air. I feel the same with this forum - if I don't have a good answer, I'd rather keep looking until I can contribute.

Answer 9

If Im not 100% sure of an answer but I still want to help this person and keep them from getting misinformation, I will copy and paste (only a brief section) and then provide a link.... Im not lazy, most of my answers are in my own words.

A bigger issue than that is people putting wrong answers as fact. Not sure if they are doing it on purpose or honestly think they are right.

Answer 10

I do what ever I feel will help the person the most. I look answers up and try to just type a shortened version the answer. One man needed help with his car, I scanned the parts of a manual I had and e-mailed them to him. So far I have not used links. I try to stay away from them myself.