Is Yahoo Answers fundamentally flawed?

Question

I mean, you ask a simple, sensible question for which you LOSE points, the a bunch of teenage-know-nothings post answers like "Im sorry I have no idea", or "why do you want to know", or even just "Yes" or "no" when clearly a yes or no answer isnt appropriate. They obviously do this to boost their points, but why are people penalised for a good questions, but rewarded for stupid, unhelpful, non-answers?

Answer 1

Yes.

(Sorry couldn't resist)

I agree with the whole "Teenage-know-nothings" problem. Its genuinely irritating. But this is the internet, you can't expect perfect social interaction without the minority pillocks sticking their oars in. Its the electronic equivalent of walking into the middle of the high street and shouting a question loud enough for everyone to hear. You're obviously going to get people who are kind enough to say "hi" and answer your question, but you're also going to get your fair share of pricks who think its a cool to verbally abuse you.

Now take that concept and apply it worldwide - to be honest I find it incredible that the whole place isn't saturated by the idiots (although I must say at this point that I have been truly disgusted by some of the things going on here unmoderated). Its the very reason why private chat rooms are so successful.

Answer 2

The key here is for the asker to report the answers that are obviously just for points. If the askers police their questions then YA will work the way that most people want...
The reason the questions cost more than answers earn is because there can be more than one answer to a question. The point is for people to answer and the best way to make people answer is to make them do so before they can ask. I have asked 2 questions and answered over 100...I am happy with that and try to give worth while answers.

Answer 3

i do no longer evaluate the question to be opinionated because it rather is basically asking a confident/no question without assuming something. With that stated, various the standards raised are valid. One question that i latterly spoke back had a perfect answer chosen that replaced into farcical in that the answerer did no longer even comprehend what the question replaced into asking. i'm no longer pouting that mine replaced into no longer chosen, yet I argue that replaced right into a subject the place the questioner had a actual bias. I do agree that many questions are preferable. this is one reason that I stay faraway from questions interior the religion class as various the perfect solutions chosen basically echo the asker's opinion. (this is my very own remark, no longer something real.) nonetheless, I do see honourable behaviour on right here. On uncommon events a perfect answer is chosen to the place the asker disagrees with the end result yet appreciates the approach with the help of which the end result's acheived. Askers of that type are ones that i could savor responding to, inspite of no remember if or no longer I actual have the perfect answer. I doubt that something may be rather carried out in a international sense aside from a comprehensive re-write of the format. If perfect solutions have been left to a committee to come to a decision on, i've got faith that an identical criticisms could be conscious. in spite of the fact that, i think of that a close-by answer is accessible. What i think of could be an staggering function is very own scores of particular askers. no longer something on an internet site-extensive sense as that ought to easily be the attractiveness contest that I desire to keep away from. extremely, i could prefer to have at my disposal a score gadget so as that i will decide no remember if or no longer i prefer to respond to a question of somebody consistent with previous history. Networking is a commence, yet I extremely have the flexibility to cost an asker for my very own use while not having to formally strengthen right into a fan. I say enable the opinionated be their very own clic in the community, at an identical time as the actual motive of solutions be parsed out from the noise that such preferable questions generate.

Answer 4

FREE help is the keyword here! Its up to the individual questioner to pick the most logical and intelligent answer! Although its free, you pay the price of having to go through the other 90 percent of stupid answers given. I get a chuckle out of the lack of common sense people have when posting questions about cars or PCs. They dont have the sense to post needed details!

Answer 5

I agree - it is a fundamental flaw, I guess the points reflect the chances you take in asking a question to some extent. however, if you have a genuine question, to which you need a definitive answer, then the points it costs you shouldnt matter, because it's the answer you're looking for, not the points?

That said there should be some way to delete or otherwise retract points from people who merely answer 'Thanks 2 points!'.

Answer 6

Tempted to just say "yes" but managing to resist, its a good point, why asking questions is so "expensive", without questions there would be no answers, I think the points factor is a pretty useless part of the whole system.

Answer 7

Yeah I agree. When I was looking at the points system and saw that you lose points for asking a question, I was like "That can't be right..." Usually we are always encouraged to ask questions, while here we have to pay? Well, its no big deal really, it just doesn't make much sense. :\

Answer 8

I entirely agree.

The use of generic one size fits all answers by the board leader is a sure enough sign that things are going very very wrong on here.

It seems that a concept of information exchange has been reduced to an online platform game.

Answer 9

I have to agree
You do get some of your points back when you select a best answer, but even so I think it could be better.

The points system should encourage you to use it, but if no one asks questions then what it the point?

Answer 10

Yes there are a few out there that just boost there points & there are others like me who like to help people with there problems & get satisfaction out of it. We dont win prizes or money we are here to help