Why answer a question when you just don't know?

Question

This is a useful forum for all kinds of advice, like for people with medical worries who may be embarassed to go to the doctor if they don't really have to or people with homework who want to verify an answer/

But why risk misguiding such people when you simply don't know the answer, like a guy last week who said he thought a stone was an old English unit of weight about 20lbs when in fact it is a current English unit of weight 14lbs. And lots of people who even answer by saying "I don't know", are 2 points so important???

If you don't know, why not just move on to a question you do know the answer for?

Help U, no I am not perfect. That is why I have to skip questions I don't know the answer for.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you - and it's no good these people saying "it's only for fun" and "why not, then WE get the points" because that's NOT the point. These people don't realise that some questions are put because the questioner has nobody else to ask BEFORE going to the professional, and might possibly get a simple explanation to what - to them - is an insurmountable problem at that moment.
As to those who obviously give misleading answers or who purposely intend to mislead, and to those who just plain guess at an answer (which of course is patently wrong and possibly dangerous) then I think there should be a means of highlighting their answers with a warning sign, so that, for example, if more than three people (or as many as yahoo think fit) say an answer is blatantly wrong/dangerous etc and can give a GOOD explanation as to WHY it is, then that answer can be removed before it causes any harm. The one proviso here is that the people who object to a wrong answer must be prepared to give the reason why they say the answer is wrong AND leave their name and not hide behind the secrecy of an abuse report.
That way not only would the whole site become more sensible and 'user friendly', but we could get rid of the stupidity of seeing so many "don't know" type of answers being given in order to gain what are after all, rather useless points.

Answer 2

I agree - it can be misleading but not dangerous. For instance the question about 20lb or 14lb for a 'stone' - that's misleading but not life-threatening. And anyone in court for a traffic offence using 'I heard it on Yahoo answers and they said it was ok' as a defence should see a shrink and shouldn't be let out without a keeper anyway!

Answer 3

I don't answer Questions that I don't know the answer to. If I know that some of the answers are given and I have no way to contact the person who asked the question I will Answer by giving my advice and tell them which answers people gave that I know are wrong.
To lot of people on here yes those 2 points are important to them. That's why they answer with things like " I don't know" or " That's stupid...Thanks for the 2pts!"

Answer 4

accepting an answer without verification is like taking somebodies advice when you know it does not apply to you or believing the first thing you read, all answers are suspect until proven, this can only be done by checking with many source's. And the people who answer with "I don't know" just need to feel they are taking part in the community so lets not exclude them because you don't like what they say, or you think what they say is worthless, everybody should be excepted even those who have nothing to say yet!

Answer 5

I agree with you 100% and in fact have said so on occasion. However, you want to know a reason, and the main motivation appears to be the points system. Just saying this gets you 2 points. Maybe the system needs changing so that 'don't know' or answers like it can be filtered out? They can do it with swearing on Yahoo Chat so why not here?

Answer 6

I try to answer only things I know about -or if the asker is just looking for a good laugh I go that way - you can tell who wants a real answer and who doesn't.
Lots of times I do the polls because they are fun.
Guess I should answer this one now -
If I don't know or don't think I can give a good answer most times I move on, other time I will say what I think if they are just looking for a opinion.

Answer 7

Some people really do go nuts over the points. For the 'dunno" answers, you should report them using the Report Abuse link. That way, when they get dinged 10 points, they'll stop.

The out and out wrong answers are scary, I agree. All you can do is give the wrong answer thumbs down, and give the truth and your credentials.

People with wrong answers often THINK they are helping, because they think they do know.

This is why it's a good thing that people who DO know are also around (when they are). One hopes the asker and other readers can tell when someone knows what they are talking about.

Answer 8

I avoid answeriing questions that sound a bit like "I feel like committing suicide, how should I do it?", but apart from that all stupid questions are fair game.
A stone (14lb) btw, is not current - imperial measurements are now banned by the EU - don't ask what the EU is, google it.
One guy even did jail-time for selling bananas in lbs & ozs.
Thanks for the 2 points.

Answer 9

This website cannot be one's only source for answers, especially if it involves matters of life and death. One would have to do more research to get answers for serious questions, like asking a doctor or other professional.

This site is great for getting answers to less important questions, or just getting people's advice, opinions, and/or thoughts.

Answer 10

I agree with you 100 percent! Lots of people do that, give dumb answers. Why, is antibody's guess. Usually, I skip past questions If I don't think I can give a sound answer. Great question.