Which is worse, not helping people or helping them, when the question shows how ignorant they really are?

Question

There are so many questions here each day that you have to look at and ask yourself, "What were they thinking?"

They get the answers to them that range from, "You're and idiot," to "This is what you do....." to everything inbetween! Some of the questions and answers are so dangerous that you don't know how to react! (I am still stuck on the person who said you can use Sevan dust on 4 week old puppies!)

So what is the right thing to do? Should we help these people? Even though they probably should never own a pet to begin with? Should we tell them to go to the vet, even though we know that they probably won't?

What is the right thing to do?

Answer 1

Of course we should help, not necessarily for them but for the dogs.

You said - "(I am still stuck on the person who said you can use Sevan dust on 4 week old puppies!)"

JEEZE!!! I must have missed that one. I hate it when people answer questions when they don't know anything about the topic and are just making a wild guess!

Answer 2

I've never thought of that!
I think the right thing to do is tell them how to handle stuff but if you really need help like say you had that dog and someone told you to put Sevan dust on it would you? And if that was the question just ask them who told them to do it anyways they can be "mentally" so just go along even if your anger burst.
That is the same situation for me.

Answer 3

I doubt that it matters. These people are posting here because they don't have a vet (otherwise they would take their pet, it would be vaccinated and spayed/neutered, and that would prevent half the problems posted on YA). They are going to do whatever it is they do-- anything except take their pet to the vet-- no matter what advice they get. Sadly, a lot of pets die for lack of care and lack of knowlege, and there is nothing to stop ignorant owners from running right out and getting another pet they can't afford to take care of. When it gets sick, they will post here until it dies, rather than going to a vet, and then they will get another pet they can't afford. See a pattern? It's been estimated that fewer than 50% of pets in the US EVER see a vet-- not even for puppy or kitten shots!

Answer 4

you know what gets me though ?is when you ask a ? and some ppl call you a bi--- without even knowing you and then they attack other people answering the question. now i know all the people on here are not like that but there is no need to be nasty either . Yes I know you feel like slapping them but instead you should rise above it . but when you see some people using the foul language you have to report it cause it aint right . okay said my peace and spoke my mind good luck .

Answer 5

Yes I say help them. They are asking a question because they don't know the answer so they are reaching out to someone to help them

Answer 6

Don''t you realize you can discount anything that seems unbelievable as trolling? There's alot of people looking to get a rise, or laugh out of people and will perpetrate any lie, or make up any outrageious thing for that purpose? "We" get to hide behing our screens and can't be held accountable.

Answer 7

Just keep answering the questions no matter how lame,ignorant or repetative.
If just one person learns something from you then you've made a difference.

Answer 8

You never know who is a troll, or if they really do need the help. I try to answer them if I can force myself to do so nicely. If I can't form a nice answer, I don't bother.

Answer 9

Yeah - don't you just want to slap people sometimes? Sometimes I feel like I'd pull out my hair if I had any.

Just ignore them, they'll go away.

Answer 10

close the window as soon as you feel uncomfortable and erase the question from your head liked it never happened. whooaoa.... what am i doing here. oh well....