Regarding people who frequently cut + paste answers in the science section?

Question

If you don't know enough about the subject to be able to answer it without a cut+paste, how do you know the information that you are cut+pasting is correct?

Answer 1

I think the real issue is why do people come on and ask some question that really requires pages to explain when they can go and look it up in 5000 places on the interenet. On science issues I have found Wikepedia to be very good. A person the other day asked what is a PN junction. Well most electronics text books have entire chapters dedicated to this one subject. So to ask someone to explain that off of the top of their head is pretty nuts. Now if someone is asking how to solve a chemistry or math problem. That is pretty legitimate. But asking questions like what is the capital of tennessee. Which state is farther east Indiana or Tennessee. Well quite frankly thats shows someone who is too lazy to do a little work. I tell a lot of these kids. Hey I don't have time to do your homework. I see kids will have 5 or 10 questions right in a row. All on the same subject. Bascially asking people to do their homework.

But I think what most people are doing is trying to be helpful. I will post a link to what I think is a accurate resource.

Answer 2

LOL! Good point but actually it's generally due to laziness. It's far easier to cut and paste or simply reference a link than to type in an answer. Typically, answers from or referencing a respected source (particularly a peer reviewed source like 'Nature' for example) are given more credibility as well. If I were to simply answer the question how would you know my qualification or extent of knowledge in the subject? Personally, I never cut and paste answers for subjects I'm not generally familiar with and have a good idea which sources can be trusted for accuracy, but I can only speak for myself. You make a good point though and perhaps I'll make an effort to toss in a word or 2 of my own in future.

Answer 3

I would say that if you don't know enough about a subject or about the source, you shouldn't cut/paste. Otherwise, it's a fine way of answering a question with syntax that was carefully considered and not hastily typed.

Answer 4

Well, at least they know where to find the information to cut and paste. The person asking the question presumably doesn't even knew that. If a web site has a perfectly good explanation, why spend time rewriting it?

Answer 5

I couldn't agree more. I don't even like givng websites as answers, but sometimes it's appropriate and necessary.

The folks cutting-and-pasting are the ones looking for points and 'quantity', not quality.

Answer 6

Sweetie, attempting to communicate about to those those that they are being hypocrites through bearing fake witness adverse to Wiccans and Pagans is a waste of breath. the kind of people you communicate of have blinders on, now to not indicate selective streaks even as it is composed of precisely which commandments they're adament about upholding and which of them are "eh, that do not extremely save on with to this concern". they're going to continually do and say what they're going to. the perfect component to do is save living your life and cause them to devour their words through being a good human being.

Answer 7

I don,t agree with people doing this, you should answer questions from a personal knowledge. give links if needed but at least answer the question yourself

Answer 8

If it is coming from a reliable source then it should be correct. For example Wikipedia's information is monitored for correct information so it is reliable.

Answer 9

they don't. they trust that wikipedia is actually checked for accuracy which it is - but infrequently.