What do you think of the general level of intelligence, informedness and eloquence of people on Answers?

Question

Do you think in such an environment that the 'best' answers really get chosen? What do you think of the risks that heavy users can use the time they have to weight the material on answers according to their outlook and prejudices?

There has been a study on web participation that summarises, "In most online communities, 90% of users are lurkers who never contribute, 9% of users contribute a little, and 1% of users account for almost all the action."

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/participation_inequality.html

With the internet as part of the future for more civic participation and direct democracy, what do you think are the risks?

i.e. are we at risk of having our attentions and energies directed by a small and inappropriate coterie of people? And if so, how is that different from now?

Answer 1

I think that there are a lot of people on here who simply enjoy stiring up trouble. There are also a lot who feel the need to shout their opinion from the rooftops by posting the same question over and over again (sometimes using different words, sometimes the exact same question).

However, every once in a while, I see intelligent debate, and it's nice to know that it still exists. I've changed some posters minds on subjects, and they've thanked me for pointing out facts that they didn't know.

The risks to the information gathered on the internet is that people like to think that it represents the feelings of society in general. If 90% of the posters feel one way, they think that 90% of America is behind them.

We already have this problem with polls. Some group calls 1000 people and somehow thinks that they have managed to get a cross-section of America and they now know what America is thinking.

The biggest problem with that is that too many people believe the polls. They don't understand that even an honest poll is useless, and most polls are not done honestly. They ask certain questions in a certain way and make sure that they contact people who are likely to answer the way they want them to answer. Sure, it may be "random," but, for example, if you call during the day you're going to get housewives and people who don't work outside the home. Those tend to be liberals.

I know. I used to do telephone surveys.

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Answer 2

I've only recently become a member of Y-A and I have to admit that it has been a disappointment. I originally thought this was going to be a legitimate forum for informed people to share their knowledge... as opposed to apparently kids (some answers seem to be at the third grade level) and instigators using it just to generate animosity. For example, I just read a question in which the person wanted to know if the Iraqi Terrorists would be attempting to bomb the Twin Towers again (ignore the fact that there are no Twin Towers anymore). This question was just a "set up" to try to make conservatives appear uninformed and thus think that it was the Iraqi's who were the terrorists. This type of foolishness is so "stupid" and "sophomoric" that it seems like Yahoo! could monitor participation and screen out these idiots.

Answer 3

Yes. Longer than yes? An 'A' level examination in English or Maths is now considerably easier than an 'O' level in the same subject was 40 years ago. University degrees have become devalued to the point of being practically worthless.

Answer 4

Let me make this as succinct as possible:

Level of Intelligence: Less than high school

Level of Informdness: Borderline none. Most answers are given from the heart not the head.

Level of Eloquence: Most, 90%+ have a difficult time offering any answer that contains substance, or they contain painful text messaging abbreviations.

In short, most people, for example, user: silverbirch, answer as much as possible to gain point for self importance with no true interest in providing meaninfull answers.

Answer 5

It has always been the way that the empty vessel makes the most noise, look at the first answer to this question if anyone needs proof.

I can't speak for everyone, and I accept that, but whenever people say 'I want to make a difference' I find myself thinking 'Why not say "I want to make an improvement', after all, Hitler made a difference.'

When it comes to best answers, I find that being factually correct often comes in second place to sharing an opinion, and I feel that this will be the case until there is a 'yahoo opinions' site.

Answer 6

I dont agree. I think it can get a little carried away, but for the most part it represents the different points of view and the arguements that people have for and against different issues. I have learned a lot from some of the links offered by some responders.

Answer 7

You don't have to use Y.A's, if your far too intelligent for the likes of other users. Personally I wouldn't trust web studies, don't know how they get such statistics. Perhaps you could go to a chat room where they can successfully take the p*** out of you.

Answer 8

I am proud of the fact that people want to participate. Even the very young who cannot yet vote. They are interested and that is encouraging.
I find it a little fun for people to sometimes put other people in their place. I have been put there a couple of times myself.

Answer 9

VERY interesting question. I don't think I can do it justice.

There are some very good people here - thoughtful, intelligent, respectful, etc. I try to focus on them and not the jerks.

I'm not sure what we can do to get more people to participate. One would hope that the ones who do are the best informed - not always the case.

Answer 10

Not very credible, since the Conservatives have spammed this site so badly. Google, Ask.com, and Mozilla Firefox calls Yahoo Answers the new MySpace spam site. So don't take this page seriously.