Do you answer political questions where you know you have no chance of winning the best answer? If so, why?

Question

maryamok_haris: I know why I answer certain questions, but I am curious what other people think on the subject.

ret_roch_cop: Actually it wouldn't matter to me if there were no points involved at all. The only time I worried about points was in the beginning when I was trying to achieve a level where I wouldn't be restricted by how much I ask/answer.

Answer 1

Ppl winning a higher BA percentage travel in circles with fans--esp. when only posting in one category.

But I generally look in politics to see whose asking. That's a tip I got from the editor of the New York Times when I "accidentally" got through to him on a political survey call. Never answer a question blindly. I wished now I'd always followed that advice here in the politics and government section.

I don't answer to get BA but to participate in the forum. Politics & Gov is really more like a dialogue of info, not Q&A.

Answer 2

Why in the world would someone answer a political question just to be the person with the best answer? I guess there are a certain amount of egotist in the world.
The section is best used to pose a question on an issue you are concerned with, get a number of responses, then put the question out to vote to see what the public thinks is the best answer.
It seems, tho, that the top answers usually win on a vote, because a large number of people just want 1 point and don't read the question or the answer. But, a lot of people scroll down to read all the responses.
I actually find the voting page much more interesting than the answer page. Finding a brilliant answer to a troublesome issue is rewarding.

Answer 3

Yes. I do in any category, if only for the joy of answering but also there are sometimes when you feel strong enough about something to let your voice be heard. This is akin to saying why should you vote if you're not going to vote for the winner.

Besides, many questions are slanted such that if you don't totally agree with the questioner, you're not getting Best Answer anyway. If a question comes up such as:

How can you evolutionary morons think that we came from apes?

Well, if you happen to believe in evolution, do you not respond, even though you know you have no chance to get Best Answer?

Besides, I have enough points. 2 vs. 10 doesn't make a big difference anymore, especially after I already got the jacket.

Answer 4

I try hard not to but sometimes I feel I just have to respond. Surprisingly I have been chosen best on a few, which really floored me. Seems like some people phrase questions in such a way to get a response and it is not the position you think they are coming from

Normally if I really want to answer the question but am guessing there is no chance of getting the best answer I will look at the askers answers and other questions, it helps form my answer to give me a better shot.

Answer 5

Some questions are designed to whip up fervor of like minded people, I don't go for that, why, serves no purpose just I just let em spout there garbage. Others take verbal digs which again serve no purpose but to incite like minded folks and anger people of the opposing party, hate speech basically. Then there is the conspiracy theory nuts that have George Bush responsible for everything from hurricane Katrina, to planning the 9/11, to hiding aliens at some air force base. I try to answer questions that are either thought provoking, explaining a party platform, differences between parties, orrrrrrrrrr, if I find something so egregiously stupid it requires a retort.

Answer 6

I like to gain some insight into other people's point of view. Sometimes I like to inject a little middle-of-the-road attitude because there appear to be so many radical, closed-minded, objections to one having a different outlook on the political issues of today.

Some people seem to have personalized these issues and I would hate to think that anyone would get the idea that the majority of Americans have turned into radical bigots.

Answer 7

The best answer chosen is often the incorrect or worst answer... but many here choose answers that are aligned to their thinking. I usually answer questions I feel I can contribute real knowledge to and try to avoid the idiots of the world (and probably (10-20% of those who post here fall into this category)--- but, getting picked as best answer is secondary!

Answer 8

Well I tend to answer a lot of troll questions and generally these guys are looking for answers that play into their own feeling about a given subject. Rarely does my answer jive with what they want to see.

But you gotta answer what you really think rather than playing for points.

Answer 9

This isn't about point gaming, although some, including Yahoo, think it is. If Yahoo didn't think it was point gaming they would not have established levels for you to reach by accumulating points.

I think that, despite the attrocious things that some of these trolls post, this forum is intended to be a free exchange of ideas and opinions.

Answer 10

You always have a chance, particularly with first repsonse, because people get points for voting and are often too lazy to scroll down and read answers. They just vote for the first one whatever it is.