When you answer questions, whats your motivation?

Question

Do you try to get as many "2" points as you can?

or

Try and raise your % of best answers?

Best answer awarded.

Answer 1

There is a Vietnamese guy poking me in the back yelling 'diiti mao!'

Answer 2

To be honest with you, i usually just answer to get some points but not always, i sometimes just answer for the fun of it and for a chance to make someone's day without getting the best answer. As you can see, my best answer rate only ever became seven percent and it is now down to six and it will stay like that unless i change my ways and my answers. I am freaking lazy when answering and i usually give okay answers or mostly offensive answers because some questions are just too much. I mostly do it for the two points just to become level seven and here i am, but i am also best answerer of the wrestling category on 250 answers so i could actually not care about raising the percentage because i am known elsewhere. Although to keep that rank i have to stay in that category and try for best answers instead of giving silly answers which i usually do. I answer questions but mostly not detailed enough and i rarely do that too. I only have about five hundred and eighty nine best answers. Yes i can use my 'intelligence' but i am being honest when answering and i do not kiss up to people when answering either..

Have a nice day and take care!

Answer 3

It depends on the question.

If its a ridiculous question like 'is that real?', i'll answer to get my 2 points.
Incidentally, why I'm trying to get more points is unknown to me. What is my motivation for that? Wasting time at work is probably a big part of it, but still, why do I feel I should bother?

But if its a question that they actually want an answer to or are truly worried about something, I'll try to be as clear and as helpful as I can, for them and to get the best answer.
Does that make my deed selfish I wonder?
Probably. Oh well.

So for instance in this question, I think u actualy want to know, hence the long explanation on my part.

But in the end, funny answers tend to get the awards.

Answer 4

My motivation is to raise or at least maintain a decent percentage of 'best answers'. It gives me a great sense of pride and just makes me feel good to know that some of these people picked MY answer as the best. I know that there are a lot of cheaters out there (i.e. how could you have answered 5263 questions and received 58% best answers ... lol). But I don't care about those people. I think this is a good Yahoo feature and enjoy doing it for the fun of it and also get to learn a lot of things from other questions asked too.

Answer 5

I try to get best answers, because they show people have actually liked your answers more than the rest, whereas the 2 point ones don't, so you may be on level 7 but it doesn't necessarily mean you're a great answerer, you might just be sad and sit at the computer 24/7, answering questions with lazy, crappy answers just to get 2 points and go up a level...
that said, I'm having a bit of a dry spell on the best answer front...haven't had one in months! *sniffs*

Answer 6

Well I like to gain points. Hey 2 points is 2 points. You can get far just racking up the 2 points you get from answering a question. When you answer a question it also puts you in the running for maybe 10 extra points if you are chosen as the best answer. Also you can get thumb points to. So I do love to answer questions. Thanks for asking. This was really a good question.

Answer 7

I love the thumbs up thumbs down rating. Sometimes it's not all about the points, even though it feels great to get a best answer vote! :-)
Most of the time I answer questions that I can relate to through my own experiences, be it a serious, fun, or silly answer.
So, I guess my motivation is connecting with people without actually having to "connect"; if you know what I mean.

Answer 8

I really don't think about the points. I answer when i see something that I can answer to, and I try to do my best most of the times. If I can help with something, that is very nice. If not, better luck next time.
Also, sometimes when I see something very stupid, I have to throw in a comment. The points go and come as they want, without much attention from my side.

Answer 9

Yes, those certainly ARE at the back of the mind, but mostly it is the sheer fun of answering. And when you get a best answer to a question which has been put by a troubled mind it is a really satisfying for you feel you have been able to help him/her in some small way.

Answer 10

to get all the points i can to get to level 7, as quick as i can, w
hich is a very slow and rough road point wise, it takes so long
to get the points you need. and the higher you go, the more an
d more points you need. lately i have been staying up all night
answering hundreds of questions. this morning i went to bed
at 05;30 am, i woke up at 09;22 am, its now 11;44am. and i h
ave been answering questions all this time? now, what do that
tell you huh? this web site is habit forming, addictive,mind dra
wing, and very tough on your mental capacities. but otherwise
i love what im doing, and i wouldnt give nothing in this world fo
r the involvement of this educational and challenging to no en
d website. you get to meet and be apart of alot of very open
minded people, who are very knowledgable, and well educate
d, and caring from time to time. and as you have in all groups,
those who wants to be trouble makers, and hecklers, and just
dont intend to follow the rules, those are the ones that im glad
to see the yahoo team and staff get rid of. because we dont n
eed those type of people on this network. because everybody
knows what the tittle you are entering into. either love it, and th
e people you meet, or leave it, plain and simple. as of right no
w we have a new sherriff and deputy. GOD is in CHARGE, an
d i am HIS DEPUTY. and CLEANING UP the website, and bri
nging PEACE to ALL, IS what WE do BEST. HAVE a NICE
DAY and PASS it ON.

Answer 11

For me I think it's more than points. That's an added bonus and a way to get some gratification, but I try and stick with topics I know and answer my best to help. Sure I look at my percentage, but I'm trying to help those who may not know what I know. Helping others, adding to the whole forum of ideas is quite a neat idea....