Do short, quick answers get read more?

Question

Considering the way YA lists the questions and answers, is there much value to taking time and writing a thought out answer knowing that most people would have already been through the question even before your answer gets posted?

The one line answers at the top are always the ones with the most thumbs up/down.

I'm still rather new here so I like to take the time and write something thoughtful and interesting, but is there a point if it doesn't get read?

Maybe it's the time of day, but I thought the question below would have had more activity.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoxXgdV8Z6Ei4Oa9gnt4_lzsy6IX?qid=20070511213343AAcW3jn&show=7#profile-info-bb2Dlv5Aaa

I'm not worried about getting chosen as best answer. I've only been here for a couple weeks and I'm a top contributer. I'm not worried about points either.

I'm not worried about people with ADD who don't read long answers (and I'm guilty of this too) as they're typically not the people I'm writing for.

I've taken to copying and pasting some of my own answers, but I never copy anything I didn't originally write.

This is R&S, some questions deserve long answers. Some do not.

My problem is that I'm not even sure anyone but the asker will read an answer if its posted after the question is off the front R&S page.

queenofyak:

Are you forgetting about "discover?"

With 34% best answers, I thought I could discover something from some of your best answers. I checked out at least a dozen of them in R&S and, quite honestly, didn't learn a thing. All but two were picked by voters and your answer had the ONLY vote. Hmmm. Of the other two, one included a marriage proposal and the other just restated the question without answering it. Yawn.

In the question I was making reference to, the asker picked my answer (despite the "problems" you pointed out) as the best one. No, I'm not worried at all about the length of my posts or any of your other criticisms. Of the two other questions I referenced, one had 5 or 6 votes (none of them me) and the other the Asker said he'd never look at the issue the same way again and became my fan. Sounds like they were good answers to me. Both those referenced questions, and the video, were central to the point I was making, hence the links.

As far as the "long boring blah blah" and other like comments. That wasn't the issue. If you consider two or three paragraphs long in a philosophical section like R&S, you and I are not going to connect.

People generally stop answering a question after about 30 minutes, so I had presumed they wouldn't be read either. Turns out, that's not entirely true. Read less, yes, but still read by some. Probably by the same people who would appreciate a thoughtful answer.

Dharmanator, novangelis, and Tzadiq all touched on what I was getting at so were considered for best answer.

wefmeister almost got the Best Answer just to be funny.

But best answer goes to, Out of the grey, for pointing out how easy it is to miss the insightful questions and answers by not going back a few hours or days.

Thanks to everyone who answered, even the ones who didn't get it and wanted to argue.

Answer 1

If a person is really interested, they will read every response they get. If they are just having fun or just want to put people down, then I suppose they won't. The reason why short answers near the top get more thumb ratings is because the same people who like to give the first answers and make them quick, are the same ones who look at the other first 5 or 6 answers that appear besides their own and rate them and move on to the next new question without ever revisiting the question.

It's funny because a question can stay open for 3 days and yet few people in the R&S section answer anything after the first 30 minutes. Everyone is in a race to be the first to answer a brand new question. But I have found that some very good, intellegent and thought provoking answers are posted sometimes after a question is several hours old. If the question asker isn't even looking anymore, that is too bad. They and everyone else are missing something good. But if a question interests me, and if I think the asker will actually read everything, then I post, even if I get no thumb ratings because everyone has moved on.

Answer 2

Sometimes people are way too long and I give them a thumbs down just for going on and on.
That and the copy/paste answers are silly as well.
Sometimes the best answers are one liners. You know the old KISS method right?
Edit: Ok adding some more info since you did.
First of all what do you mean when you say "My problem is that I'm not even sure anyone but the asker will read an answer if its posted after the question is off the front R&S page"
Who exactly are you writing for...the asker. Other people may not care what you wrote as they may be there only to answer the question.
Secondly. I went back to your question that you refrenced in this question. I read your answer. This answer was rather long and then included links to 2 other answers (given by you...humbly noted "best answer") that were also equally long if not longer. Then you posted a link to a 6+ minute video. So given all that information it would take about 12 minutes to read and process all tha you had wrote and refrenced to.
And lastly while you may not be interested in points or best answer it seems obvious that you do indeed like to toot your own horn for being top contributor (which by the way is only an indicator that you are addicted to YA and spend way too much time on here...like me)
I hope this has helped you understand a little more.
Thanks

Answer 3

Short quick answers get read more quickly and for people in a hurry, they won't read detailed answers. Personally I hate the one word answers because they don't adequately explain anything.

Just so you know, I have 12% best answers, and get best answer at least one time per day by posting something more than just a one sentence answer. To get a best answer, make sure you are answering something you know something about, and can explain it better than others or with some sort of factual citation. Possibly give an example that the person can relate to. But be respectful of others in the process and don't go over one screen in length. Too long of a post and no one will do more than glance over your answer.

Answer 4

Probably :) Although I will read something long if, and only if:

1. It's broken into paragraphs. One solid block of text gets ignored completely
2: It's not a page full of obvious copy and paste.

I am guilty of writing long answers, mainly because I want to make sure I am understood and I often add a personal story along with my answer. In fact, this is probably the shortest answer I've ever given :)

Answer 5

Yes the quick short answers get read more but thats because our school system and our mindless entertainment (tv, movies, etc) have taught us to have the attention span of a gnat. Why do you think that commercials change images so fast. They don't want you to get bored.

The only time I can give a short answer is when the question is inane and I just have to respond in kind. Questions deep enough to really warrent an answer? I know that it won't get read but I do it anyway (I actually abbreviate it quite some bit) I write my long answer because it helps confirm my beliefs.


Bet you stopped reading :p

Answer 6

It has been my experience here that they do and also a lot of the time they get the best answer too... Some of my answers take me an hour to type out only to get a few thumbs down, then not get best answer, as in my opinion I answered it in detail and correctly only to have some one with an answer like -- I agree or Yes be selected... That sucks... Love and Light ... BB .. )O(

Answer 7

Hi there The start interested me, but the brutal honesty with the feet and acne repelled me somewhat (maybe too soon in the story for this? Though I can see you are setting up the character, I didnt have a chance to like the character first, before being able to accept her flaws quite like that - if that makes sense?! But if this is written in the diary format, maybe incorporating those other flaws within a storyline for what happened one day, might work well.) I do like that style of writing - and it intrigued me enough to want to read more, so you are on the right track! Best of luck with it!

Answer 8

People who are looking for answers usually take the time to read the more complete, later answers. The only real 'advantage' to getting an early answer in is in voting, although in this case you tend to have to be in first anyway.

I detest the points system, rewarding quantity over quality and speed over completeness. If YA wasn't such a highly subscribed site, I wouldn't use it.

Answer 9

The quick answers at the top get the most attention, partly because they appeal to sound byte mentalities, because they are assessed at a glance, but mostly because they get the most views while the question is "hot". I still choose quality over a race for points. I hope the questioner will benefit from my assessments.

Answer 10

"and I'm guilty of this too"... sweetie most people can spot the long boring blah blah blah as opposed to a good answer even if it's a little long, just like you can. You are flattering yourself is you think you will be heard for your many words