why do we ask all of these questions, what purpose does it serve?

Answer 1

I think some people are trying to open minds by asking questions. There are a couple people who use facts and try to teach the closed minded thinker something.

I ask to learn what people are thinking. I know YA doesn't reflect the majority of the country, but it helps to hear another side. It also helps to see yourself by what other people say in response. There are haters that everyone should ignore, but sometimes you learn how what you said was wrong.

I get stressed sometimes from the rocks that you can't communicate with, but I just de-stress with silly questions and fun sections.

Answer 2

People are a lot like cats--they are extremely curious about things they don't understand or have knowledge about. Asking questions, regardless of how stupid they seem, is a way to quench that thirst for further knowledge. As time goes on, the more knowledge we acquire, the more rounded an individual we become. We then want to answer others' seemingly stupid questions to help them acquire the same knowledge. So, basically then, what goes around comes around.

Answer 3

If knowledge actually is power, even though we're sharing our ignorance in a semi-public forum we're sharing what little power & ability we have with each other. The ability to is what's to be valued most, whatever the forum. I'm just getting used to asking questions that show my ignorance & giving optomistic & partial answers, but communicating with similar minds from all over is a HUGE revelation to me. I've seen the advent of CDs, cell phones & even PCs whilst I've had consumer choices & possibly this stuff has the biggest implications for all users if shared honestly. Dunno, just felt like expressing.

ps I got a wrist slap I thoroughly deserved for an answer in poor taste yesterday & I withdrew it as a result - live & learn & give back.

Answer 4

Alleviating boredom. Boredom is a state of mind that most people cannot and will not tolerate. This leads to all sorts of activities (including thought and questioning) to alleviate the state of existence.

One question leads to several answers which leads to more thought which continues to alleviate us from the boredom that our minds experience when it is not challenged, excited or stimulated in some way.

From childhood on, we are taught that boredom should be avoided at all costs, that it is some how bad to allow the mind to rest for any length of time.

Answer 5

Aside from the most obvious, i.e., getting answers about things that puzzle, disturb, frighten or bewilder us...there's a kind of hidden purpose beneath the surface. Each of us lives in our own world--a country, a lifestyle, a family--and by the magic of this Y/A electronic bush telegraph, we briefly become part of each other's worlds. Whether we are busy parents, scrambling teenagers, guys with time on their hands or grans gabbing between planes--it's nice to feel connected to people and places and puzzles we'd never encounter in our daily lives in person. It's like being able to visit with no boundaries, no passports, no tickets to buy and no explanations to make. We share ourselves and our ideas for these brief moments of clicking away...seeking help sometimes and often finding it, offering help without expecting anything in return. I like to think that something I might offer to a stranger I'd never meet otherwise might make a difference...as what they might offer might do the same for me.

Answer 6

Lots of the questions are asked for attention, whether it's good attention or bad. The answers tell the asker that they are being heard and that others are paying attention to them.

Then there's always the few who really want an answer. :)

Answer 7

To acquire an answer!

Answer 8

why not?