Does it depend on the topic? are some forums better than others?
2007-09-23 08:35:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think most people on Y!A are here to help, but there are some who are here for points [ie: "I don't know" for 2 pts.], here for just to pass the time [ie: "it's the end, kill yourself" on a depression topic.]
But I think that the majority of people on here are genuinely here to help people to the best of their abilities. I've taken advantage of the "ask a question" a few times and have always got people who are clearly just answering for the 2 pts, people who are answering just to be a jerk but mostly - there are people who are giving me the best answer they can give me, and I really appreciate it.
I think they are very reliable, though there are times and instances when they aren't - the reliable times outweight the unreliable times.
2007-09-23 08:44:33 · answer #1 · answered by Crystal R 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most questions are about opinions. Some of the more difficult questions may not have a single expert opinion, and often times people are inspired to learn information to help them answer a question and they they post web references.
Also frequently when I post I discuss areas of incomplete knowledge if I have such in such an area, or I make clear that I do not specialize in such an area.
I have done work in more than a few accademic fields of study. But even there I distinguish which I specialize in and those I do not.
Of all the questions I answered I only feel that I did not give a suitable answer to one math problem where I assumed integer answers were required, but only abstract formulas and not integer solutions were being looked for. But others gave the required answer, and I made clear that I was looking for possible whole integer solutions.
I have not seen a problem with all of the hundreds and hundreds of questions and like 5,000 answers that I have read so far, though there are certainly inadequate answers, and some which are obviously not serious, but those I tend to forget about.
2007-09-23 09:42:44 · answer #2 · answered by David L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is reliable only if you are interested in personal opinions or a guideline for your research. Not more.
Especially with philosophy you should be very careful, because it is not easy to explain some theories in this kind of form (forum) and many replies depend on the point of view of the replier.
2007-09-23 09:04:20 · answer #3 · answered by remy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do not, in the slightest bit, have that slightest inkling that Y! A is reliable, then why are you here asking?
And I bet that with you asking comes with you waiting for our answers. What for? Because our answers are unreliable?
Unconsciously, you have the answer.
2007-09-26 22:12:24 · answer #4 · answered by guramiii 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Y!A is not really reliable for definte answers. It is mostly others opinions. Occassionally there are some very good and accurate answers. I would depend on answers to always be correct.
2007-09-23 08:42:52 · answer #5 · answered by ~Atomic~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, yes, and yes (but not necessarily in that order). The math forum (where I usually hang out) is probably a bit more reliable because it frequently requires 'proof'.
Doug
2007-09-23 09:03:25 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is broad spectrum here. Use of good judgment is required and some knowledge of what you are asking is helpful.
2007-09-23 20:09:41 · answer #7 · answered by seli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋