Is DISGUISING evangelical posts as "questions" against community guidelines?

Question

A while back, I answered this "question"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvbizLAI_8JY7DYLWlmTsQvsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071006171037AATtfBa

I informed the user I was reporting them, and why. Soon afterwards, I was given a VIOLATION NOTICE and penalized 12 points with the following explaination:

"Deleted Answer: Not a question. Reported. No spam please! When in doubt, please refer to our Community Guidelines. http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_guidelines.php"

Their question, and 2 others just like it from the same user remain on Y!Answers, even though they are clear violations.

Have the rules changed? Does this mean it's appropriate to spam up the forum with fake questions for the sake of evangelism?

Is this user:
http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt=AkBwqQDRL.tFt.7nVhlMaPfty6IX;_ylv=3?show=JlfzA3rVaa
abusing the forum, or is it just my imagination?

Hopefully your answers will send a clear message to the wonderful unbiased "abuse" team.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You would have been better off reporting it and not answering. I ignore those kind of rants if I can resist.

@>}----}----

AD

Answer 2

Read the latest YA blog. If you don't provide a try at a valid answer to a question, you are just as in violation as they.

With the new community reporting system, users are the one who got your post deleted, not someone in Yahoo.

Just report the religious spam in the guise of a question with a reply and move on ; )

Answer 3

I would never tall anyone that you are reporting them in the future. If they are spamming and get a violation notice for it, they should be smart enough to figure it out on their own.
I'm beginning to think we should never answer or report these people. I think if everyone made an effort not to answer any such questions, they would get bored and move on.
I do believe this account of his will be deleted shortly. I also believe he will just make a new one and continue what he is doing unless no one gives him the satisfaction of a response.

Answer 4

I got reported 3 times for answering a question with a totally different subject topic.. I was reported for abusing the system. So I replied where is the " Abuse " when people ask Asinine Questions?. no response so far.

Answer 5

That doesn't seem fair for you to get a violation. The supposed "question" wasn't a question but a whole blog.
I am an "evangelical" but I never use the forum to put out an opinion. I only use it to ask legitimate questions. It annoys me when I see people throw out questions they already know the answer to. All they are doing is stirring up arguments that don't resolve anything.

Answer 6

Yahzmin and Sombra give you the correct information: Posting the word "edit" to indicate "additional or changes" to your answer is NOT against the rules. Other words such as "add", * or ---> are also often used to indicate such additions. What you (and others who replied) are misunderstanding is the violation caused by using the word "edit" as the ENTIRE answer, usually used as a temporary place holder while a real answer is composed, which later replaces the word "edit". This is most often seen in avatar games and in Qs where it's noted "10pts to first to answer" and such. You are confusing the two completely different uses for the word; the allowable use of the word to indicate additions/changes to your answer with the violating use of the word as a place holder. To be clear: Posting the word "edit" to be used as a place holder while you are off composing an answer IS a violation and can be reported as such. Posting the word "edit" to add comments to an already existing answer is NOT a violation and a perfectly legal use of the word. Follow the link given by Yahzmin for the official distinction.

Answer 7

Well for one thing, telling him you were going to report him could be interrupted as a threat.

The best way to handle this would be to email yahoo and tell them your concerns, because basically Yahoo is in control and they never said this was a free forum. I am not sure but I don't think the "Freedom of speech" act would apply here.

I agree that it is not fair but I don't think fairness has anything to do with Yahoo Answers.

Answer 8

I don't think posting large parts of the Holy Qu'ran without asking a question about the text, is appropriate. You were right to report him. He should have been reprimanded. Perhaps you were penalized for acknowledging his post. Maybe we will get in trouble for answering non- questions?

Answer 9

It is definitely spam. There is no question being asked. This is commonly referred to as "Soapboxing".

You, are dangerously close to it yourself, but your question is understandable.
I hope you submitted an objection to the abuse notice with the customer service through their link.

Answer 10

If I can tackle a foul ideas why not an informative one. Give a food which is an appropriate for a pig.