Whose answers do you trust?

Question

When people ask questions, how do they decide which answers they get are the right ones?

Do you trust the ones that are the most well-written? The ones with sources to back them up? The ones from people who claim to have lots of knowledge or experience? The ones that are most popular?

I ask because I am concerned about the huge amount of wrong information being given to people.

Answer 1

In the Dog Section I trust the following member's answers: Vet Tech, Golden Gal, Dp, Shanna, Greekman, and a few select others. I would trust them with my dogs life.

Answer 2

I trust the answers that are well-written and have sources to back them up...sources other than "Me=biologist" or anything like that.

Any person on this forum can claim to be anything (a vet, a vet tech, an animal breeder, a scientist), but unless you know that person in the real world, you don't know if these claims are true. I have seen several people who claim to have over 25 years experience with birds giving some of the worst answers!

When I give an answer, even when I absolutely know the correct answer because of my personal experience, I try to give links to websites that have the same info. I try to choose the sites carefully because anyone can make a website. I like websites of respected organizations rather than individuals.

I rarely trust the answers that are the most popular. For example, when someone asks about caring for an injured or orphaned wild animal they rescued, the most popular answers are always the ones that congratulate the person for taking the animal, and giving the person all sorts of advice on how to raise it. Those answers, though popular (and often the ones that get "best answer") are wrong and are actually supporting illegal activity. In the US, most wild animals are illegal to keep without a permit. Native migratory birds are protected by federal law. When I answer these questions, I always cite the law, and give links to the correct and legal way to deal with the problem (contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator). So "popular" is not always "correct" and I do not trust an answer just because it gets a lot of "thumbs up."

I. too. am concerned about the huge amount of wrong information that is being given to people, and the fact (judging by the number of "thumbs up" and "best answer" that this information gets) that people are accepting this wrong information as good and reliable.

I dread to think what is happening to some animals because people accept wrong information and act on it. Even worse, I would imagine, would be the wrong information that is passed on in other sections of Yahoo Answer, like health, business, or the law sections. I hope that most people are intelligent enough to check with real professionals before acting on any advice they get here.

Answer 3

Everyone asking questions here should keep an open mind when taking advice from the answerer's. The person asking the questions then should look into the the information given by the answerer's and find out what is right. Especially medical information. If people give you idea of what a certain medical problem could be...research it, talk to your vet and take actions on how to deal with the problem after that. If it's a dog food question, listen and learn others opinions and then...do your own research. I think this is a great place to hear opinions and experiences, but they shouldn't be taken so seriously that the questioner doesn't take it any further.

Answer 4

Well for one i wouldn't even consider asking anyone for medical advice on here cause i've seen just how ignorant some people are. Usually the only questions that i ask are for kindof a second opinion, not for facts. If i had a very serious question like about my pets or health i would contact a vet or doctor for the real answers. Some people are just way too trusting. As for the answers i pick, it try to go for the one's that seem very knowledgable in there field, that have obviously been educated. I work at a vet and it makes me happy to see some people, very few, but some, who actually do know there stuff. However there are also alot who claim to be vet techs and such who have no clue what they are talking about. All im trying to say is, trust no one completely, ask a real professional.

Answer 5

All information on the Internet should really be only as a point of reference. The information supplied should help people either with further research or knowing the right questions to ask a professional.

If a question was about a dog that was coughing up blood and the answer advised them to have a chest x-ray. It's a point I hope the asker would bring up with a qualified Vet instead of just demanding it. At the same time if the answer was extremely stupid, like shaving all the dogs hair off, I would hope the person got advise of a Vet first.

If a question was alone the lines of what's your favourite type of cat? There is no correct answer and everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Answer 6

Well, I think that if somebody asks a serious question on here, they should take nobody's advice. Even if they say that they are a vet tech or a veterinarian themselves, I would not trust them. You just never know. I wouldn't trust somebody with a well written answer, popular, or anything. Sources help, but I would try and find what is wrong by myself.

When things are an emergency, I don't understand why people sit on the computer and ask the world what is wrong instead of going and getting accurate help.

Answer 7

I watch the boards here and read answers from various users. I find that after reading several answers from any particular user, it is not hard for me to tell if they actually know what they are talking about. And it's not hard to tell who doesn't have a clue.

With any advice I might get in a question I may have asked, I still go on to do my research. I have many sources here locally to refer to for this and I often discuss things with these experienced dog people and breeders when something here has even just peaked my interest. No one should take advice 100% without at least doing follow up research.

Advice is great and ideas from others is great too, but that doesn't mean it is right for everyone involved. In the case of my Border Collie, positive reinforcement training is the best method for us. Harsher methods that do indeed work for some dogs, cause my dog to shut down in general training such as obedience. Herding is the exception, but it's different when working with the natural instinct and intense drive for something.

Answer 8

Nobodies advice should be trusted 100 percent for anything. That includes your vet for medical advice. If you don't like the way your vet is doing things or aren't sure about what they're telling you NEVER hesitate to get a second opinion.

Any advice given here needs to be taken with a grain of salt reguardless of who it is supposedly coming from or how well written it is. Anyone can say they are a vet or a vet tech. I know a convicted felon who is extremely well written. It says nothing of their character or for how much they know.

Always research any advice you are given on your own. Never just take something at the word of a stranger.

Answer 9

I do a lot of research. I ask many questions from those I know have experience. My vet is always number one. I also have a group of friends that have decades of experience in all aspects of dogs. Some show people, vets, techs, owners and breeders. I never take just one persons advice unchecked. Research is the key. Plus most of my knowledge was from my mentor. I still find the old school knew more than the new school. Common Sense isn't so common anymore.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, they usually listen to the person that's telling them what they want to hear.

You see questions all the time where a lot of valuable and CORRECT information is being given to a person, however, the one that is chosen as best answer is the person that's told them exactly what they want to hear.

Example - "My dog Fluffy is a Chiwawa and is pregnant by the Corgi next door, should I be concerned?"

Best Answer - "Don't worry, she'll be fine. Enjoy the cute little puppies!!!"

VALID Answer that should have been best "Yes, you should be VERY concerned. Since the sire is 3 times her size, the puppies will be large and this will be a difficult pregnancy. You should have her checked by the vet frequently through the pregnancy and expect a C-Section"

Answer 11

Terrific question! Can't wait to read the answers.

The reason I'm registered on this site is to try to stop people getting medical advice from here instead of where they should be - the vets. Given the amount of rubbish being spouted on here, I really wish people wouldn't trust anyone's answers.

With any luck this question might make people THINK about what they're doing when they turn to Yahoo for help with medical conditions. Do you know people sometimes recommend medicines - and dosages - on here? And people actually take the advice!!

Chalice