Does anybody else think that the "report it" button should dissapear?

Question

No matter how bad the comment, what happened to the First Amendment?

Answer 1

Of course it should but than what excuse would Yahoo have for suspending your account. You know that they do that periodically to accounts of 6 months or more. You can't use the account but they still use it to sell ads. Illegal it isn't but ethically questionable ? I would suggest that it is. The way to ensure Yahoo actually does what they say they do is to write letters or emails to their advertisers and let them know that the number of subscribers is far less than what Yahoo says.

Here is something written by a former Y/A politics contributer:

Are YOU a Yahoo Sucker?
Have you been suspended by being targeted only to return with another new account, thinking that you’re fighting the fight, by heading back in to Y!A and feeding the trolls? Don’t feel badly because you’re not alone. Those numbers equate to many, many millions of people. Do you have numerous accounts simply because if one gets suspended, you can head right over to the next account and continue to ‘fight the fight’ and yep, feed the trolls?
Not only are you feeding the trolls, you’re feeding Yahoo. The more accounts that Yahoo suspends and then encourages you to open new ones, the better they look to their advertisers. Your suspended accounts remain, even if you’re incapable of using it, Yahoo does. Yahoo uses it to sell advertising. That’s right, if you open 50 new accounts, they are counted and handed over to advertisers as 50 NEW prospective buyers. Your suspended accounts remain on the books as prospective buyers who might push that button and buy products that are advertised. That my friends, is brilliant marketing and it works!
Just so you know, my background is in marketing and if I were paid by Yahoo to drum up new accounts in order to sell advertising, I would do exactly what they’re doing. It’s almost beyond genius. You’re hooked and heading back in. You’re not going to let those trolls beat you. You’re going to fight! Truth be known, you are a sucker! Yahoo loves suckers.
Yes, Yahoo is a corporation that sets their own rules and regulations and has every right to do that. They don’t have to give you reasons for your suspension, or your deleted question or answer. They can zap your account in a heartbeat and it’s legal. But, it remains on their books for a reason. And they know that most of you will return.
Will writing letters to Yahoo make a difference? Nope, it won’t. Will hitting their advertisers with the truth make a difference? You bet it will. And let me point out, that’s the only way to effect Yahoo. That, and being gutsy enough not to play into their hands by continually adding to their numbers, numbers that are fed to the fools who advertise with them.
If you truly want to fight the fight, quit feeding the trolls and quit feeding Yahoo. Here are some suggestions from another user who is also fed up. I won’t use his name without permission.
Here are some partial emails that I’ve received from another disgruntled user:
Part 1
Someone on the inside alerted me that Bidz.com is doing major advertising with Yahoo right now . If you care about Free Speech, if you care about the combative style of Yahoo Management, if you care that ALL of us have our Freedoms without harassment, if you care about the truth. . . . please take a minute or two and email the following >>>>

The President is David Zinberg and his email address is [e-mail]


The CFO is Lawrence Kong and his email is [e-mail]

More great news coming in a little while. . . Hint - AT&T is highly upset with what I told them this morning !! Senior Management is calling me back right after their meeting !!
Your first letter
After typing your first letter to one of Yahoo's advertisers, make sure you send yourself a copy too. Then all you have to do is copy and paste and make sure you edit the name of the person you're sending it to .

BTW, I just sent my second one !! This time to Lawrence Kong of Bidz.com
[e-mail]
Did you know that advertisers listen? They truly do, because they’re supplying the money that Yahoo rakes in. They WANT to know your feelings. They NEED to know that the numbers they are fed, are bogus. Contact them, and let them know what is happening here. Quit feeding the trolls and quit feeding Yahoo with bogus numbers to sell to advertisers. MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Should I lose my 360 for speaking out, I will miss my friends over here, those who haven’t moved to Multiply, a much better site, but rest assured, I won’t miss Yahoo and I refuse to feed them.
One more interesting point that many might not be aware of:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Microsoft_in_50-billion_talks_to_buy_out_Yahoo/articleshow/2005827.cms
Lastly, I have many liberal friends both here and in Multiply that I think very highly of. There are some 360 liberals whom I consider to be trolls and troublemakers. I do not visit your 360s because you are of no importance to me, in fact, you don’t exist, and you know who you are. I know you read my blogs, and I know you have purposefully linked to friends of mine to snoop. I have no problems with that because you make me feel important, and I thank you. I do ask that you do not leave any comments here. Thanks!

I found myself disagreeing with suthrnlyts on most things but found this on her 360 and found it interesting and worth sharing.

Answer 2

Answer: Absolutely! Yahoo has contrived a system that is a combination of Brother Rat, The Lord of the Flies, and a childish "Gotcha!", for those that cannot defend their position , think that the first amendment only applies to themselves, and use the "Report" as an assault weapon!
The fact that Yahoo uses suspensions as active accounts when selling advertising space is unethical as...
Those That Use The Report Button!

Answer 3

You are absolutely right! I am tired of getting violations for what has been said before. Maybe my opinion hit home with some, or they don't like my beliefs.

Don't I have the right to an opinion of my own? Or should I be a sheep, and a yes person? No thanks! I was born to be able to think, learn and grow as a person, and if it is not permissible here, then I know of many places where my right to voice my opinion will be respected.

I enjoy looking at the different perspectives and the difference in people. I feel very sorry for those who feel nothing but hate against an opposing view!

For those who use vulgarity it is a different story. I really don't think this is what you may be referring to. For those who do use vulgarity, yes there should be something done. I was very uncomfortable when recently someone came on cursing his violation.

Thanks for asking.


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Answer 4

I think it should, since people have the power within themselves to ignore, and thumbs down an answer or a question they don't like, and not see it. Thumbs down closes the answer.
However, YA should leave at least one day, before taking the report button down, to allow all reports to go through, except instead of the reported person getting their question or answer deleted, the reporter gets their answer deleted! Now THAT would be FUNNY! And, may also bring back a little more joy for users on their forum!

Answer 5

I’ve been unfairly reported, which I appealed, but I understand the necessity for the button or a moderator. Otherwise, Yahoo Answers would be deluged with the kind of highly objectionable content that I don’t need to specify.

Also, the First Amendment applies to government action, not to Yahoo Answers

Answer 6

You mean the Troll Button? It should be better regulated, but some of the stuff deserves to be reported.

Answer 7

No...But i wish they would read what is being deleted first... I've had..And I'm sure many have had perfectly legal and responsible answers removed because someone with little appreciation of this forum didn't like it.

Answer 8

I think it should. And it should require a log in to go into mature forums on here such as Politics, M&D, The gay section, singles and dating, ETC. Let mom amd dad take it from there.

Answer 9

There are rules and regulations in YA. If they're not followed, they shouldn't be here.
YA is a private entity and expects people who use it will be courteous, respectful and actually offer up some good answers, hence the name, Yahoo Answers.
Too many use this forum to vent and spew hatred. It's getting old and it is not the purpose of this forum.

Answer 10

No it shouldn't! Some people have no class or morals and ask the sickness most disgusting questions here. I have reported alot of those people and I wil continue to do so!

Answer 11

Yes, because dumb people report answers that aren't even bad! Just to get a laugh or something!