POLL :- Do you think Yahoo should remove the "Report Abuse" button from Y! Answers or is it a good thing ?
Please Star the Question if you agree that they should remove it. Lets make a difference voice your opnion. And please be polite and Nice in your answers there is no need for bad manners. THANKS A LOT FRIENDS. YOU ARE A GREAT LOT ! Blessings & Light to you !
I am asking this question in two categories so it should get noticed and more stars can make it a "Featured Question" and make the Yahoo management take notice.
Anonymous2008-01-31T00:02:08Z
Favorite Answer
Sunshine, no star from me I think we NEED a report button. They should sort out how people report, but sometimes people need to report very offensive answers, avatars and questions. Particularly when it is child protection or legal issues.
EDIT: I too think it is not the report button that is the problem but the way people abuse it. Even putting somebody's name when you add additional comments can be seen as chatting. This site is supposed to be about answering people's questions and sharing knowledge, hence the additional information button. I would happily support a campaign to stop misuse of the report button.
No, but they should give the person being reported the reason that they are being reported, and give them a chance to alter their answer if they wish to do so before permanently deleting it.
This would clear up a lot of misunderstanding (if the reasons for the removal of postings are valid). Those who are unclear on the concept will be educated.
Abusive material that really needs to be limited will be taken out in a more honest way - at least the person who wrote it will know the truth. And if they don't agree with the reason they can then talk about it on the forum and get the opinion of others.
If it is by presidential order (or from politicians) - why not state so. If political power groups can have an answer or question removed why shouldn't they be identified as doing so? If Yahoo really is trying to be a serious forum and not a stooge of the "Powers that be" and practising censorship to curry favor with the powerful, why not keep this out in the open.
Not unless they find a better system for dealing with issues such as rude posters, swearing (remember kids hang out here) and trolls. We couldn't have gotten rid of our trolls in Alt Med without the report button unless a REAL person at Y!A was there to take our e-mail. Which there never seems to be.
I'm all for suggestions of better options. P&S is fun, but other categories are places people go for serious responses and help. Trolls trying to mess up those categories and giving wrong and misleading answers on purpose because they have ulterior motives can be very damaging, even dangerous. Oftentimes they post rants - which can be reported, or personal insults - which can be reported. If they are harmless - like Morten W (who does more for the cause he is fighting against by giving it a forum), then fine. But we need some way to get rid of the real trouble makers.
I don't trust that Y!A is ready to implement a better system yet. When they feel they've got it figured out, I'll support them. In the meantime, it takes 2 or more to successfully report an offense, unless 1 very trusted reporter. In Alt Med, it took nearly the WHOLE community - and that was for legit reports. I really can't see it that easy to abuse. I've hung at at the Yahoo Answers category too, and seen people who've been reported constantly told by the community that they were reported rightfully. Maybe if the Y!A team would find a way to let people know WHY their violation was legit that would help a lot.
It's not really very useful if it's going to be used indiscriminately. If there is ever genuine abuse, such as stalking, cyber-bullying, or any other means to slander, assault , or otherwise hurt someone on line, the reporting of real harassment gets lost in the misuse of the reports that are not really abuse at all. Reporting Abuse, while necessary for genuine responsible reporting, should not be so easily and readily accessible to those who just have the childish desire to "click a button", like kids activating a fire alarm pull just to skip class, or making 911 prank calls...
No that would be extremely stupid and cause basically destruction to yahoo answers if the reporting system is removed, because then I'm sure pretty much everyone on here would troll each other in all sorts of ways, post spammy answers, swear, post very inappropriate images in answers and questions all the time.