Should Yahoo! make a blog about the Answers Format?
As most of you already know, Yahoo! Answers has a Question and Answers format which recommends an answer to be provided for each question. Failure to abide by this rules ( I thought) was a violation of the Community Guidelines, hence the "Not Question or An anwer " violation notice often being sent to those who failed to answer a question.
For example:
(Q) How can I turn on my computer?
(A) Just turn it on.
Okay, so such answer did not answer the question because the answer did not explain how to turn on the Computer, and Yahoo! will flag you for violating the Answers Format.
But you can escape a violation notice without even answering a question by simply asking for clarfication.
For example:
(Q) How can I use Vista on my Mac simultaneously?
(A) I am not sure what you mean. Could you rephrase your question?
2008-04-08T10:49:12Z
Okay, so as you can see here, such answer did not answer the question, but rather suggested the questioner to rephrase. In this case, Lou ( the staff) informed that asking for clarification isn’t a violation of the Community Guidelines, nor the Answers Format.
If the Staffs want us to properly understand what they mean by following the Answers Format, wouldn’t it be nice for them to elaborate on how the Answers Format should be used?
Correcting the link: http://suggestions.yahoo.com/detail/?prop=answers&fid=83646
2008-04-09T10:55:28Z
I have decided to put this question into voting.
Thanks everyone.
mattfromasia2008-04-08T10:55:02Z
Favorite Answer
Seems like the community guideline quiz did a great job of this recently. I think that was one of the best blogs out there and can easily clear up about 95% of the questions we get about deletions on here.
The problem with reading blogs is that they are ever-changing and so complex.... questions/comments / comments/replies/... that it can really strain the brain to follow them and to "keep up" with them when they contain so many nuiances.
To click on the "blog" site, and then start reading from top to bottom, so to speak, can be a daunting task requiring a LOT of TIME, PATIENCE, and CONCENTRATION... all of which MOST interneters have little of.
As for all the different "variations" of when an answer is not an answer, when a question is not a question, and what is chatting...you know...when you make it SO DIFFICULT to understand how to "work" the Y!A system/format, you DISCOURAGE people from participating in it. How discouraging is it to continue getting VIOLATION NOTICES, having to APPEAL them, and getting NO where??
A study of video games has proven that IF you do not ALLOW a player to WIN or ADVANCE at least ONCE in a while, they will eventually give up and try another game.... and Y!A will continue down this NO WIN path if they continue as they are, being so darned PICKY about their definitions... AND allowing so many SUBJECTIVE violations.
Remember the old adage... K.I.S.S. ?? Y!A has FORGOTTEN it, and is becoming mired in their own gooey mess.
The example you cite re: turning on the computer... do you think that the kids nowadays actually UNDERSTAND how to "format" an answer that's an ANSWER??? They can hardly SPELL "ANSWER"!!!!
And when is it mandatory to have to choose from some laundry list the questioner has provided, otherwise it's NOT AN ANSWER! You say that asking for a CLARIFICATION is not a violation, but CHALLENGING the questioner's question/generalizations/ assumptions/ premeses IS a violation!!! Oh, but Y!A wishes to encourage an "exchange" of ideas, but don't challenge them? That's NOT part of exchanging ideas?
And... again... do you think the kids (which are the bulk of the users) can actually manage all these nuiances???
Y!A should: 1-LIGHTEN UP 2-SIMPLIFY 3-NOT expect it's users to be a bunch of EINSTEINS.
Maybe THEN they'd have better success with running this thing.
In an ideal world people would read the blogs from Y!A but I'm will to bet most do not. I don't see any harm in doing a blog for those who will read them. I'm glad that we are able to ask for clarification from community members on their questions now, many just beg for it. Often members will then respond with the just the details you need to properly answer the question.
There will always be a loop hole for point gamers. Eventually they get bored with non answers and will move on to something of substance.
We are humans with moods. Some times you just have one of THOSE days. As long as the answer is for good and not hate I don't pay attention to it. Thanks for pointing this out to us. A star for you for spreading the word about the clarification of the guidelines.
A lot of the information on how this site works is in bits and pieces tucked away here and there, rather than easily and centrally available, which is part of the reason for the current 'violation' epidemic. Rather than create yet another 'nook or cranny', consider adding this type of info to some of the rule pages already out there. Btw, I think members should be required to pass the 'Community Moderation' quiz in order to be 'certified' to answer questions here. Was this the kind of information you were looking for?
Dad, you stated a lot in there and I almost lost track of what you're asking.
Okay that has been my "beef" since I got my first violation in August 06. What did I do, where did I violate, how is this a violation? All this vague talk and not specifics seems to upset a lot of other users.
We get violations and some we are guilty of but the ones we are not please (Yahoo) explain in the violation notice. Also appealing a violation notice should not mean Trekking across the Yeti with a two-ton duffel bag.
With the Forum and Yamster's and Mike's blog is that enough for our reading pleasure?