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Does anyone else get random offensive emails from other Yahoo! Answers users?
For e.g. I answered a question asking what your favourite band is, and I answered Green Day ('cause they are) and got an email, the title of which called me a bi*ch, saying 'GreenDay sucks' over and over again and telling me to get over myself!!
I really can't understand why people feel the need to be like this - I had an email the other day threatening to take a shotgun to my head because I disagreed on someone's position on criminalising abortion (and I was polite about it).
Can you report Answers users for offensive emails, or do you just have to put up with it? It offends me and winds me right up when I get these emails for no reason and I want to do something about it!
30 Answers
- JennywockyLv 62 decades agoFavorite Answer
I tried to find an answer for you in the guidelines but there didn't seem to be anything specific about your situation there.
You'll have to contact Yahoo Answers direct about the situation; I'm sure they keep track of who sends who what, so they'll be able to figure out who sent you the message.
The "dirty fix" is to remove the ability to send you e-mail through your profile page, but that's not really a great option.
It stinks to be treated like that, and you're right, it's offensive and not fair to people who are mature and contribute to the community.
All I can say is that it's a public forum that allows a wide range of ages and personalities to participate; and you will always find someone willing to insult/harrass you simply because you disagree with them. Some people [should] know better than to behave like that; others do not.
I've participated in various forums for about 15-20 years, online and off, and it took me a long time to get my head around that fact and learn to just brush off things if I could do so -- even while I tried to get the problems resolved.
I would just say to report the message, tell yourself you were fine and it wasn't your fault that you were treated like this, and don't waste any more time with these people than you need to. That sort of response from them doesn't deserve your time of day.
- j_doggie_doggLv 62 decades ago
To be honest, I have never received anything except the nicest emails from people here on Yahoo Answers. A few of them have even been added to my 360 Friends list.
A few other answerers have posted angry rebuttals after my answer. As I become aware of these, I rewrite my answer to compensate for any possible misperception in the idea I am attempting to convey. But so far I have received no confrontation through e-mails. It has all remained in the public domain.
As for why they do it, the true test of a person's character is how they behave when they know that they cannot be caught. Many people are mean, and they read your posts and get the sense that they can bully you. I truly mean no offense in this, and I truly apologize if offense is taken, but I was reading through your answers and although your answers are good answers, they aren't very deep or authoritative. If you focus on topics which you know you can answer extremely well, and answer them sincerely, then no one will challenge you.
Your question is actually a bit of a departure for me. I found your question while doing a keyword search for "abortion" because I have a really good abortion answer. However I realized that I am actually qualified to answer your question based on my familiarity with Yahoo Answers. So I am answering your question openly and honestly because I know I have your answer. So I am fairly certain that any email I receive from this will be a friendly one.
As for reporting it, you can forward (copy & paste) the message through the Report Abuse button on the instigating question, and/or you can forward it directly to Yahoo. You can either do a Yahoo Help section search for "How do I report abuse?" (like I just did) or click here: http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/us/mb/cgi_abuse
Source(s): http://help.yahoo.com/ - 2 decades ago
People just totally blow my mind. Why would you go on line and ask ppl their opinion if they are going to get mad about the answers they are given. Yes report them. If they didn't want your input they should have never ask for it in the first place. That is what this site is all about. It's like going on Jerry Springer saying that your a home wrecker and then being offended when someone calls you a whore. This country is made up of millions of ppl with different opinions. And that is what this site is for, to express your opinion in a polite manner and be heard by others. Please do report them and then set your options so the can not send you any more, because unfortunately there are morons amongst us as well as those with honest and dignified opinions and thoughts. We can not expect the world to always agree with what we have to say,because if they did what a boring world this would be and none of us would come here.
Sorry you had to experience the ignorance of a few.
- red lynLv 42 decades ago
I dont know why people do this they take the whole thin to serious you can report abuse on any question of answer so if you feel strongly about it then report them but in all fairness I know its not nice to get these emails but the are probably just trying to get a rise out of you and you'll be playing right into there hands just remember if they do this type of thing they are more than likely really sad people with nothing else to do.
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- Anonymous2 decades ago
You can report them for a number of reasons, such as abusive context for example or swearing.
It's not right. There are so many lovely people on here who are very helpful then you get the people on here with no respect and integrity who think they are being funny.
I had one the other day. Someone saying to me "Why don't you get out in the real world" which i do every single day actually!
Funny enough that none of these people ever put a contact IM or email address......
- Anonymous5 years ago
Yeah, this guy Jake made several racist and insulting remarks to a question the other day; he's clearly got real problems. You should definitely report this to the organisers; people have every right to use this site without then receiving offensive emails, especially if there's racist content! Only someone with very low intelligence would behave like this; judging by other remarks of his that I've seen, he's clearly a total moron.
- 2 decades ago
I'm sorry you've had to put up with that harrassment! I think you can report it because otherwise everyone would have to put up with stuff like that! I haven't gotten any hatemails yet, but the first one I do, I'll just turn around and report em! I think if someone is reported enough, yahoo answers will kick them out. Hang in there! I do agree with you. There is a lot of hateful remarks or even hateful questions on this site. You're almost afraid to answer truthfully for fear of being bashed for your answers, right? I feel that way, too. It's fun to answer fun questions but the more serious ones can backfire on you, too. Just be yourself and if someone else doesn't like your answer, too bad, so sad for them!
- maggieLv 42 decades ago
Yes, highly offensive language... It was very upsetting at first, but, then, I got used to the idea that the world consists of abnormal people too. As to what you can do, I think the people who answered your question before me gave you a pretty good idea about the things need to be done. Overall, you don't need to understand the reasons they behave like this; they are not worth it. Ignore them and concentrate on the good people-if you want to have a nice "Green Day"!!!
- 2 decades ago
Vile scum from all around the world congregate on this site most of them freaks with low intellect with no other intention than being foul. kangaman sunflower pink to name but a couple. Ignore them they'll die prematurely, alone and miserable because nobody will want to be around them for very long. You can report them using report abuse button next to answers but I don't think Yahoo does anything about them. Name and shame the bastards i say
- kjLv 72 decades ago
are you serious?! if some guy threatened to shoot you in the head, then yea you can report him, hell you can have him arrested if you knew who he was because that's definitely illegal. I'm new on this site, so no crazy emails. I don't know why people get so upset with the opinion's of strangers, maybe it's because they get so mad at the fact that they can't change your opinion, so they resort to being a psychopath.