Why do people think it's okay to exploit an online forum to get people to do their homework for them?

Good question, but I don't think people of school age think of it strictly as exploitation. I'd define it more relevantly as Laziness.

That said however, this "forum" is wide open to a majority of visitors that happen to be young, school age people. Those youth may expect or hope that there are people here with the knowledge, or experience, and desire, to answer.

It may be honest attempts often, to seek help when they have failed in all other avenues,,,but I do see sooooooo many truly inane questions, regarding homework, that would be just as easily answered in a WWW general search using the browser and keywords.

I suspect it's not exactly "cheating" but certainly I never see a Q like that, stating "I've Tried Everything Else!"

Rev. Steven

Why not? At least they are seeking information, putting some thought into their assignment. Just because they are gleaning information from an on line forum does not mean they are not thinking. What is the difference between this, and reading many books and articles to seek answers to questions a generation or two ago? This way is faster, and eliminates a lot of unusable information. I prefer to read myself, but this way is not a bad thing. Besides the writing is on the wall, in the new age, it does not matter what you know, but where and how to find it. I find this appalling and a bit sad, but inevitable.

Because Yahoo puts a category called "Homework Help" on the online forum.

The same reason that people ask questions to support their points-of-view, probably. You'll always find someone to agree with you. Maybe, too, the same reason perfectly healthy people park in handicapped parking?

I think the bigger lesson for someone to learn is to opt for the easy route, get a wrong answer and try to defend it in class!

You may find answers on-line, but it is not always guaranteed that they are the right ones.

I think it is not a bad idea to gather information & opinions from online source, before coming to a conclusion of your own. Beside clever and silly answers, you get some humor too!

Some honestly dont understand and they have tried and some just dont think about it.

Some things even reading the textbook doesn't help.

I wonder what kind of answers they are handing in.... have you ever seen some of the answers people give to those questions? The teachers are either pulling their hair out or laughing their a.s.s.es off.

most answers include some workings or advice.

it's the same as having a tutor.

and for those who hate homework it's nice to have friends to save you from strife.

if it bothers you, don't open the questions.

Because if they're not smart enough to do their own homework, they're probably not smart enough to realize that they're only cheating themelves.

Laziness. Plain and simple. If you can get someone else to do it for you, why bother doing it yourself?