The fundamental problem with Yahoo Answers?

...or Yahoo Points Gaming.

To a lot of people, it's all about collecting points, no matter how. So they come up with answers like "I don't know", and just run away with 2 points.

But I see where you're coming from and I agree. I've seen a number of questions asking "Why is the sky blue?", and numerous answers suggesting that it's the colour of the sea reflecting on the sky. The thing is, when you do know the answer you're just going to have to make really clear arguments about why your answer is right and why those misconceptions are wrong.

Why can't the be sky blue for the reflection of the sea? Because if that's true, the sky should be green over the Amazon and perpetually orangey yellow over the Sahara.

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An answer has the option of being a fact/an opinion. Either way it's still an answer.

I also have seen a lot of misinformation, but people are people and all they know is what they know, right?

You learn to spot the savvy ones and the patterns of the other types, so it is still a learning process.

And you are always free to go back and edit your own answer to correct someone else's that is of concern.

I get your point, but the bottom line is... you are dealing with (imperfect) human beings, some of whom are kind enough to take a minute to try and help.

That's what makes it worthwhile:)

You r correct, I guess no matter how sincere u r about ur question, it`s best to take the answers with a grain of salt and use this site more or less as a pastime. I have received conflicting answers to questions I have asked, but on the other hand, I`ve also received some very knowledgeable replies from people who appeared to know what they were talking about. So draw ur own conclusions.

Yahoo answers is similar to asking a general question to your mates in the pub. You are going to get a lot of different answers. It is the nature of asking a group of strangers a question.

Perhaps one solution would be to take great care when forming the question. Another would be to have people categorise their specialities in their profile - this could show up on screen and allow you to make an informed oppionion based on whether you feel that they should know, or are just spouting off.

Pass.

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I agree with you,but that's democracy!

WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IMMATURE IDIOTS!

It's very much a wheat and chaff thing,and if collecting points is there thing,they will grow out of it and perhaps read the answers

But that is no reason to introduce filtering or any other form of control/censorship.

I couldn't agree more!

I find it sooo annoying, I only answer questions which I think I can provide a good answer for.

But life is like that.....idiots just get everywhere!

Who runs this anyway? Is it a computer on auto pilot??

I think the main problem is to a lot of people, it's all about collecting points.

Isn't this the fundamental problem with the internet per se ? You don't know who is posting - they could all be crazy.

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.