I am wondering why folks post questions in these forums, if all they want is for someone to stroke their ego.?

Simply because Answers means different things to different people, everyone has different needs and as long as they stick to the agreed format and rules so that Answers doesn't mutate into a chat room (for example) then I think people should be able to make of it and use it for what they will. Out of 6 billion people potentially there are going to be a few that need/want their egos stroking, as long as they can find a willing stroker(s) I don't see that as a problem and wouldn't seek to deny them their specific needs.

The Q&A selection process works two ways, I chose questions from people who most probably won't like my answers (or try to, usually), I intentionally try to make them think about the positions they are taking even though I might fundamentally agree with them sometimes. I don't often get points for this but I'm quite happy with the fact that we all want to give and take different things from this site for different reasons.

I appreciate your take on it too; many people honestly want to be as helpful and useful to as many other people as possible. In some respects, you can measure this by the points that you get, certainly w. technical problems I give points for clear, concise, definitive answers and in that realm we usually aren't looking to have our views challenged or engage in debate. In the realms of Philosophy, Religion, Art, Politics most people aren’t looking for ‘technically correct' answers. I think in your question you are really asking why we can't apply the same kind of answers and rules to apples as to oranges and that is at least in part because the same type of questions and answers don't apply in anything like the same ways with regard to different subjects. The world is not a clockwork orange and the 'truth' is often subjective outside of maths and science; maybe inside as well if quantum physics pans out!

yes you're correct, but people here also turn for other people's help here, they post questions and wait for answers that will help them.. and others post questions just to be noticed.. i guess the posting of questions and choosing best answers is just a favor in return to the people who answered ur question and the to the people u think helped u a great deal..

That is why you you should ask a question, that does not require an opinion, but an objective answer.

seriously! i feel the same way. sometimes, you just wish you could knock some SENSE into people!