Has it finally reached a point here in Yahoo Answer where only a few can talk intelligently about baseball?

I know just what you mean. I see a lot of questions along the lines of "Why are Yankee fans so arrogant" or "Why are Red Sox fans so stupid". Then someone else will answer, "Yeah, they're a bunch of ********, and they'll get best answer. These "questions" are not posted to acquire any information or promote rational discussion, they're simply a thinly veiled attempt to bash others. There are questions like that regarding other teams too sometimes, but most of the hate is directed toward those two teams.

The fact is, as long as you are a fan of any team, there will be people you've never met who will hate you for it. You will never be able to change that or reason with them, and the best thing to do is not try.

Most of them are probably about 12-15 years old, and the fact that they think hating people they never met based solely on the baseball team they like is a sound idea proves that their opinions aren't worth listening to anyway.

The best thing to do is ignore them. The only reason they post their nonsense is to take delight in the ruckus they cause.

If instead of angry replies their posts are met with the sound of crickets chirping, most will grow weary of it, tuck their tail between their legs and scuttle off.

You'll never be able to stop people from posting drivel, but you can make it unenjoyable for them to post it, and therefore take away their motive to do so.

I'll admit that I've answered a couple of the questions from the rabbit with the food obsession though. His questions are inane, but every once in a while it's fun to have a question like that--something you don't have to overthink and can just have fun with. His questions aren't designed to put anyone down, so I don't mind them.

Well, one can not be really counted as a real baseball until he has vast knowledge about the game, the history, the stats, and all the human stories behind it. Unfortunately, most people call themselves baseball fans simply because they want certain teams to win regardless of the circumstances.

As for solving the problems, I don't think it's gonna happen. Y!A staff makes it clear that they would not try to improve the qualtiy of the answers. Only the quantity of answers and the quantity of the web pages generated are all that's needed so there will be more ad revenue. It's sad, but it is happening on all sections of Y!A categories.

XR

You're so right-on.

There's a difference between being an educated fan and being a bandwagon fan. I thought morst of the ignorance would go away after the playoffs when the badwagoner would go back to polls or riddles... but boy was I wrong.

I love than YA has such a diverse group - fans from alll over the place... and still have respect for what other fans have to say.

There are a couple who are just stupid. I hate to admit that some of these are fellow Tribe fans... but ignorance is everywhere.

As far as what we can do to correct the problem... I would think it might work as to not entertain thier questions and answers... but that'll never happen. I can only speak for myself, but when I see someone talking all sorts of falsities about baseball - I have to step up and set him/her straight.

Maybe as time goes on... they'll actually learn a thing or two and develop into more educated fans.

I'm not a Christian, but I could just as easily say; If you think you're so smart yourself, how come you're nothing but an ignorant anti-semetic biggot with nothing better to do until their minimum wage job starts than to troll the religion section on Yahoo Answers. They may not be intellegiently designed, or they may be very intelligently designed, since they don't post their ADHD inducing rants on a discussion site, but in YOUR defence, you've successfully managed to proove that artificial intelligence is no substitution for natural stupidity.

I totally agree with you. I posted a question a long time ago for a category for silly/stupid questions. I was wondering if we should have a category for that since there seems to be lots of those people on here. I have no problem with people trying to be funny and failing, but I do have a problem with trying to be funny and being hateful instead.

I am not too sure how we can correct the problem except for reporting people like that.

I always enjoy your questions though. It's nice to have another intelligent baseball fan here (aside from myself that is ;-) )

This place is not as fun as it was last summer. Part of the problem (I think) is that there are a lot of children here who are younger than 13 and try to act like they know it all; when clearly they do not.

Sure I poke my fun at times to yankee fans, but it is NOT distasteful or mean. I never ask questions abotu certain users nor do I wish anyone dead (someone did ask when leyland would die a few days ago). That is just plain rude and mean.

There ought to be a test for anyone trying to come across as baseball fans. I would write the test, and you would grade it.

If they dont pass they would be banned form the baseball section.

1.) Immature, unknowledgeable -- Hey, there ARE kids here. This is a questions forum, so of COURSE there are people who don't know much. That's why they're here, to learn. You should cut a little slack for kids especially. This is not technically a chat room.

2.) hateful -- Yes, doi, dork, Chipmaker, and others do have anger issues. Mostly, of course, they feel superior. You know what? I don't click on there stuff. Ever since I did that, they have ceased to annoy me.

3.) copycats, racists, stalkers -- You can report copycats and racists. You also can learn who they are and just ignore them. I haven't a clue about stalking.

4.) extremely poor comedians -- Here, you gotta lighten up a little, too. Look, once in a while a humorous response will hit me and I throw it in. Baseball humor has existed since the 2nd game ever played. I know you mean the clowns who muck up with unfunny, panned stupidity, but too many people here are morbidly serious, too. It's baseball. It's supposed to be fun.

5.) To correct, just feast on the good entries. There are lots. Let the bad guys play around if they want. Lots and lots of good baseball people here.

My dear friend, I agree with you. No matter how many times I attempt to answer a question with intelligence and thoughtful insight, there are always some who find it with good reason to thumbs down me or attack me personally. I had a problem a few weeks ago with one individual and while I reported them, Yahoo failed to respond, hence in my mind setting the standard in which others can model by. If you make any type of an off handed remark saying as an example that you don't like a certain team, there are those who take offense and attack you personally, without provocation ( I criticize my own team first then others). The juvenile and hypocritical attitude of individuals on Answers is turning what was once a fun forum, into something that I am not certain I want to be a part of much longer. I have never attacked anyone. NEVER, and I never will, it is not my nature to do so.

EDIT: I rest my case with the thumbs down.... juvenile and hypocritical

I agree. I used to be able to post a question in this section and get good answers. Now there's always a couple of very rude answers. I still enjoy coming to the baseball section, but not as much as before. There used to be really good questions about the game itself, now there are all kinds of questions that are just ridiculous.

I agree 100%

It's the same with politics section this site sucks, I know a group of people who are helping one or two peopel who a had another group of people report them for no reason in politics and now Yahoo's sponsers are hearing about it.

I think there is another site to go to like this I will let you know when I remember or get the name since I forgot it.

Yahoo needs real staff because for some reason only the trouble maker questions and ignorant questions are the only ones not being reported.

I agree with you wholeheartedly but don't know if there really is a solution. This problem also goes on in other categories on yahoo as well. Yes they do make it very difficult for reasonable and knowledgeable people to enjoy their opinions and inputs. I guess the only thing we can do is to report them if it indeed warrants it and they are deserving. I recently asked a question regarding Tom Glavine returning to the Braves and got several good answers but unfortunately there were a few with smart aleck responses.