Do you think the Yahoo Answers format is appropriate for scientific issues like global warming?

Yes. Yahoo Answers is an appropriate format for scientific issues like global warming.

However, there are difficulties, as there are in any format, when the issue raises strong emotions. I add a quote from Tomcat here because I think it is vitally relevant to what you are asking:

'There are basically two sides on this subject, and this is a very important subject because the theory of global warming associates damaging global climatic change with the actions of peoples ordinary lives. If people are to be implicated with destruction of the future generations climate, many people will do all they can to ensure that their view on the topic is heard'. Tomcat 2007

To summarize it is not only the importance of the issue itself, it is that our actions today will be judged by future generations. So for reasons stated above the subject is a very emotive one. Both views feel passionately about the topic.

Most platforms which are used to raise issues, such as YA will attract non expert and unsubstantiated views. This can be exceptionally frustrating, particularly when factually incorrect answers are selected/voted as being correct. However,

we do have tools to moderate the answers we receive to some extent ourselves, see the Community Guidelines (CG). It is up to us as individual as askers and answerers and as a community to ensure we use those tools effectively.

I suggest it is in everybody's best interest to work together, so that the following steps are taken by ALL people.

1) As a community, we do not accept contraventions of the Community Guidelines. This includes questions and answers that name an individual, that are rants, flame starters, hate speech, spamming, doing harm; 'this includes not misrepresenting yourself or giving advice in a way that might cause someone harm.' YA CG

2) Take mass community action, within the Community Guidelines on those we suspect as cheating by reporting them, not calling them out. Whilst multiple accounts are permitted, if they are used for point gaming, voting, to abuse Community Guidelines or to 'post content for the sole purpose of gaining points or soliciting others for points is not permitted. Posting filler answers to a question in an effort to be first to answer, or copying and pasting other members’ answers, are also forms of cheating' CG YA

3) Yahoo Answers is not an expert site, there are those who are expert in their fields who give their time and expertise freely (Thank you experts). As askers we need to be certain as to whether we are asking for opinion or facts and indicate this on the question itself. The really IMPORTANT line from the CGs here is: 'When you post an answer, it must attempt to answer the question being asked' otherwise you are in violation of the CGs.

4) In the heat of the debate, we can all get carried away and forget to treat each other with courtesy and respect. We need to be mindful that the intention of the site is about sharing information when we ask or answer. Manners are a way of making a situation more comfortable. Again, it is against CGs to be discourteous.

'What is a Troll

A "troll" is someone who intentionally and persistently posts inflammatory messages about sensitive topics to bait users into responding or provoke a confrontation. We also consider people to be trolls when they persistently misuse product features such as the ratings system to negatively target others' YA CGs

Finally, in answer to your question, yes, it has it's problems but in my opinion it IS an appropriate format.

Secondly, I disagree, Y!A is relying on the community to moderate the questions. WE, THE COMMUNITY, ARE ALLOWING MISINFORMATION TO SPREAD, by not reporting violations of community guidelines.

'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing' Edmund Burke

I fully agree--with a couple of comments.

The problem isthat there is a difference between public discussion (arguement!) and scientific ciscourse--even the informal q &a that should be here. Ine former, all voices--including the outright liars--can sound off. In the latter, some degree of moderation is proper--and feasible.

The catch is that Y/A is combining both types of forum. Tat didn't used to be the case--wen Yahoo had the story-linked "Discuss" option, that's where most of the argeuments,trolls, etc. went. Which could be annoying, but you could still have a real discussion most of the time. And Y/A was fairly clear of the nonsense and misrepresentations.

There's a value to both types of forum. Political discussion--which is what 3/4 of the Global Warming section is, even if the posts masquerade as science (or "skeptics")--is important. And--sooner or later, the lies always get exposed. That's the whole point, in the larger sense, of why political speech is so carefully protected. More measuered discussion, focusing on science and policy, obviously is equally important.

I jsut wish Yahoo would get the new discussion forums online--the ones they promised when they took down the "Discuss" boards last year.

This forum is no different than any other method for exchanging information. Because lies and misinformation will be discovered in the long run, the thing that must be kept in mind is that history is a better judge of truth and accuracy than any contemporary arbiter. Furthermore, and maybe more importantly, my guess is that the fraction of the people posting to Y!A that use the "Discover" feature is vanishingly small (based on the number of times you see the question "Why is the sky blue" or "What is global warming") so that neither the duff gen or the pukka gen, in British WW2 military intelligence speak, is ever read again anyway.

It is best not to get too worked up about the discussion here concerning climate change, because the skeptics are losing the political debate as badly as they have lost the scientific debate and any discussion here, positive or negative, is sadly irrelevant. The main reason that significant action to mitigate CO2 emissions is not taking place now is that the costs are too high, regardless that the costs of dealing with the consequences of future climate change will be even higher. This is internet infotainment where all that happens is that we get a little pellet of points for pressing a button.

Oooooooh look! Two points!

COOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Y!A can be quite a good place to find the answer to many scientific questions as there are many levels of expertise and understanding here. I have seen areas of complex science explained well in layman's language to people with little scientific training. However global warming is a scientific issue with a large political dimension which has consequences for us all. In a sense global warming is an issue where mankind is in the dock and many here act almost as defense lawyers or family members of someone accused, acting more out of emotion than objectivity in the degree of studying they do or the way they assess their sources or present their arguments.

Further on Y!A one is encouraged by the points system to answer and it is always tempting to go into areas where one is not certain or even guessing in order to make an answer sound better informed. In this sense Y!A is flawed but it would be very costly to try to moderate for the correctness of factual content let alone its interpretation. It would also destroy Y!A as a venue for the expression of 'everyman' on issues of importance to us all. Frustrating though it is for those who have extensive specialist knowledge and have to put up with a lot of spouting of erroneous material, often repeated ad nauseum despite frequent thorough explanations of errors made. In the end nature will respond as the laws of science dictates, the actions men take will depend on politics so I hesitate to condemn the way Y!A operates.

Y!A is about as scientifically valid as Wikipedia as a source for accurate scientific information. It's a shortcoming of the nature of the format that people are able to lie without consequence. Sad, but true.

You want scientific accuracy, you go to scientific sources. People asking questions here are also fully capable of looking up things on their own. No where does it state that you have to believe or accept the answers that people give to your questions. You can give a best answer reward to an answer that you don't like. (or not, as the case may be)

I might also add that this isn't the only place to spread misinformation, but you knew that. Even experts can get it wrong sometimes. That doesn't make them "less expert" at their chosen profession, that makes them human.

If you're looking for a quick answer, Y!A is fine. If you're looking for in depth, fully verified and scientifically valid arguments as your only source, God help us all if your one source is Y!A.

Sorry that my response is long winded.

Of course not.

I find it effective in that I can say what I think in a public format. Then provide some sources to why I feel that way. If people don't like it fine.

I agree it's easy to get away with lying online. You never know who's telling the truth. It just means you take everything that's said online with a grain of salt.

Yeah... I kind of agree with you. When I first found this place, the "lies", or misunderstandings, is what made me interested in keeping up with Y!A. I felt like if I didn't say anything about logging or forest management, then hundreds of people who read the post will receive the wrong information. I felt it my responsibility almost, to start chiming in on topics I felt I was well educated on. I try to keep my mouth shut on the questions that I know little about. But I'm not sure many people treat it the same way.

I don't see why not, besides the person requesting the information is responsible for checking the accuracy- I also believe that Y!A provides a broad perspective from folks all over the world. Everyone should take the advice/answers at face value!

This is a very good format. If people want to waste their time lying, then it is their waste.

Otherwise it is amazing to communicate with the world and to be able to ask questions or give an opinion that may help others.

You can't worry about things beyond your control, it is stressful and not healthy. "if you're telling the truth, you don't have to remember everything"

I am looking forward to this format for questions and answers. It is good to get objective opinions.

Excellent question, and even better point. People just need to be aware that not everything they read will be true, and should follow up on informational sites to get the real answers. It's the best way.