Recently a Yahoo 'staff member' asked the question, "How has Yahoo! Answers impacted your life?"

When I actually saw the question, I refused to answer. "Impacted" is corporate speak, and that sums up Yahoo in general.

They hate it when members try to be creative with the YA! site: for instance, asking questions as a means of starting an interesting conversation. I suspect they want it to be a cheap version of Wikipedia.

But I hate to break their hard little hearts:

http://www.slate.com/id/2179393/

Everyone gets excited when an "Official" profile asks a question. And it happens to not be *any* Official -- it's the person who is supposedly THE Yahoo! Answers guy! (Or gal whatever lol)

They get so many answers because they're also featured on the front page of Y!A -- everytime someone logs into Y!A, they're automatically taken to the front page and if they're paying attention to that cream colored box, the Yamster's question pops up. It gets more attention being on the front page, more people are able to view it, so more people are willing to answer it.

You're right -- if the average Joe were to ask this question, it would have died an hour (at the most) after having been posted. But being on the front page, being an "Official" profile, having so many stars (thus Contacts of people who starred it are also shown the question)... all adds up to hundreds of answers and hundreds of stars! Is it fair? Eh, not really. But so what, it's only Y!A lol

Everybodys gotta answer the Yamster, even I did it. I found some downright gutbusting hilarious answers in there too...have You browsed through them? It really brought the bitter betties out in force I'll say that.

I Myself used My answer as a platform to crusade for a Rock Section Secession...LOL And of course if You or I or any other swingin Joe Schmo up in here had asked it no it wouldn't be the phenom it has grown into of course

Three other things about it I found quite amusing

1 Word of the question tore through the Yahoo Grapevine like a lightning bolt through dry grass lat night, I myself was informed darn near simultaneously by about six peeps

2 All the Glowing Joyous Beaming Darn-Near Rapturous responses from all those eager beaver Yahoo Staffers

Makes me wonder how many PR Power-Suits Yahoo put on it

3 The Thumbs down trolls crawled out of the woodwork from all over Yahoo to get on the job like white on rice

And in conclusion when the dust settles and it's all said and done....I think Yahoo should, at the very least purchase Yamster a new cage don't You?

Any question that gets put up in the "Best of Answers" box gets a ton of stars and answers. The asker really is a staff member, or that Yahoo rodent or something. I don't think the rodent needs a new car or a medical plan.

At least this question isn't just an advertisement in disguise by a Yahoo "Knowledge Partner".

Was this in the "Featured" questions? Or whatever it's called?

That tends to get lots of stars and answers.

Whereas when just folk ask (and you're right, I've seen versions of it quite a few times), it doesn't get into the box on the Home page, where more people see it.

It is just the same with all the "official" questions on the site. Hillary Clinton's question received over 38,000 answers. The increased exposure on the home page, the extended period that the question is open (usually 4 weeks) and the additional links to it on the site, along with some atavistic need of people to be HEARD, no matter what, causes this type of response. Me, I just ignore them -- even when the asker in this case is one of my contacts!

If you've been on Y/A awhile, then ya'll know what to expect. Y/A reminds me of Nascar, let's make up the rules as they go. A set of rules they can manipulate to fit their agenda. I enjoy Y/A and the contacts I've been fortunate enough to become aquainted with, the rest is politics. I'm an old hippie, so I don't conform well to authority/politics.

I agree with you Smiley 110%.

Lonely Y! Answers Visitor: Oh! Look! A Y! Employee asked a question. I know! I bet if I answer with a really cool response they'll make me a Level 20 l337!!! And I know that this time -this- time they're going to listen to my suggestions. And everyone on Y! will love me! Yay! I have friends now!

Yeah i know...

How about when i got my Q with 108 stars deleted..It would have been fair enough since he is a stuff member to got him reported but i am not an @ss and i won't!!:P LOL

I don't know for a new car but i am sure that they will pay a night in an awesome restaurant at least...

I think what they do is keep reposting it and merging the results, something the average Joe can't do.

Hmmm, if I created 101 accounts I could answer and star my own questions 100 times, correct?

Smiley, that's hilarious! I'll have to check that out.