In what way has Yahoo Answers been beneficial to you, or has it not?

Much as I hate to admit it I don't see much to disapprove of here.

True there are trolls and nasties, probably starved of love or with one screw loose, but bravely overcoming nastiness and negativity makes the rest of us better more resilient individuals doesn't it. So that is really a plus too.

The negative would be in case of homework answers where the scholar uses Yahoo Answers to short-circuit his/her own personal research and deductive reasoning. I make a point of disregarding obvious homework questions myself.

I love the few friends I have here. I say few because these people I would love to meet in person. Anyway, tough questions I've wanted answers to, I find some pretty good answers so that is a plus. I mostly ask question to get other views or even just for fun, for a quick laugh that me and my friends here can converse about. I hate getting suspended this is like my 6 account. I get suspended by trolls and sensitive people. But hey, people view me way different it real life.

When I do go on here it is because I am trying to research a subject that is hard to research in the normal sense, but I waste about 2 hours answering stuff, and wondering why people ask what they ask (like am I pretty? What is the basic, easy answer to my homework?)

Answer-wise, I have only asked a couple questions and not liked the few (if any) responses received (granted looking at most askers/answerers, it doesn't surprise me that they're clueless about extraordinary rendition, or Plato, or things of that nature.)

But I apparently like it if I sit here looking through the questions, right? Or I really procrastinate....

Beneficial for sharing ideas and socializing. I see lots of cases where one or a few correct answers are in there along with many fictional or half true guesses. The fear is the asker may unwittingly choose the wrong one because they are not in a position to discriminate. This is the down side. You can't look the person in the eyes here and read him as he tells you his story, and everyone wants to be an expert.

Life is an endless parade of surprises and unexpected realizations. In the case of Yahoo, the surprise is that so many mature, intelligent, patient, persistently helpful people hang around Yahoo Answers - people like myself. There is a hard core of informed commentators and experts, sometimes their views being presented in thought-provoking ways. I particularly like questions of gravity answered with irony or reverse psychology rather than in straight-forward terms. But then I was always a little eccentric myself.

Yahoo is a window on society and my picture of it has so far been very positive.

It's been somewhat beneficial.

It's allowed me to exercise my opinions more, as I'm usually very quiet and keep my thoughts to myself.

It's also allowed me to come in contact with like minded people and it's allowed me to stretch my research muscles to find answers to peoples questions..which is a good thing.

Oh..and it's also given me some freedom from the monotony of my work place..with YA on in the background my work day is a little less humdrum..

I believe it is wholly beneficial. Sharing ideas and information and planting your own flag on the anthill is what humanity is all about. Human interaction in a neutral environment allows the shy and uncertain and the psychologicaly challenged to participate yet be free of unsettling scrutiny.

It has provided me with useful information, entertainment, friends and acquaintances.

It also allows me to have my say to the world.

Negative effects are that I spend too much time here.

I have been able to assist a few people with answers to their questions and I see a different side of problems that I have not experienced

personally. I am amazed of many problems that occur when common sense would have solved the situation.

It's fun seeing people learn to see things from a different perspective, but the trolls and repetitive questions get boring.