Why such bad public transport answers here?

"....suggesting use of the specified in necessary..." Huh?

Since you are so smart, how come you only have 30% Best Answers?

Perhaps people WANT to travel "via the nearest station". The best answer in your second link actually DID say 4 hours, so what's your problem? Do you not live in a democracy? Do you not realise that any idiot (present company excepted, of course) can open a Yahoo account and say what they like? That's why I don't waste much time on this site any more. Even if you give a correct answer, you'll still get reported or a thumbs-down.

The askers, of course, are just as bad. Most of them are too darn lazy to use Google and work it out themselves, so they don't actually deserve a correct answer. Many of them probably shouldn't be out in public without adult supervision anyway.

I don't really understand your question, particularly in regard to the answers you cite.Perhaps you would like to suggest how you van get from Gatwick to the O2 or Canterbury to Epping WITHOUT going into London - especially as the O2 IS in the capital. And, of course, the sensible way from Kings Cross to Liverpool Street is by tube - the only alternative is either to walk (unlikely as presumably going to Stansted means the questioner is carrying luggage or bus (much slower).

In the UK our railways are mainly radial and, certainly for short journeys within the Home Counties, travel via the 'hub' is inevitable. Even where there are cross country alternatives, like the North East to the West Country, it is sometimes quicker to travel via London because the journey time is shorter.

I respectfully suggest that your question shows as much ignorance - or indeed perhaps more - than the answers you seek to doubt.

"many questioners make the mistake of asking what the nearest railway station to their destination is in the often mistaken belief that the best route is via the nearest station.".

You may have answered your own question. Garbage in, garbage out. Generic questions tend to get generic answers. More specific questions tend to get more specific answers. But the BIGGEST THING YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER IS: Nobody here is getting paid to do this. Most people who provide answers are just trying to help. Most are NOT experts. If you want a more or less guaranteed answer you should take the time, effort and if need be spend the money required to research it.

How much did it cost you to sign up for your account? You're already getting more than you paid for..

Mistakes...? What mistakes? These are not "bad" routes but often the fastest and most convenient.

When you travel by public transport it is almost never the case that you can go direct from one place to the next without some form of interchange at a transport hub. That's why they are called hubs, because lots of services come together in one place.

But if you feel you know better, please do feel free to contribute. You can offer whatever routeing advice you wish and allow the community or the asker to decide which is the best. Bitching about it from the sidelines is just sour grapes. Please, grow a pair.

Giving correct public transport information generally requires very precise knowledge, learned from a professional backround in the transport or tourism business. The transport network in England is particularly complex and many of the people offering answers in this section, although well meaning,

have little real knowledge. Even I with more than 40 years professional experience make mistakes from time to time

I'm guessing it's one of two things:

(1) The respondent is an idiot;

(2) The respondent thinks the asker is an idiot.

I do or am neither.

About a couple of months ago, about 2 or 3 as I recall, I answered two questions regarding rail travel here in the US. One was about Amtrak, our national passenger rail carrier, and the other was about local commuter lines.

The answers I gave were reasonable, informative answers to the questions asked. No foul or derogatory language was used (e.g., "You're an idiot for asking!"). In short, informative and clean.

Harmless, right?

Imagine my surprise when I received emails from Yahoo telling me that (a) these answers were reported by person(s) not revealed to me, and (b) they were removed from the site.

The emails provided for an opportunity for me to appeal these actions, which I did promptly. The appeals information suggested I'd hear back in 24 to 48 hours. I'm still waiting.

Having been burned by this experience, I am consequently VERY reluctant to answer questions in this forum, because of the risk of a repeat report of abuse. (How is providing clear, informative answers to honest questions "abusive"?) I suppose it was someone trying to be "cute," but it had real repercussions (and if that person is reading this, I sincerely hope you feel ashamed for what you did).

(In a related vein, I've received thumbs-down for legitimate, solid answers to questions. I don't get it.)

I used to take the city buses in college as quickly as I lived off campus. no longer something is worse than status on a packed bus having to hold directly to the rail (whilst the driving force curiously would not seem to work out a controversy with driving like a bat out of h*** and would not techniques all of us toppling over on one yet another whilst he hits the brakes) it fairly is above the seats. it is whilst status next to a guy (additionally keeping the rail) wearing a sleeveless shirt (and no deodorant!) on a marginally heat day. no longer friendly.

Well, Timothy Baldwin, I imagine that it's because the people who give the bad answers aren't as clever or as well-informed as you. Now that you've noticed this problem, I expect that we'll be seeing a lot of impeccable answers to difficult questions, from your good self.

I look forward to reading them.

Obviously you don't use public transport, or live in London.