Why do some people post their question in the wrong category?

You are assuming that Y! A is real life! It is not though. For some people, it is simply a free entertainment and recreation venue. For others, it can be a laboratory where "experimental thinking" can be tested for acceptance and viability. I am a songwriter, and sometimes I want to get general feedback from random people around the world. I can get an insight into how different types of people perceive my lyrics.

So, for example, if I write a new song about a "superhero" doggie who can talk and fly through the air, I could post the lyrics in th Entertainment/Music/Lrics section. That would be the "normal" thing to do, right? But limiting myself to one category is not a good way to measure a broad cross section of opinions.

I could also choose to present my lyrics about the flying dog in a Y! A section for dog lovers....and in a section for military aviators and commercial airline pilots....and in a section for those interested in psychology, or mythology, or zoology. You see? The vast majority of these people enjoy music as part of their lives in all likelihood. Wouldn't you agree? So hearing an array of opinions from folks in these secondary categories can turn out to be very useful.

Finally, you are forgetting that many people have different thought patterns and values than you. You may take yourself and you questions way more seriously than some others do. Compare the paintings of Salvadore Dali to those of Norman Rockwell! And I could say you are like a strightforward, traditional thinker like Norman R.....wondering "why in the world would anyone bother painting the bizarre scenes that one sees in a Dali painting?" If you don't get my point....just email me, and I'll explain further, if I can.

I have wondered that, too, and thought maybe they were confused about where to put the question. I have asked one that I had a hard time choosing the category, but, it wasn't as off as some I see.

I think that some people think they were get a more serious response from someone in a totally different category. You are answering the same kinds of questions and may not necessarily put all of your heart into it. Then, out of the blue, you see a totally different question and if you are not irritated, you take a break and sincerely answer it. Does that make sense? It hit me the other day with a question so totally out of category. This was put here on purpose for a different kind of outlook, a different perspective than the usual ones they hear in the right category.

Not necessarily the most people to see it, but, different people besides the same old ones.

Then, on the other hand, some people cannot reason or read well. I would like to think they are strategically placing the questions to people who have different ideas and perspectives.

"Why" is the most difficult question to answer, DT. Personally, I think there are a variety of reasons different than the ones you suggest. Attempt at humor, for example. I found this one the other day in "Ettiquette," one of my favorite categories:

"Help! My girlfriend is 8?" and then the next line - the support to the question - was "pregnant. Do you think I could be the father?"

Clearly, this question - if it was a sincere one - was not only in the wrong category, but was presented wrong. However, I think it was done for an attempt at humor. And it worked for me.

Y!A is a bit like using a metal detector, DT: you never know what you'll find or where you'll find it. I like to enjoy the search.

It is logical to post your question in the correct category but you are assuming that people understand the process properly, or that they care about targeting the right audience.

A lot of people who post questions using this forum have a very poor command of written English. I am fairly confident that their reading skills are at about the same level. Hence the problem.

I have seen some very strange mis-postings. One person had a question about self-mutilation for psychology or mental health but started her question with the word 'cutting' so it ended up in a handyman/home improvement section.

I suppose some people are so fixated on their question that they don't even look at the automatic process of placing the question by YA.

Yahoo! considers the wording in the question and uses 'cues' to compile a list of categories in which to place the question. People simply assume it's going to go where they are expecting it to go and don't bother to select the category before posting.

People open Yahoo! Answers and post their questions with the first open window. You are right, this

probably gets the most attention. Or they don't know that there are categories to choose.

Have you spent much time on Yahoo Answers? If you have, then you've seen the kind of ignorance and stupidity it attracts. If people can't write a coherent sentence or even do a simple internet search on their own, they certainly can't figure out how to post a question in the right place.

Because people simply do not care about the category part of posting a question. They think it doesn't matter...or they have no clue that it actually helps get their questions get answered as best as possible.

This is in the wrong category but yeah most people are lazy..