Bad Answers. Why do people answer questions when they have no idea what they are talking about?

Question

I spent 2 days reading resolved questions and resurshed every answer. 55% of asker's pick for best answer was totally wrong. 62 % of voted on best answers were also wrong. 73 % of all answers were not even close. People come here for a good sound answer and they get guess work. If you can not back up your answer with facts, you shouldn't answer the question, period! Because your Uncle Chuck said it was so, doesn't mean it is a fact. If a person can't list the sourse of their answer as required by Yahoo, should they still be allowed to answer the question?

Answer 1

You sir are 100% right. What color car or who to date is a different type of answer the one requiring a fact. the correct answer per your example curing a sick plant can not have an opinion answer. would you want a bunch of folks telling your doctor their opinion on your cure, you was the facts. period. bad answers should cost points.

Answer 2

Sometimes you KNOW an answer. If you ask me about my field (behavioral psychology), an area in which I have years of specialized experience, do you really expect me to list everything I've read on the topic? Especially since, because it is such a specialized field complete with its own jargon, a novice wouldn't understand the literature anyway?



I view this site as a forum to get input from other people. If I wanted perfectly accurate information, I'd research the topics myself. Hearing answers from others gives you a springboard to start looking in places you might not have thoguht of originally. And some questions, like yours for example, cannot possibly be answered using sources.

Answer 3

Damn...you have a lot of time on your hands.

People give bad answers for the points.

I don't know about everyone else on here, but when I ask a question, I expect tips more than real answers.

Most questions are asking for an opinion rather than facts, how can you provide a source for your opinion? Why do you care so much?

Answer 4

Take deep breaths Dr. M...c'mon really deep breaths. Okay...you alright now? Jeez, I answered a whole bunch today that I didn't leave any sources for...so...I answerd them in the spirit I believed them to be asked in. We should really list sources and if there are none listed, well then people should understand that the answer is off the top of someone's head...and is subject to scrutiny. I really want to like you...looks like you are NEW to the garden community on Answers. We are really nice people here, nothing like QnA, but somehow you seem to have raised the ire of so many. So, next time out, maybe you can "dumb down' just a bit to my level...okay? >:-(

Answer 5

Why is this question in Gardening & Landscaping?



I won't bother to read & understand your question - I will just briefly glace through it and decide myself what I think you are asking, and then I shall give you an ill-informed, or even insulting answer, just because I can. Or I will flatter you, in a cynical bid to get 10 points.



So in answer to your question - roses should be pruned at the start of spring, generally speaking.



And yes, you are absolutely right - blood and bone DO make the best compost for newly laid lawns!

Answer 6

That is good work. This is a point system game not a data base.

People cheat at games. Like a host of voters for answers and multiple users for an account. I figured that out quickly. The fact is that there are only opinions here.

Answer 7

I cant believe you sat there long enough to figure that all up, most people are here for fun or for points or both. Relax just enjoy yahoo. If you are taking the questions and answers that serious why are you asking a bunch or strangers anyway get a professional.

Answer 8

this is a great philosophy if all ?s are fact ?s. but what about those that are opinion. how can anyone say someone answering is wrong or right its a opinion no clear answer .

so whats a bad answer most questions in here are opinion in there wording so how can you give reference to your opinion. my advise is to calm down actually read all the answers and if you are so into fact only choose those with reference to listen to.

this is just my opinion not fact lol

Answer 9

Put the axe down and take a deep breath.

Most of us know better ways to find legit answers on the internet and simply use this forum for fun.

That said, I am careful that my answers be clearly recognizable as 'silly' when I delve into unfamiliar territory.

Cheers.

Answer 10

Most people are here for fun. If you want good answers... you could try academic forums...



then again, you'll find plenty of wrong answers there too. In that case though, they'll all be as confused as you are on what right and wrong means, so that won't help much either :)

Answer 11

"...as required by yahoo..." I think you're taking this to serious. It's not just the answers, but there are also dumb questions as well. It's entirely up to us all whether or not we choose to participate. Just ignore them and hope that your answers stand out the most. I think we already know to accept them for face value. Nothing more nothing less

Answer 12

I agree, I haven't been doing this for long but I thought it was for people to help each other, some of the things I've run across are dangerous and deadly (especially to the pets) some people just want their points, some are obscene and some are just plain STUPID

Answer 13

Should your question be in some other forum or are you talking about gardening questions and you did this for 2 day you must be really bored.

Answer 14

You are right. this is a sight for facts and not for screwing around. I never answer a question I can not back up with facts.

Answer 15

well i certainly must agree with you...although some of the answers are just ridiculous answers to riduculous questions. some of the answers given to some questions are decent enough, but i do think that most people only want to hear what they want to hear. they don't want bad news to the questions they want to hear the positive. hopefully in some reccess of their mind they realize the answers are foolish

Answer 16

You should make sure you have two avocado trees for cross pollination. You can use a paint brush to assist nature in pollination.

Answer 17

well ur pretty wierd 2 calculate all ov dat.

but most ov my answers say " u lost 5 " or.."thanks for 2"

they onlii answer it without knowing juss for the points i gess

Answer 18

Cos bad questions beget bad answers.

Answer 19

i agree w/ you there are some really stupid or sarcasic answers given to serious questions, but at the same time theres some pretty stupid questions that get asked. mabe yahoo should create a stupid or dumb question catagory to please YOU!!! amazingly you never mentioned multi posting. it must not bother you to see the same question time and time and time and time again. you question point hogs, but not those that waste points!.

Answer 20

You need to calm down!!



People also answer for a bit of fun!

Answer 21

All my answers are well reasoned and insightful. They should all be picked as the best answer.

Answer 22

I for one think I know everything and know nothing. So it is with most people.

Answer 23

Back in your box

Answer 24

because they are point whoring.

Answer 25

Wha t a dumb question...

Answer 26

because we can...