Are the people on Yahoo Answers representative of modern society?

Question

Seriously...this site is absolutely plagued by awful questions and even more awful answers. If the high stupidity/ignorance ratio on Yahoo Answers is even remotely close to being representational of all of humanity I have no hope for the human race what-so-ever. Gah! Please give me hope...or at least say something witty.

Answer 1

Well it depends where you are looking, in the beauty section sure there are people over there posting their pictures asking if they're good looking and that is just ridiculous. But if you look at the science section or homework section people have real questions and they're usually given real answers.

Answer 2

I would agree that the sum I.Q. in this forum is somewhere close to the bottom the the gene pool.  However, I have hope that my entertaining diversion, that I occasionally seek here, has some uplifting bootstrap effect on the somewhat unconscious population of the forum.  On the other hand, my paying job has security at the bottom of the gene pool.

Answer 3

No, most peoples lives are far to busy, to be able to spend the time some of us do answering questions here.

It has gotten to the point that I must search through all the "awful questions", to find one that is worth while answering. It in my thinking is worth the effort because it gives me the opportunity to be of benefit to someone.

I am retired so it does allow me a way to pass time in a positive way. I have met a lot of very interesting people here, and now IM with many around the world.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, I would answer yes.  Think about it this way: in nearly every society with a population size larger than 35-100 (hunter-gatherers), there exists gradation in rank (horticultural chiefdoms) and then, with the emergence of the state about 6000 years ago, stratification of immense proportions.  Along side stratification comes tremendous heterogeneity in the technical (i.e., work related) division of labor that further complicates social life and social interaction.

Now, in order for societies to grow beyond their kinship roots, cultural codes and normative prescriptions must become overly abstract and general (e.g., simple!).  Thus, it is not that people are stupid; it is that they spend their lives committed to value systems, ideologies, and beliefs systems that simplify the complexity all around them, offering them simple solutions to various problems.  When labor is divided, such as it is, and some people seek and fulfill the difficult roles of decision-making, collective goal setting, and leading, others are just followers.  THis is not a value-judgement, it is how societies operate across time and space (I could give you a ton of citations on this).  The GSS (General Social Science Survey) has a question that asks people if they would prefer other people make decisions on the job then themselves...overwhelmingly, 60-70 percent say yes every year.  

Thus, we are guided by ideologies that are unquestioned because they reduce uncertainty and risk in life.  They allow us to focus on what we are socialized to think is most important: family life; productivity at work; sports and leisure; consumption of goods and services.  Just read the arguments posted here in the political section.  These mirror the general arguments fielded by politicians, political parties, talking heads on cable, the internet, throught books, and in print, and the basic mythology behind the Republican/Democrat divide.  Most people choose a party based on their parent's identification; they assume that their party stands for the most generic cultural code provided them; and they assume, conversely, that the opposite party is the enemy and must stand for everything they hold to be evil.  Now, there are people who are not like this -- though, they are not in the majority.  Those in power, for example, are generally not stupid.  Bush may not speak well, and for all intensive purposes may not be the most book smart guy, but he understands and has people around him who understand how to run an effective campaign, how to sway opinion; and how to manipulate symbols.

h**l, I am a graduate student becoming a professor, and guess what, even professors are not all in the know.  I know three or four in my department that got their PhD's because they were persistent and didn't quit -- not because they were the best or the brightest.  Intelligence and vigilence are expensive in societies that require people to fill their roles and not make waves.

Answer 5

The "stupid" questions I have read were written by fairly young people. You know what they say: young and stupid! Also, the anonymity of Yahoo! Answers is bliss when people have questions they would otherwise be afraid to ask in person--by fear of sounding inept...

I do find this forum entertaining, and at times useful. What annoys me, is when people don't even search the archives to find answers to questions already asked.

Answer 6

No way.

I would say that the majority of the people who would be able to give useful information/advice are not reading these forums, as they have better things to do with their time, such as work.

The population here is probably more representative of students and children, and possibly chronically unemployed.