How important do you believe this is?

Question

When I started with this forum it was really more of a time waster. Lately it occurred to me that YA is something of a continuous discourse of political topics ranging from simple to complex and that it can be argued that this could be used for market research by people in that field. I wonder if maybe this in itself has overshadowed voting in importance and influence over the workings of government? thoughts people?

Answer 1

I just don't take it that seriously.  And some of what you related is actually against the community guidelines.  Its just supposed to be a place to share information.

But I don't doubt the site is surfed by marketing organizations and political promoters and anyone else with an agenda to sell...

Answer 2

If you want to see how extensively Yahoo Answers is fished for marketing possibilities, spend some time on the Business and Finance category. About every 6-8 "answers" is a not so thinly veiled attempt to sell a financial service such as mortgage loans, insurance, etc.

Answer 3

As more people become awarer of Y/A, it naturally flows that some people will use it to gage something.  Those of us who have been here awhile understand that the demographics of opinion on here shift from minute to minute.  This board does not decide who or what I focus on, but I do get some good information that leads me to further research and verification of facts.   At the end of the day, it's still just a game that allows you to ask questions, share ideas and even blow off a little steam.

Answer 4

Market research maybe. More likely YahooAnswers! would be a treasure trove for sociologists studying patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture.