How many students use this to have other users do their homework for them?

Question

I just stumbled upon this site a few days ago and have been really hooked on answering chemistry and biology questions for students that seem to be lost on things. I think this is a really great tool for students that need help and there are a lot of qualified, educated people on here like me that compete to answer their questions. And it's free... what a great alternative to paying a tutor!

But then I'm already getting burnt out with questions that seem to be students saying, "okay, I don't want to try... here's my homework, give me the answer." And then some of them don't even give you your "best answer" points if you are the only one to answer their question.

Passing on knowledge is a joy, but I can see how teachers in the education systems of this country can get pretty jaded. Anybody else agree with me? What can be done about the slackers out there? Can Yahoo Answers ban someone if enough complaints are lodged against them?

Answer 1

I guess it's up to us to avoid answering those kinds of questions.  Although for one thing it concerns me how much misinformation is circulating around this website!

Answer 2

Hear, hear!!  You have nicely verbalized my own feeling regarding students who seem to expect others will do their homework for them.  This site is a wonderful tool in many ways, but, like you, I wish there was some sort of monitoring system, not only for students unwilling to try, but also for the members who seem to want to amass a large number of points for answers such as "Gee, I don't know".

Still, it is a joy to share knowledge.

Answer 3

  I have to agree.  I've been a high school teacher for 22 years and I know how lazy kids can be, and this site is an enabler.  I'm happy to help kids who have legitimate questions that can't be answered with a simple trip to Google.  If they have the access to the Internet to get to this site, then they have access to all sorts of informative web sites.  This is why our academic system is in the shape it's in.  Laziness is going to be our ruination.