If you see something that is distasteful to you, do you look away?

Question

If there is something on the TV that you do not agree with in any way, you change channels.

Why then, when a question appears on Yahoo Answers that you are offended by or know nothing about, do you feel obliged to comment?

How many people answered this question without reading the whole question, for the sake of gaining 2 points?

I think I have just proved the worth of Yahoo Answers.

Answer 1

  I  only  read  and  maybe  answer  the  ones  I  know  about  and  understand,I  stay  away  from  the  ones  I  don't  like  and  know  nothing  about  and  the  ones  that  are  stupid  and  offensive  and   don't  make  sense  at  all, I  am  just  glad  that  I  can  (MAYBE)help  someone  or  make  their  day  or  guide  them  in  any  ways  with  the  knowledge  and  wisdom  that  I  am  provided,and  experienced  already  and  hoping  for  them  not  to  do  the  same or  guide  them  to  do  the  right  thing. I  can  not  do  anything  with  this  POINTS  that  are  actually  useless,it  is  just  accumulating  for  ....???????

Answer 2

You should really speak for yourself Marty when making such statements about human nature. When something is distasteful to me on TV I don't always change the channel because that is not the way I always deal with things that bother me. I try to face them head on and figure out what bothers me. As for Yahoo, yeah sometimes I ignore questions which don't interest me and sometimes I answer, if I want to get a point across, as with this question. For you to write what you wrote is pretty ignorant of human nature and you are generalizing about many people without actually knowing them. Some people are very young here and  write from their own limited experience. Some people just want to give voice to their opinion, whether it's helpful or not is irrelevant, so what? Everyone has a right (besides the obvious annoying trolls) to their opinion and say on this website. So, please think again before making such generalizations.

Answer 3

I'm not trying to be funny and would really like to know: Who did you expect to find answering questions here?

You've seen the questions. I assume you understand that you are in the "psychology" section of a wide open forum and that anyone who can ask questions here, can also answer them.

If you need professional, psychological help, there are places to go for that but this isn't one of them.

If you were to ask "Where can I go to get professional, psychological help?" or "What can I expect from a visit to a professional psychologist?" you would probably get some helpful suggestions. Otherwise...

This isn't the place to get psychological help and I assure you that Yahoo! would never presume to make such a claim.

I'm not sure why this topic exists in this particular format...I could understand a forum or perhaps a discussion group, but psychology? I think it might be a little tougher to dodge liability in a lawsuit over an advertised Q & A format.

Answer 4

If it's a visual thing on TV, I might, but I can usually handle it. Usually verbal things are what I find distasteful, and turning your head won't deafen you to things you don't want to hear. Ha ha. I only answer questions that I find distasteful when the person has an opinion but expresses an interest in learning more (i.e. why do mexicans have more babies-i just answered that one). Giving someone the other side of the issue is important, and I'll probably do it if I have a view on it and they ask. If someones lifestyle is different than mine or if they have problems that I can't understand, I don't comment. Judging never helps anyone. I read both your questions too, thank you. :)