Incorrect answers in Yahoo Answers?

Question

I've been here for a while now and try to give honest, intelligent answers to questions that are posted. However, I've noticed many answers that have been selected as "best answers" are factually incorrect. Obviously I'm not speaking of opinion based questions, but questions in regards to biology, medical and legal issues (facts). This leads me to think that many people ask questions on Yahoo Answers in order to validate their own beliefs instead of looking for truth.

There seem to be many young people here on Yahoo Answers who are impressionable and are mislead by bad information... thinking it is truth.

Do you feel that most people are here to reinforce their beliefs or to find out the facts?

Answer 1

Don't be so serious, chic. This yahoo forum is just a place where a variety of different people come to have fun and offer their opinions. That's it.  

Answer 2

people normally pick the answers they agree with not the ones that are true...kinda sad that people are willing to discount facts like that really...

Answer 3

I think it's due to the fact of the median age here on Y!A. It's probably about 14-18. And instead of asking a informed adult in their life, they want an answer that "fits" with their mental capacity. Instead of getting the truth as the rest of the adult world knows it to be true.

Popularity is where it is at, even when it is wrong, and misinformed. That is why I try to answer, with honesty. As an adult with a teen child at home, I would be appalled if I found out if they were out here seeking popularity, instead of using their brains to think for themselves.

Granted I was taught there is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer. Sometimes they cross the line.

That is why I try my best to answer everyone with the same respect regardless of age, gender, or interest.

I think everyone could take note. Answer how you would want to be answered. And post questions you really want information about.

Answer 4

People usually pick the answer they like best, not the answer that was actually the best....

Answer 5

Scroll down to number 6 on this link: http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/uto...

"...........Yahoo! does not control the Content posted via the Service and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content.........."

Answer 6

I've definitely contemplated that before.

I feel like Y!A is more of a helpful community than a serious resource for viable information (Not that there isn't plenty of that to be found here).  People come here to have a more "personal" experience then simply googling their answers (though for some issues it seems that would be the simpler solution), especially in some of the more life-experience type sections such as singles and dating and LGBT.

It doesn't really make sense that if you're asking a question, you should be the one who picks the best answer in all cases (ie scientific questions), but in others (as you mentioned, opinion-based) it seems to work just fine.

In short, I think people know of the existence of books and scientific articles out in the world or on the web, even the young kids, but they come here to validate what they previously thought to be true or what seems to make the most logical sense to them.  That's why it's important to have people like you who put the time and effort into their posts to raise the number of possible valid answers, or at least to get them to read or consider it - even if they don't initially accept it, they might remember it later.  That's probably the best you can do.

Answer 7

most people are here to reinforce their beliefs. This is proved by the fact that any information which in any way digresses or contracdicts the common g*y propaganda is quickly deleted by the " activists" here

Answer 8

Most people just wants an answer which reaffirms what they believe rather than be told the truth

Answer 9

Yahoo Answers is a world wide open forum where ANYONE can answer/ask questions.

I've noticed teenagers answering questions about serious marriage problems. Would you go to your 13 year old neighbour concerning your marriage?

Take the answers with a massive grain of salt.

Don't come here for expertise.

Go to someone in real life who knows what they are talking about.

Answer 10

when you have a question, generally you have an answer in your head already, one you want to hear. so when people give you answers you are attracted more to the ones that represent what you want to hear, and so tho not accurate they are the questioners best answer. i try to avoid getting influenced by my own feelings and base my best answer selection on facts and sources..  

Answer 11

i think some may be, but not the majority, i know I'm not.  i think most people just want to help.

i don't answer questions that i have no idea about, but some i look up, thought sometimes websites can be misleading.  check the people's sources, and see if that's where they got it from.

Answer 12

You should not assume that what you think, or have been taught is necessarily 100% correct. For instance I have done more than 1000 hours of research on cholesterol, cholesterol drugs, and a heart healthy diet. What I know in my heart to be correct  you would swear on a stack of Bibles is wrong. Did you know that saturated fat does not cause cholesterol, cholesterol is not the CAUSE of heart disease, low fat diets are unhealthy? Some day you will learn the truth of what I am saying, but till then you should consider your knowledge to be the theory that you believe and not always 100% true.

Pharmacist who's life was almost ruined by Lipitor

Answer 13

hi

why's this in this section? u blaming us?

and i'm 16, impressionale sorta, but think for myself. the age to be on here is set at 13, so anyone younger that holds no relibility on my part as to any "bad information" with them. the most bull i spread is a joke of my friends and me that 2+2=5. which it does

not even impressionable, i'll look  up stuff i find out about and verify it.

i see no point in this Q, of which it isn't one, in that we are all just normal ppl, we're gonna make mistakes, talk shittt and just be human. it can't be helped. and in those exchanges in everyday life, knowledge is spread, just as the poitnt of this site is.... so yeah. lmao

Answer 14

Read the 2nd part of my answer here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

"Also, you have to think a lot of people vote for their own answers when they go to "Vote" status. This is kinda a bad way to get more best answers, especially when your answer wasn't the best (I read answers that are better than mine all the time, but I still feel that if I share my view, that I am contributing), but people do it. I can't say anyone who has Top Contributer does that, but I'm sure some of them do."

Answer 15

Maybe they just choose the answers because they make sense to them.  We all naturally tend to follow what makes the most sense to us.  The younger ones (I'm sure you know what I mean...I think back to when I was younger and think, 'what was I thinking') are here to reinforce their beliefs-some, possibly not seeing the truth right in front of their faces...

Answer 16

There are certainly some people who just ask questions just to find someone who agrees with them

That misses whole the point of Yahoo Answers.