Today in my american Federalism class, I tried to answer a question "what case regarding race influenced education in 1896?" Of course I answer the least likely answer "dredd Scott" when it was "Plessy vs Ferguson" I remembered shortly after that Dred Scott was in the early 1800s and felt like a total ass. Students made comments aside to joke at my answer which made me ask myself, why dont I use common sense in asnwering questions? Should I just keep my mouth shut if I lack common sense or just make an honest effort and say I tried and risk my reputation?
216594
There is a saying that goes something like; it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought to be a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm it.  You've found this out the hard way.  That's the bad news.\n\nThe good news is, ~you~ feel a fool for a week or so; by tomorrow everyone else will have forgotten the incident.  Just think before you speak, and if you aren't sure the answer is right, then say 'I think it might be such and such, but I'm not sure!'  That absolves you from being a big-head know-it-all if it's right, and a loser if it's wrong - after all, you did say you weren't sure!
301709
When you post a question, you have to expect people to be rude and some to  be nice.  Isn't that what this is for?  I's only someone's opinion whether good or bad.  Don't let it get you down.  If you have a question, then you have every right to ask them.  Please don't get offended by the few who are idiots. OK?
661538
yus that's wye aye uze spell-cheque awn evree lettur eye tipe\n\nI really do not believe that you needed the query character because I do not think that you are really asking a question, and certainly not whether anybody is bothered by bad spelling or grammar. \nI think you are, from the way that you phrased your entry, making a statement about your opinion that the education system is failing, and about how this makes you feel. \nI tend to sympathize with you. But surely you realize that the purpose of the education system is not to turn out people who have skills and can  think for themselves. No indeed not. The purpose of any modern education system is first and formost to teach people to sit down and shut up. If that can be accomplished in the first ten to fifteen years then there is a chance that these people can be trained to do simple tasks, and be useful citizens and good voters. In fact, except for an extremely limited need for professional engineers and doctors the rest of the population needs to be able to do little more than tie thier shoe laces and not dribble food down their faces when they eat, and this could be taught in less than six years of schooling. However good citizenship is very much more difficult to instill. It requires the people to be taught to sit down, shut up,do as you are told and believe in what ever the authorities tell you. This my friend is what you should be afraid of, that the education system works too well, that the facility for critical thought is being indoctrinated out of people all over the world (most especially in North America, Untied Kingdom and Australia). It all seems very Orwellian to me but that is the way it all works. Like growing mushrooms.\n\nDoes it bother me, no seems like a good sign, how else are we supposed to be able to compete with two billion starving overseas people who have no education at all.
98082
Its better to be quiet instead of saying something stupid and being thought of as an idiot. It applies to this site because sometimes people just write stupid answers in questions and it would be better for them not to answer questions if they're not going to be serious because they'll look like idiots if they do.
162368
If it's a fact, we want facts, if it's a personal question it's hard to win, b/c that person wants to hear other people tell them they're right, not get brow beaten to the other side of their argument.\n\nFrom the categories, I go to, Travel wants a mixture of truth & opinion ie (should I go to Moldova, honestly heck no, but if you're from there, sure why not?)\n\nSociety & Culture is funny b/c even if it's the best written answer if you're fighting a fanatic (Racist, Ethnocentric, Kook etc) you'll still lose.\n\nPolitics at time is looking for good rationale to win.\n\nNews & events just wants a strong opinion with a good sense of humor.\n\nAND MY FAVORITES!!!\nLove & Romance/ Parenting is the WORSE!!! Nobody honestly wants the truth, I have seen questions where women/men have asked, 'MY Man slept with 10 women, 1 man & a goat, should I stay?"  HEEEELLL NO!!  But then the best answer is the one that makes them feel good & stay.  \nOr from parenting, "My child beats up a bunch of kids, should I stop him from doing it?"  Uh... yes. \n\nAll said & done, each question has a reason/rational that when you see it, your response seems so simple, but if you asked, you wouldn't follow a bunch of ideas from people you don't know?  I know I wouldn't... to a point.
174157
I've been thinking the same thing lately, and I think Y! Answers should not only have a 'best answer' option that rewards people for good answers (that they do now for 10 pts) but also the option to marks answers as 'bad answer' and take away points (maybe 3 points so it takes away the 2 points they got and a third point as a penalty) so people stop writing stupid and offensive answers just to get points.\n\nI've already reported 2 people for having rude and completely pointless answers, but I have no way of knowing if anything happened from those. Do you think people would abuse it if they were give the ability to mark 2-3 answers per question as 'bad answer'?
2786
Good question. I think you use your judgement. I have started to be able to identify who is asking "school" questions and who is asking more general questions and try to adjust my responses appropriately.\n\nI agree completely with your statements.
506350
I haven't see the users question .the fact that so many of you is offended means the question must be pretty bad..i don't think reporting him is the answer .it'll be far better to do as you are doing now and voice your displeasure.to their questions .when they see that they are not getting the response they want .in time they will stop and move on .thank you for apology.i'm black and i'm not a spokesman for the whole race .i can only speak for myself .and my view is this .someone saying hateful things on a computer site can't hurt me .if you read my name backwards that's what i think of people like that ...once again thanks for the apology but  there's no need .you can't be held accountable for the whole white race anymore than i can for the black race
190516
Singling people out no matter what the race, creed or color is wrong. I'm disappointed to hear that this happened especially on the elementary school level. It perhaps sent out a message, but one we are trying to avoid. As my school prepared for a MLK Day celebration one elequent speaker came to our school and said the following:\n\n(Yes, I'm paraphrasing)\n\n "In our day and age, I feel that sometimes people of my own race are bringing judgements upon themselves unnecessarily. They preach of equality, but when given the rights, want more. Yes, we cannot deny the treatment of Blacks was unacceptable. But must we dwell on the past instead of embracing the future? If we seek equality, why do we draw attention upon ourselves? Why have a "Black History Month?" Is there a "White History Month?" We are asking not to be set "a part." Yes we insist on our own month to celebrate our fine figures from the past? Shouldn't EVERY day of every month be a celebration of what these fine people did? We should live by their words, not force their word."\n\nI think what the world needs is to accept that we are more open-minded than we were 30-40 years ago. Sure, we have pockets of our population that will never be. But the change has been immense. Thank God! This speakers words spoken so elequently made so much sense to all those in that room that day. I think it brought the school together with a "sigh" of relief. All races realized we were working together.....no one is set apart. There is no need to favor a soul in our world today. We all prove who we are by being.....who we are. \n\nThank you for sharing the poem. My hope is that schools such as this, ideals such as this, practices such as this will so very soon be a thing of the distant past.
361309
Ya got me!  It's not about the points; it makes me feel good when I know the answer, just like back in school.  Only no one asks me for the root causes of the Spanish-American War at work, more's the pity. I know in my heart I'm not helping them.  I just like the exercise.  Guess you'll just have to keep failing kids that plagiarize, even from middle age history geeks like me!
564594
No, no! It's nothing personal! I'm glad to hear your answer - I wish he had left it online. (Bilberries are one of my favourite fruits - do they grow better in the shade? All the more for me if so : )\n\nHe might have already heard or found an answer he liked and hoped to save anyone else trouble. Politer to have acknowledged the answers he'd received ... but he might not hav realised this. I have often seen my Q&A listed with zero answers and clicked on the question to find five answers anyway. \n\nHe might have posted it for a bet with his pal or partner and found that he was wrong, instead of proving his point, and zapped it in annoyance. Or to make a point - "I bet you all that this is the one question that nobody can possibly answer." \n\nOr he might have had it as a school assignment, and now that he has an answer, removed it to stop his classmates from searching yahoo for their own homework, so that he looks good.\n\nOr - who knows? Maybe he hasn't gotten many points and hopes that he will retrieve 5 points by taking the question out? I don't 'play for points', so I don't know if that's how the system works. \n\nIt would have been better if he had left it online, I agree with you. \nHe's learning. Aren't we all?
82547
First, it depends on the question.  If I am asking for opinion, such as favorite television show, anyone who gives me their opinion has given me a satisfactory answer.  In such a case I will almost always pick the opinion that most closely resembles my own as best answer, or I will put it up for a vote.  If I am asking for information, however, a satisfactory answer will usually be one that actually gives me information.  The most helpful answer will be awarded the best answer.  The trick is when I am asking for an informed opinion, much like you are asking here.  A satisfactory answer must have at least a little thought behind it in such a case.  Picking a best answer is not as easy, either.  Sometimes I pick an aswer that most closely resembles my opinion.  Sometimes I pick an answer that has given me the most to think about.  Sometimes I pick an answer solely on how much effort the person put into answering.\n\nI should also note that for most questions an occassional funny response is always acceptable.  An insulting answer, however, is never acceptable.  Sometimes a truly funny answer will win best answer, especially if no other answer stands out.  Some questions, too, are just asking for funny answers.  If I ask "Can Superman see through Lead Crystal?" for example, I am probably not going to accept, "Yes, it's glass," or "no, it's lead."  However, I would love an answer like "Why do you think I pay $1800 for my windows and find 30 year old paint?"\n\nWell, that's just a little insight  into how my mind works... :P
198740
Many people who post a question are not seeking an answer. often they just seeking confirmation or trying to make a point. they are going to choose accordingly.\n\ni have voted for answers other than mine. when answers were really good. but many of my best answers are somewhat matching questioner's view. \n\none of questioners wrote a comment after choosing my answer as best yesterday . he  stated that he was accused of being the same person as me. though it was ridiculous accusation. any one who paid any attention would have found out that he is not even indian like i am. he has a christian background and i am hindu. But it shows often the views of questioner and best answerer are quite similar. \n\nBut i can not generalise. i was chosen as best once or twice even when i totally opposed questioner. \n\nI think people when sincerly seeking answers choose what appeals to their logic. people when have an agenda choose views similar to their own.
64821
I got an A cause I am Out of school and that is for A$$ for putting James D instead of cha cha. Must have been because the a$$ behind me was bitchin while I was typing & made me look at the wrong name. I have since kicked that persons a$$ for making me mess up. Thanks for giving me the 10 points.
183184
Often, especially in "Society & Culture", the person isn't really asking a question.  They are going to pick whoever agrees with their pre-determined answer.  So even when your answer is actually "best", it doesn't get picked.  Sometimes upsetting, though, I agree.  If it is a really ridiculous case, I'll usually leave a comment.
142217
Not always. Some people ask questions that have facts as the answer. \n\nPeople asking opinion questions may not understand whatever situation they are in and need advice. People's answers help them make sense of the situation and may bring to their attention things they never thought of before. People go through many of the same situations and seeing how other people handle it can help out a lot.
587053
I didn't see it on the guidelines anywhere. We could gang up on someone and see if they get theres removed. LOL. I just wish people would keep their minds more open and not take the questions (or answers) so seriously. I laugh my ass off reading some of the answers and wish I had responded that way. Would give me a vote for the good....