Is there a benefit from yahoo points?

Do you think a “Worst Answer” option is needed in Yahoo Answers?

• I know variations of this question have been asked before, but I checked and it hasn’t been for a while, and maybe it’s time to present the question again. Here’s my thought process. A large majority of the people who answer questions on Yahoo Answers falls into one of three categories. 1. Answering just to answer a question, to earn a few points... regardless if they have any knowledge in the subject matter at hand. 2. Answering a question just to spout off some insult that they know will more than likely not be reported. 3. Taking an opportunity to promote their own website. What I’d like to see is a non-mandatory option to flag one answer as a “Worst Answer”, thus taking away 5pts from the person who’s answering the question. Again, let’s make this just an option, because sometimes, all the answers are good, but there can only be one “Best Answer”. What this feature will potentially do, is cut down on the garbage… because nobody wants to lose points. So it’ll make the answerer pause and think before clicking the “Answer Question” button. “Do I have something to offer?” “Do I think my answer benefit the questioner?”. It’ll also severely cut down on the cyber immaturity that is so wantonly thrown around here. For instance, I saw a question that someone asked regarding their grandmother’s cancer, did someone really need to answer with “Cancer iz kewl”? It may also cut down on those advertisements to go visit other websites for answers… Also, to prevent people from abusing Yahoo Answers, let’s give people who are level one, the ability to only “Vote for best answer” to earn their points. Make level two an accomplishment that they don’t want to lose by not thinking through their answer… (if we are ever given the ability to take away someone’s points). Flag this question as interesting if you agree, enough recognition might help get this feature implemented. If you have suggestions to make this feature better, by all means, feel free to add to it.

• Answer:

  I completely agree (if not a "worst answer" option... since some people have a problem with "worst".... then something along the same lines.....or at least an "answer checker" lol) I don't think the object is to hurt anyone's feelings (that certainly is not MY aim....i am sure it not the aim for a lot of people out there as well) (Even though persons are liable to get offended even if you did not mean it to be so.....). and as you said "sometimes all the questions are good/correct" I don't know how many people realize this about advice given by some persons on the internet: a)some of it is not only hurtful/biased but also wrong /misleading b) the staggering number of people who view those incorrect answers daily(and.....take them to be fact....and......actually believe/follow this erroneous information) The thing is too: you never know who is asking the question (it could be a kid!!! who is scared or can't go to an adult etc. something like that) So i agree that something should be done to at least increase awareness......something that will cause people to stop and think....definitely agree Still....... There are a lot of other points to consider.... one COULD argue that The persons asking are: a) free to follow/not follow any advice given b)they are not being coerced into doing anything c)they are asking the question so in doing so open themselves up to "whatever" d) they should have the freedom/choice to see all points of view e)shouldn't take it personally..it is all good fun All of these points have some amount (even a wee bit) of merit........... (And all of this is not to say that YA does a poor job of ensuring that there are guidelines etc.) But i think.....and this is just from experience.... People will always be ......people and one can never tell Still I agree