| Yahoo Answers is a place where anyone can | | | | That's because I'm being realistic and |
| post a question to be answered by anyone | | | | probably recommend they spend money on a |
| else. Yet, despite the fact that total | | | | proper program. The asker would rather hear |
| strangers with absolutely no expertise are | | | | that they can get good results without using |
| answering business, legal, and health | | | | a marketing firm which would cost them. So |
| problems, the number of questions continues | | | | they get answers that are faulty and |
| to grow. Perhaps because this is a free site, | | | | obviously given by people totally ignorant of |
| this is the case, but it's rather troubling | | | | common advertising practices. |
| at best. You can see business people asking | | | | |
| how to market their products and the answers | | | | They same is true for health questions and |
| they receive could be from a ten year old. As | | | | this is a far more serious area. My wife is |
| a further example, there are those who need | | | | an RN with her Masters degree and sees the |
| solutions to real estate contracts and | | | | various medical questions and answers on YA. |
| divorce information. Again, they get answers | | | | This can have devastating effects. No one |
| that may or may not be accurate because | | | | should be asking health advice from complete |
| anyone has a chance to provide them | | | | strangers. I understand the desire to save |
| information or miss-information. One hopes | | | | money and those not wanting to contact a |
| that these people don't take the Yahoo | | | | doctor. People fear doctors for a variety of |
| Answers as the final word. | | | | reasons but, if they have a condition that |
| | | | requires treatment, there are few options. If |
| For example, I'm an advertising and marketing | | | | they must go online seeking information or a |
| "expert" with 35 years experience. I have a | | | | response to a health question, why not ask a |
| degree in advertising, a Masters in teaching, | | | | professional that is trained in the field? |
| owned my own advertising agency, and was a | | | | Sure, there may be a cost involved, but look |
| consultant for 25 years. Therefore, I | | | | at the alternative. On YA you get general, |
| consider myself fairly knowledgeable in most | | | | unqualified answers that are mostly worthless |
| areas of PR, marketing, and promotion. I | | | | anyway. But asking a doctor or nurse online, |
| sometimes wander over to YA to see who's | | | | you have a much better chance at solid advice |
| asking what. The responses are often times in | | | | that might actually help your ailment or |
| accurate and misleading. I try to offer help | | | | condition. |
| but am rarely chosen as the best answer. | | | | |