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