How Answerbank DOESN'T work

[Birchy]

The Spurious Answerbank, yes. But what constitutes an 'answer'? People simply replying with guff means that the question has been answered!??!! It would appear so, since the original question becomes banished to 'All Answered Questions'. Is there any chance that the lonely answerers out there could refrain from making comments here, and could revert to their various little internet chatrooms instead? Kind of defeats the object of this being the Answerbank if it's being inundated with non-answers.....or am I the REAL saddo?

[andy hughes]

The Answerbank is internet deomcracy at its finest - with all the pluses and minuses that entails. So, if you ask for verification of a fact - 'how many pounds in a stone?' - there is a simple, short factual answer. But a large number of questions invite debate and opinion, and those are therefore equally valid answers, so you will rarely have a simple response. Personally, I think that's the Answerbank's biggest plus - opinions are aired, debates are undertaken, and we all interchange our thoughts and ideas, so I feel the notion of a 'non-answer' is a rare event, but an inevitable by-product of access for all. You just have to ignore the nonsense, and go with the sensible - and no, you are not a saddo, because no-one on here really is, unless they set out to be objectionable or stupid on purpose.

[Birchy]

Thanks Andy.....and if you do know how many pounds are in a stone, I'd be grateful! My point is that "Debatebank" is for the conjecture oft aired on AB....surely? As a dull little factmonger, I am often in search of genuine answers to questions; the pontification often presented by many AB listees is of no use. There are tons of people out there who can provide genuinely accurate answers to our questions, but I am constantly wading through opinion - or less - to try and get to the truth. Therefore, Andy, I disagree that this is a forum for debate, unless that debate then helps to come up with THE answer. And now I've entered into exactly what I'm decrying......I'm so gullible!

[boognish76]

I think it's a fault with the design of the website that any reply to a question means that that question has been 'answered'. There is already a facility whereby the asker can decide that his/her question has been answered and 'close' it - ie not receive any more emails about it. Unanswered questions should, therefore, be those that haven't been 'closed' by the asker rather than those that haven't been replied to.

[ipek]

...not to mention the 'non questions'. I have frequently opened a question, read it and wondered what on earth the originator is actually asking!...(I'm sure I'm not alone in this). Maybe (a suggestion in the virtual box, here) the editors could put up a 'modus operandi' on the main screen for the benefit of all.

In answer to your actual question Birchy ;-)) ... no you're not a saddo, just conscientious. Oh, and as for how many pounds in a stone - far too many according to my waistline-that-was (even tho' it's officially 14, I'm sure my body has lost count). Nice to talk to you...

[andy hughes]

Yep, fair point Birchy - I guess receiving an opinion in lieu of a fact is an irritation. I personally only answer a factual question if I know the answer, if not, I will qualify my response with 'I believe ....' or similar. Perhaps people should make it clear if they are looking for either / or / and fact / opinion in an answer? It's a thought (or maybe an opinion!)

[xyzzyplugh]

Ah, Birchy, Birchy, Birchy, If you want something a bit more structured, try Guardian Notes and Queries at http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/0,5753,,
00.html This is a brilliant site, the answers are all monitored for credibility. good luck.

[sft42]

I think your being a touch harsh here. This is a free service after all and you are asking for help from stangers. If you are that annoyed by spurious answers then state in your questions no funny answers please (though most don't seem to mind a laugh as well as the factual answers) or something similar and if your still annoyed then i can only suggest you find the answers to your questions under your own steam. It seems a small price to pay for the community of knowledge available.

[wildwood]

Questions on Answerbank often generate different opinions, just as this one is doing. To my mind this site is mainly doing just what it is designed to do. The terms of use include that "The aim of the site is to create an online community where you can exchange personal views and opinions with other users, on subjects that interest you".
There are heaps of sites where you can find factual answers (yawn!). Here you are invited to give your opinion with all the whys and wherefores. The diversity of contributors' opinions is what makes this site interesting, but then, that's only my opinion.

[Birchy]

I'll get down off me high horse. The point I was trying to make was that one only has to reply to a question with the line "my hovercraft is full of eels" and that will deem the question ANSWERED. If I see an interesting question in the "All Answered Questions" filing cabinet, I may - often wrongly - assume that it has been answered properly. I'm not trying to banish opinion, but I'd rather like opinion to ACCOMPANY the correct answer and not go instead of it. Now I must go to Mind & Body and ask about this meaning of life thing..........

[wildwood]

I know what you are saying Birchy, but due to the ambiguity of many Qs, who's going to decide which one has been answered correctly? The one who posted it has the option to close it to further answers but I don't know where it goes from there.

[Birchy]

I've just checked through all AB "answers" and have discovered that this topic has been going on far longer than the other most debated of all; that being "How on Earth can The Prince of Wales claim fathership of Prince Harry over James Hewitt?". Closely followed by "Sherpa Tensing and Buzz Aldrin.....Second is loser city, or what?". Thank you all for the responses to my original "question". I am now happy that it's been condemned to "All Answered Questions"........ish.

[flirty41]

I've noticed in the recent past that AB Editor has been removing 'non-answers', which would otherwise have rendered a question to the answered pile, so I think he is aware and is trying, particularly if the question is obviously requiring of a serious answer.

[Birchy]

Take a peek at my question on Slade Prison (Film & TV) and I need say no more re-Answerbank's answerers.