This website has incredible potential, but one major flaw: it gets flooded by those who just seek to get their homework done. In my understanding, this site is intended to provide help for those who don't get a certain topic, not those who are just too lazy to get their stuff done by themselves. So my question is: Will there ever be guidelines on what a question should look like, especially in terms of personal contribution?

Question

anonymous · Answer

There should be a policy requiring student to present attempts at solution.

amistre64 · Answer

The impetus behind that notion is in the hands of the answerer.  If all the answerer does is blurt out an answer; then whats the incentive to learn?

If the answerer coaxes a response, then the questioner that is just seeking AN answer is put off and stops trying.  While those who are actually seeking answers will gain from the experience.

So the burden to curb that type of behaviour is upon the answerer.  And with anyone allowed to answer.

Just my thoughts ...

amistre64 · Answer

dropped a thought :)

... and with anyone allowed to give ananswer; there is a certain lack of control in the process.

anonymous · Answer

Yes, but it does not help when you are trying to explain and someone just post a answer

amistre64 · Answer

If the questioner is looking for understanding the issue; then your efforts are not in vain.

anonymous · Answer

@amistre: However, i get the impression that most questioners (in math section) dont want to understand their problem, and they get encouraged to go on by the ones who just give out the answers. This has little to do with 'studying', imho.

amistre64 · Answer

I agree :)  So in order to save the world; you just have to have the mindset of , one at a time :)

amistre64 · Answer

If there was a way to regulate who can answer, it would help; but that is a feat that is a bit far reaching for a free website.  Even with the flaws; this is a great place to come and play :)

anonymous · Answer

i would suggest something like an "intrested/hot topic" button, which would bring unsolved questions ontop... so "better" questions are seen first. Just a thought.

anonymous · Answer

The site is great! i ask questions in a regular bases. Anyways we really can't ponder too much on people who use the site to do their home-work or who are just too lazy to attempt the question. At the end these same students may think that they are helping themselves but they're not.