Question

Linking to Yahoo! Answers in a question -- is it appropriate?

Answer 1

Noe

Answer 2

I agree, it defeats the purpose of this site.

Answer 3

Amen

Answer 4

I don't see how it's any different from linking an online math lesson that explains a concept.

The only objection I'd see is banning links to competition.

Answer 5

Well, in a lot of cases I see people linking to Yahoo! Answers simply because they dont know personally. It also holds the possibility of having a false answer. If someone explains their reasoning, as well as links a Yahoo! Answer for back-up I understand that, but simply linking it as a plain give-away ansur, i think is wrong.

Answer 6

I'd rather see someone linking to OpenStudy from Yahoo Answers and reddit!

Answer 7

TBH I agree. I've seen people copy yahoo answers answers and just posting it on the OS question.

I guess there's a difference between linking a YA as a source versus just posting something that the asker could have googled.

Answer 8

I see that pretty often as well. Like Ashelyisakitty said, it holds the possibility of a wrong answer. If the person doesn't know, then wait for somebody that does.

Answer 9

Using Yahoo! Answers as a reference isn't inherently bad. It's all about context. Sometimes people on Yahoo! Answers are very intelligent and describe concepts in a manner better than you or I could convey. There is nothing wrong with linking references to help the student.

However, when you abuse this method as your primary source, it destroys the learning process and hinders the mind.

Answer 10

In my opinion, OpenStudy is about tutoring a person, not giving them answers (or answers with long confusion explanations). So, if we're tutoring them, we're walking them through the problem step-by-step to determine where the student is getting confused. Then, we help them understand. When we just give a link to an explanation, that can be kinda helpful; but I feel that the users learns so much more when they actually can be taught it personally, until they totally understand the concept.
\[answers \neq understanding\]
\[tutoring = understanding\]

Answer 11

So whether or not it is against the rules, I don't know. But is it the best way to answer someone's question, No.

Answer 12

Interaction is key.

Answer 13

Exactly :D

Answer 14

Ask and Explore websites like yahoo answers generally don't provide that kind of :
i) interaction
ii) Key points
iii) Alternate methods to solve a particular quest.
iv) Basic Understanding of the topic

These all are provided by the experts/users on OpenStudy that a student requires. In my point of view, if in such case when either you don't know the topic perfectly or you are not available enough to give it much time or you think somewhere else is explained well than you can explain , then you may chose to give a link to the user to just go on there and understand it.

I actually think, it is a but awkward for OpenStudy and well as for the asker as :

Askers must have come to OpenStudy in order to get *better* help than the other ask and answer sites. They may be expecting something like interaction related to the topic and some tips or easier methods that OS aims to provide. Asking them to go a specific link (especially of Ask and Answer websites like Yahoo! Answers) and understand it from there is little bit irritating for the user.

What if the user has already checked that out and he has come here to get better help?
What if the user is unable to understand the solution from there too and has lost the expectations from us to help him further?

There are many questions that may come in the asker's mind , and we only know 50% of them.

Though, if : The user is not having the understanding of the lesson/chapter/topic itself , then we can ask them to migrate to a tutorial - based website like mathisfun.com where he can understand the topic first and then try to solve problems.

As Preetha already mentioned, why not to build OpenStudy as a platform which is used as the reference in other sites!

I have myself seen many of the users providing one of the best explanations to the users ever possible and this makes a long-lasting impression on the users about OpenStudy!

Let us just become a reference for others rather than using others as a reference!

Answer 15

Yah! Let's help users by giving them an example problem and not personalized help...... hmmm.... it reminds me of the Public School education system :/

Answer 16

I would say it isn't, chiefly because Yahoo Answers is like Wikipedia, anyone can post their and answers may not be accurate.

Answer 17

ya

Answer 18

Ansurs

Answer 19

No.

Answer 20

no