Topic: Yahoo answers (Read 11019 times)

blackcat · « **Reply #39 on:** February 22, 2008, 18:27:16 PM »

Hmmm, have been trawling Answers this afternoon and sent a few curt emails. Now one of the people who I told off has invited me to be their contact... I know that this does not mean they can get in touch with me directly, but why would someone do that when I told them they were being irresponsible by breeding their female dog?

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2008, 21:39:28 PM »

Well I've just been to my yahoo mailbox (which I rarely check because I only set it up so that I could answer Yahoo Answers) and I've got 15 emails telling me my answer has been chosen as the best answer.

I assume they only send one email when your answer is chosen as the best answer? Oh well, at least someone is taking notice of my answers!

That place does make me despair at times though.

Hippykitty · « **Reply #37 on:** January 22, 2008, 14:25:32 PM »

Logical conclusion being: he should be killed for eating the cow that went into his shepherd's pie!

This is a bit like the old lady who swallowed a fly!!

blackcat · « **Reply #36 on:** January 21, 2008, 19:38:22 PM »

Quote from: Mark on January 21, 2008, 08:02:48 AM

I just get angry when I look at it. I'm sure half the questions are made up (well I hope they are!) I just saw one that said "How many of you like cats" - First I thought it was a dumb question as surely only cat lovers look at the cat section? - They went on to elaborate that they had trapped a cat in a cupboard. It had got in their house and eaten their budgie. Should they let their Python eat the cat? (also said the cat had a name tag saying Trixie) I hope it was just an attention-seeker - anyway, most of the answers were as dumb as the question

erm, no, the question was updated with the remark that if the snake should be killed for following its instincts and eating the cat (which was apparently the response of many posters) then logically the cat he had trappded in his house for killing his canary should therefore be killed for following its instincts ... Definitely a troll I hope ...

Michelle (furbabystar) · « **Reply #35 on:** January 21, 2008, 14:23:46 PM »

I posted something on there a couple of days ago -
Pointing out a) NOT TO LEAVE A CAT FOR A WEEK UNWELL , b) IF YOU CANT AFFORD TREATMENT THEN DONT GET A CAT, c) DECLAWING IS CRUEL AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE DONE and d) GET YOUR CATS "FIXED"

and...................My post was removed !!!!!!!

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #34 on:** January 21, 2008, 10:51:29 AM »

There are a lot of trolls and sometimes it's hard to tell whether someone is a troll or just an idiot. There are a lot of questions like "I cut off my cats whiskas for fun - will it harm him?" (that was on last night). And there are a lot of people with cats peeing outside the box who aren't really posting for advice but to say that they are getting rid of the stupid, ungrateful thing or something to that effect. Then there are those asking where they can get a cheap kitten from

I wrote a really long answer out last night for someone who said she was getting rid of her cat because it was peeing outside the box. She wanted to know whether the cat would forget her. I gave her loads of advice on how to try and deal with the problem so I hope she took it all in and is prepared to try out the advice and not give up on the cat just yet.

edit - one of my answers has been chosen as best answer

Hippykitty · « **Reply #33 on:** January 21, 2008, 08:09:49 AM »

I hope that was all fiction. But you never know with some people

Mark · « **Reply #32 on:** January 21, 2008, 08:02:48 AM »

I just get angry when I look at it. I'm sure half the questions are made up (well I hope they are!) I just saw one that said "How many of you like cats" - First I thought it was a dumb question as surely only cat lovers look at the cat section? - They went on to elaborate that they had trapped a cat in a cupboard. It had got in their house and eaten their budgie. Should they let their Python eat the cat? (also said the cat had a name tag saying Trixie) I hope it was just an attention-seeker

- anyway, most of the answers were as dumb as the question

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #31 on:** January 21, 2008, 07:59:47 AM »

Very valid point BC, it is nice to know you have been able to help someone, and make a change to their cats life.

blackcat · « **Reply #30 on:** January 20, 2008, 23:00:54 PM »

True, but you can also help people who are comprehensively ill-informed by providing them with new information. If we all sit in our own little world where everyone has the same basic knowledge set and the same basic outlook the world would be a pretty dull place. With the internet we can share ideas and thoughts. And ok, many of the ideas and thoughts out there are either comprehensively dumb or scary, but you can also change someones life a little bit and let them know they are not alone. I just got another best answer from someone who was having major probs and she seems to think I helped her sort out her thoughts - I think that is a wonderful thought to go to bed with tonight

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #29 on:** January 20, 2008, 21:45:02 PM »

The problem with the internet is that you have easy access to idiots all over the world. Before cyberspace, I was happily unaware that these people existed. It sometimes makes me despair of the human race.

blackcat · « **Reply #28 on:** January 20, 2008, 21:38:21 PM »

yes, you certainly have to dumb it down to the level of the asker, that's for sure ...

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #27 on:** January 20, 2008, 21:32:11 PM »

There seem to be some particularly idiotic people posting stupid questions at the moment. I just can't be bothered with them. I very much doubt that any of my answers will be chosen as a best answer since I tend to be rather direct over there (well, sometimes

) as I get impatient with some of the stupid questions and most of my answers are clearly not what the asker would like to hear!

blackcat · « **Reply #26 on:** January 20, 2008, 21:20:13 PM »

well I am feeling pretty chuffed right now, I have had three 'best answers chosen by asker' and two of them said spay your cat. NOW, only of course much more nicely than that. (the third one was tips on chatting up a recently widowed man ...

)

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2008, 00:09:44 AM »

The ones that get me are 'my cat has been sick for a week and hasn't eaten anything for 3 days and is lethargic and losing weight. what is wrong with him?' erm, take him to a vet you

There also seem to be quite a few on there from people wanting a 'cheap kitten'

I get really p'd off when I go on there, but all you can do is try to give a sensible answer where you think it might help.

Cheesecat · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2008, 23:56:34 PM »

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aqxsqgy_PqoryFJLJmLP.wQyLxV.;_ylv=3?qid=20080119143817AAtq64d

More unwanted kittens for this world...

maryas · « **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2008, 23:37:07 PM »

Yahoo

I'm amazed, or am I ? we all know how stupid some people can be BUT unfortunately some people are naive enough to believe the stupid advice.

The one that got me was the declawed one

I've had Bonnie since December, she is 10 and I love her to bits, however, she has clawed the seat and one of the arms on my leather settee - declaw her - NO WAY - I bought 2 small throw/blankets to put over the settee - SORTED!

Mary

Catjane · « **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2008, 13:22:35 PM »

I posted here about yahoo answers ages ago, but nobody replied - I thought nobody was interested

Good to see that some people ARE trying to do what little good we can there. I've already contacted them to suggest they put some sort of warning up, and to suggest a vet when your cat is ill, but obviously they either don't bother reading my emails, or just don't care.

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2008, 10:45:13 AM »

I wish I'd never discovered yahoo answers! I've just spend ages on there

There are some incredibly stupid people on there and I'm afraid I call a spade a spade and don't hold back. It's amazing how many people post about sick cats and say don't respond if the answer is take the cat to a vet. I try to ignore most of the stupid ones or ones where a lot of people have given a sensible answer, and just respond to the ones where I feel a different answer is needed or some re-enforcement of existing answers. The thing about a forum such as Purrs is that we all love cats and will go out of our way to do what's right for our furbabes. It's easy to forget that there are a lot of people out there who are very ignorant about cat care and some that don't really care all that much.

Garfield&Gypsy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2008, 10:26:24 AM »

OMG! some of the questions are crazy! I wish i didn't look!!

Some of the answers are appalling too, I do wonder about the mentality of some people I.e what can i do to stop my cats ear bleeding?

My Response - what are you doing posting on here get the poor fella to the vets asap! (i didn't post this it's what i thought!!)

Hippykitty · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2008, 10:54:28 AM »

I've joined too. My main answer to the questions is: get your cat spayed! There are masses of 'kittens' floating around on Yahoo Q's.

Mark · « **Reply #18 on:** January 08, 2008, 23:35:30 PM »

Quote from: Susanne (urbantigers) on January 08, 2008, 23:19:11 PM

Grrrr - I should never have taken a look! I've now had to register so that I could answer a couple of questions

Which ones did you answer?

Mark · « **Reply #17 on:** January 08, 2008, 23:26:56 PM »

Quote from: blackcat on January 08, 2008, 22:51:38 PM

I used to put a lot of time and energy into Yahoo answers because of the terrible answers some people were suggesting. But then I discovered Purrs so have not had time to go back to them since. It really was quite scarey some of the 'advice' that was offered, both in the pet section and in other parts of the forum!! Thanks Mark for saving me from that!!

Out of the frying pan...............

I also "pinched" rosiesmum from "that site" we aren't allowed to mention

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2008, 23:19:11 PM »

Grrrr - I should never have taken a look! I've now had to register so that I could answer a couple of questions

blackcat · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:51:38 PM »

I used to put a lot of time and energy into Yahoo answers because of the terrible answers some people were suggesting. But then I discovered Purrs so have not had time to go back to them since. It really was quite scarey some of the 'advice' that was offered, both in the pet section and in other parts of the forum!! Thanks Mark for saving me from that!!

Yvonne · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:43:05 PM »

Have you seen this one about cat breeding in Ireland?

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnTkKtr00KU7XIRpzKJJQEJJBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20061009140533AAzfxup

Mark · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:19:50 PM »

Someone has just posted "Kittens for sale in staffordshire?
has anyone got any kittens for sale? or know of anyone that has?
preferbley a girl

i live in lichfield

thanksssssssss "

I will report it as abuse as it's not a proper question.

unseeliechylde · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:16:28 PM »

Its bad enough that there are some folk who are just taking the p

, but I worry about genuine first time pet owners who don't know enough to tell the good advice from the bad, and the poor cats who have to suffer as a result.
I maintain people should have to have an assessment to determine their ability to take on a pet, and if they fail the assessment, to be put on an animal care course, even if only for a week, before being allowed any kind of animal.

Mark · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:11:48 PM »

Quote from: unseeliechylde on January 08, 2008, 22:09:55 PM

Geez Mark, you are braver than me - just had a look you could spend a lifetime correcting all the bull people come out with! I just feel sorry for all the cats who have to live with these people - did you see the question "do cats get aggressive when drunk?" - I mean, OMG!

Again, some of them post stupid fake questions as they think they are smart. The trouble is, you don't know what is real and what isn't

Mark · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:10:35 PM »

One question tonight is "How do I keep my cat out of my room"

There are some no-nonsense sensible answers like "close the door"

One of the answers was - keep your cat crated at night. If this doesn't work, shout at it to make it feel bad"

What kind of imbeciles think that is advice? - Often it's just people thinking they are smart and amusing. Basically it's a mess.

Yahoo are advertising it on their home page at the moment, saying "First time pet owner? - find the answers here" - that is scary

unseeliechylde · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:09:55 PM »

Geez Mark, you are braver than me - just had a look

you could spend a lifetime correcting all the bull

people come out with! I just feel sorry for all the cats who have to live with these people - did you see the question "do cats get aggressive when drunk?" - I mean, OMG!

dolcetta46 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:01:57 PM »

I look in once in a while for different subjects just for curiosity (or out of sheer boredom

) but that is definitely not the place to go to if I wanted a serious answer for my question.

But there are full of unthinking eejits in this world and a large caution in a noticeable spot would be a good idea, especially it deals with your dear pet. The problem is, this kind of people won't even notice/look at any warnings however big it may be written...

Den · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2008, 22:00:59 PM »

I've felt declawed cats feet and they just feel so incredibly wrong.

Mark · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:59:33 PM »

Quote from: Yvonne on January 08, 2008, 21:55:19 PM

Can we have a link Mark?

http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=ask&more=y

I normally just go to pets, then cats - just to see how many stupid answers there are that need contradicting

unseeliechylde · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:57:34 PM »

Declawing is one of the most horrific things I've ever heard of - I didn't know about it until quite recently, was reading some books on cat behaviour before getting my Riley-boy, and one of the books was written by an American lady. Thankfully, she was strongly against it, but it was only through that book that I found out about it. Was shocked that anything so cruel is still permitted as a routine procedure anywhere in the world - its barbaric!

Yvonne · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:55:19 PM »

Can we have a link Mark?

Mark · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:50:45 PM »

Nothing in particular - just looking at what questions people were asking about cats. One woman/girl in England was asking about indoor cats. An American recommended getting two, having them neutered and declawed

- I pointed out that luckily it is outlawed in the UK and other civilised countries and only happens in America although Animal welfare groups are working on it.

unseeliechylde · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:42:01 PM »

Yeah - I've found yahoo to be very hit-and-miss on a lot of things. What were you looking up, just out of interest?

Mark · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2008, 21:31:21 PM »

Really annoys me. I just had another look at the cat section and read some of the silly "advice" people are giving. I have sent Yahoo a suggestion that they have a heading stating that the answers are only people's opinion and should not be used in place of proper veterinary advice or treatment.

Anyway it says "We want to hear your suggestions" - lets see if they take this one up

Author Topic: Yahoo answers (Read 11019 times)