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MamaFrog
Lv 4
MamaFrog asked in Yahoo ProductsYahoo Answers · 1 decade ago

Why do voters, or even askers themselves, so often pick the wrong answer as the best one?

Example: Recently someone asked for the French translation of "in care of." Several people answered "aux [bons] soins de," which is correct. But when I noticed that others had answered "à l'attention de," I decided to jump in and explain that this is actually the translation of the English indication "Attention." (I didn't think to add that, in fact, "Attention" might be described as the opposite of "In care of," since it directs the message to a specific person within a group or an organization, whereas "c/o" makes it clear that the person charged with delivering the message is not the intended recipient, but merely a go-between.) After I posted my reply, someone else posted the answer "à l'attention de" again... and went on to garner three votes!

Would it help if askers allowed e-mails to be sent to them? Wouldn't this allow people who truly wish to provide them with a correct answer (rather than just accumulate useless points) to follow up on a question even after it is closed?

Update:

Or could it be askers don't understand that their e-mail address is not revealed to the sender, that it's all done anonymously via Yahoo! Answers?

Update 2:

Angelo: This is not about revisiting the original question. I was merely stating it as an example of a wrong answer being chosen over a correct one, even AFTER it has been clearly explained that the first one is wrong! That is what THIS question is about: why do so many people still choose the wrong answer?

Try2bhelpful: I wouldn't want my e-mail address divulged either, which is why I would NEVER include it in any of my answers. It took me a while to understand this, but when you select in your profile to allow people to contact you, your address remains hidden from them. It's all done with text boxes, just like when you post a question or an answer.

Update 3:

Yoda: According to the Yahoo! Answers FAQ, this is neither a forum not an opinion poll; "it's the place to ask questions and get real answers from real people." When I ask a question – whether it's about a song title or how to say such-and-such in a foreign language or the name of a Web site I want to find – I'm hoping for a valid answer from someone who knows, not guesses or "opinions" from people who don't have a clue.

5 Answers

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  • makeitright
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Since these people who ask are often not informed, they depend on true answers. You and I both know that does not always happen. Some are teenagers and they will vote for their best friend to get points. It is just a silly game sometimes. If they allow email, I trust them a lot more than those that choose not to receive. However, I have experienced some very ugly email responses and stopped email for a few days to eliminate this. I wish I had seen your question. Sorry this happened to you.

    I still would not want my email revealed as my true email and I hope you share the same feelings.

    Source(s): Experience
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    A L'attention de is used specifically when addressed to a person or a group,

    ie: a l'attention des developpeurs, a l'attention de la direction

    While as you said Au Bon Soins is more like saying I will leave xxxx in the good hands of Mr or Mrs X.

    But there are many ways to use the same phrases that it can be confusing.

  • spry
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    i like it the two procedures: while that is thousands of electorate, it makes me experience "chosen", yet because of the fact that initially, I responded it for the asker, i like for that guy or woman to make your concepts up on. Yeah....10 factors the two way.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Most just want to garner the points for voiting selection and are really paying attention what they are doing, taking the first or second answer

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Whether an answer is wrong or not doesn't enter into it where this forum is concerned,, They are simply asked for their opinion and they give it ,,,,, It's simply an opinion pole nothing else ,,,,,,

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