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Q: Why do people here answer questions when they don't have an answer?
Really.
If someone asks a stupid question, then ok, they have opened the field for sarcastic stupid answers.
But when someone asks a normal serious question, it seems like some people jump to answer first even though they have not answered a thing. Like..."you should google it". Gee really? I bet they never thought of that.
Is it just me noticing this? In the good old days when people had no answer the question would just sit until someone did.
Fully agree. But greed enters into mind, those 2, 3 or 4 points look promising. I see many questions with 10 comments that do not answer it, and maybe one or two valid solid answers. Maybe some wish to reach 8,000 points as soon as possible, I can think of some names.
Also, we should address many really stupid questions posted here, who cares what my Xmas resolutions were, or how many times I feed the fish in my aquarium each day ?.
I am begining to ignore "those" questions, and only reply those I consider interesting.
Xpat.John:
I agree with you, I try to ignore the fluff questions (unless some snark is just too much fun) and just provide solid info where I can. But lately, if I just answered questions that really needed answers, I would have no need to visit this site.
Well, I'm certainly guilty in the past of posting a quip or two (or three). However, if I seriously do not know the answer, I usually try to let someone more knowledgeable on the subject post first, and then come in with a (hopefully) humorous comment.
But, that being said, the obviously dumb questions get little to no consideration in this, because if the question is not serious (the recent "sex slaves" comes to mind) then it is more an attitude of having fun with the answer. I enjoy reading the comments, and have learned quite a lot of about what others think and know here. I look at the questions as being in a few different catagories: Some need serious answers, others are "fluff," and a few are downright silly.
thedude:
Very true about the 3 different kinds of questions. I am guilty myself sometimes of posting silly questions.
giadrosich:
That's quite alright, 'cause those are the most fun to answer!
Being one of the guily party involved.... I do try to answer the question if it is a serious one (unless they are asking the exact question that someone asked two days ago, then I just post the link). If it is a stupid question then they'll get a stupid answer, or something that noone would normally be able to answer without googling it then i'd tell them to stop being lazy cause we can't tell you how many elevators exist in shopping malls in shanghai.
That being said, I do find myself at times weak, when a question is asked and it just pops some stupid comment in my head that I need to get out. I do my best to walk away from the question and give some time for a real answer to get the extra points.... but if I come back and there's still no answer, I can't control myself.
giadrosich:
Your last paragraph states my feeling exactly! Thanks for saying what I was trying to say!
thedude:
No I don't think you are guilty any more than me at times. I was mostly talking about certain other people here.....and none of them have answered this question so far.
derek:
DaBen, I think that pasting the link to the previous time the topic was raised is helpful. At least you went thru the process of locating it. Thumbs up I say.
There's a person in particular who keeps posting questions that have nothing to do with China, and they are often ridiculous. Why aren't they taken down? Isn't this forum only for China-related questions? Obviously it is all about the points. I think the stupid questions come partly from the fact that no one has a real question anymore, and partly from annoyance at other stupid things. After all, as expats, we know all the general stuff, we don't have that many questions left.
derek:
Jnusb, do I detect a recent sharpness in some of your responses? I like it! You have an edge now that wasn't present some months ago.
Jnusb416:
Well, derek, I tend to be a very shy person when I first meet people. After I get to know people better, I open up and sometimes act goofy or sarcastic. I think the regulars here all have a sort of understanding of each other, and we've gotten a feel for personalities. You guys are almost like an online family. Almost.
aww Grasshoper, you must ponder the question, the answer lies within. One can not attain enlightenment from another mans words alone.
thedude:
Oh wise master, enlighten me, what is the meaning of your wisdom?
TedDBayer:
You must go to Temple of Massage Parlour, there you will be cleansed, Then you must face 10 trials. You must have 10 temple maidens distract you while you meditate and seek enlightment. What you seek will come. I will accompany you for guidance and seek my own maidens..
Shining_brow:
Oh, curse me and my stupidity! No wonder I remain an ignorant fool! I've been seeking enlightenment while meditating at the Temple-salon of Hair Re-sizing After Midnight..... I'm sorry to have failed you so, master....
TedDBayer:
Shining, as attonement for you mistake, you must suffer with twenty maidens. Be sure to ask for group discount. Temple -Salon is for Sacred Head Shaving Ceremony. This can only be preformed by a pure and young maiden. She must acquire the skill to hold the razor between her breasts and never touch you with her hands. This is a very rare and special maiden. Have you had our head shaved lately? It is the first step in the journey of one thousand steps, to Temple Massage Parlour.
I don't know enough about China to answer a lot of the questions, but I will answer those I think I can help with whether it is stuff I've learned from you guys or from googling it or other resources I've read.
Most of my stuff I just add as a comment. If it bugs anyone, let me know. You can bite me 
I've learned a lot here that they don't tell you on the tourism sites or in the books, and, for the most part, I value different opinions and therefore, enjoy the discussions on many of the questions, even a couple of the inane ones from yaya-ass.
thedude:
Oh Hugs....don't worry....I think we all know who I am talking about. ;) Stupid questions are fun to answer sometimes, and i am not sure if anyone has noticed, but I have started answering all of a certain persons questions with snark now....as have many other people.
HugAPanda:
I only read through those questions now for the snarky comments. Sometimes I laugh so hard I snort.
TedDBayer:
i got tired of those posts and made a series of comments, I got a 2 day vacation and my award winning posts faded into nothing
with all due respect, you guys take this forum too seriously.
Does it really matter in your life how people answer questions to certain questions.
Pondering.... "What is the right protocol in this situation" ?
Really? Really?
Not trying to be rude here but im just saying...
So..who are they?....
All sites got all kinds of ppl, ppl come and leave. I'm trying to accept this truth now
Well you can google it. A lot of the answers you could find on google. For instance a class on photoshop.http://www.beijing-classes.com/classes.php?classID=29&menuName=Photoshop
Straight from Google. All I did was type in Photoshop in Beijing like the question asked and I found it. So why couldn't the other person unless they are computer illiterate or don't know how to use Google.
There have been some one answer questions like, "yeah or sure". Which I don't really get at all. If they want to agree with something just put that sort of remark under someone's comment.
Also you can't answer a question with a question and I've seen that happening a lot. Like on one of my questions: What does China look Like? Somebody replied with: What does Kasgar Look like?
Well for example this one here is kind of an open question isn't it?
I can say really what I want can't I?
Oh no I just answered a question with a question,,, do I see a potential new topic?
HugAPanda:
Don't let yaya catch you answering a question with a question! You'll blow up his brain!! Or something.
Shining_brow:
Not really...by not applying correct punctuation, ie the comma, it looks like the whole sentence is just one big question... it's not. it's a statement, which should be followed by a comma, with a tag question added at the end. Nice try though, yeah?
