Ask a question online, get an answer...sometimes

(continued from previous page)

The question that elicited the second most-responses was "What should I do if I find that I am underdressed or inappropriately attired at a wedding?"

The Library of Congress said that "as a matter of policy" it does not offer "personal advice or make judgements (sic) of any kind," before referring me to two books on etiquette--John Morgan's "Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners" and Emily Post's "Etiquette," 17th edition. Yahoo users, meanwhile, were quick with humorous quips, common sense tips and motherly advice.

"Once you get to the wedding it is too late to do much but hang around in the background," one person wrote. "Dress business casual. Nothing too low cut or high hemmed," another advised. A third passed on this sage tip: "My mom said, always wear a plain skirt and blouse with jewelry. It looks dressy enough for anything."

Some respondents gave tough love. "Brazen it out," wrote a Yahoo user. "If nothing else, remember you've given people something to talk about. Just try to make sure they don't do it in hushed tones behind your back."

The question that prompted the fewest responses was one related to rheumatoid arthritis and how best to treat it, with suggestions ranging from trying specific medications to doing yoga and changing diet.

One of the questions related to a recent news event--Vice President Dick Cheney's shooting of a hunting buddy--"With what frequency are nonfatal hunting accidents prosecuted?"

Someone at Georgia Southern University provided two Web addresses to help answer the question posed at Virtual Reference Desk: the Criminal Justice Journalists' News Center and a link to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports Web page, which was broken.

Several people gave humorous responses to the hunting-shooting question. "Really depends if you are the Vice President or just John Doe from the trailer park," and "I'm guessing you have to be a senator" were two such responses. Another Yahoo user said: "NONE are prosecuted...that's why they are called ACCIDENTS."

Another popular question that elicited more personal responses than medical facts was "Is marijuana addictive?"

The Library of Congress again offered three book references, but prefaced the answer by saying, "The jury is still out on whether or not marijuana is addictive." A medical doctor at AllExperts.com responded simply, "Yes, it is addictive" and two responses from people on Wondir.com also were in the affirmative.

A paid researcher on Google Answers provided links to two Web sites for the official answer, after apparently doing a simple Web search. The links were the Wikipedia Cannabis health Web page and the Brown University Student Services Web site, which said: "More and more studies are finding that marijuana has addictive properties. Both animal and human studies show physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms from marijuana, including irritability, restlessness, insomnia, nausea and intense dreams."

Some Yahoo users' responses came from personal experience. Several respondents said marijuana was not physically addictive, but is psychologically addictive and habit forming.

"Pot is just one of a long list of products, heroin, wine, beer, etc. that screen out reality," one person wrote. "You can get addicted to screening out reality, but it really isn't a good strategy for life."

[inachu]

From a historical perspective......

askme.com was the best Q&A site out there until the tore it down.

I think this was a very bad business choice to make.

A. repeat customers to your site.
B. Exposure to millions
C. I bet their client base is not as big as it used to be.

[yoyology]

LOC is good, but...

...I would have recommended trying your local public library's "Ask a Librarian" service. If you are the Elinor Mills living in Hanover, PA, you can go to <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.yorklibraries.org/AskUsLive/askuslive.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.yorklibraries.org/AskUsLive/askuslive.htm</a> and try your local library's virtual reference service. A local public library is likely to be more responsive to a local question than the Library of Congress is. At least, that's the way we do it at my library.

[volterwd]

Its all about the question

if you ask when does life begin you first have to define life, what do you expect?

and if your asking hot questions like the marijuana one do you really expect a good answer?

[txbyrd]

Offer chickenfee, get scratchins

This writer claims to critique online answer services, and the claims may be valid as applied to free services. But when s/he posts 5 questions at Google Answers at the cheapest price possible, s/he hasn't got a let to stand on for complaining about getting *any* answer. Despite the fact that some users seem to regard Google Answers as a glorified newsgroup (which it is NOT), Researchers there are working for money, not hanging out on a free advice board like Wondir or Yahoo Answers.

On a $2 question, the Researcher will earn $1.50. How much work would this writer be willing to do for that? Probably much less than it took to research, compose and post the paid answer that was received, the snide remark about a "simple search" notwithstanding. Although many Researchers often provide far more work and information than the paltry pay would warrant, there is still the sage advice to consider, i.e. "you get what you pay for."

Next time, try posting a question at the maximum price, and see what you get.

[Kilohoku]

Judgment vs. judgement, and needless pedantry

Dissing someone with the needless use of a (sic) for an alternative
spelling is hopeless. The English language marches on, and
judgement is entering acceptable use.

See <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/" target="_newWindow">http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/</a>
english_grammar_style/spell_judgment.html for agood take on
this, and welcome to the 21st century!

[noa_lif]

Pay to get a high quality answer fast

All the web sites you checked except for Google Answers are free, and the minimal fee at Google Answers is almost free. There are other web sites where you can get fast and accurate live expert advice, providing you are willing to pay.

[brownsugar17]

digital camera

I have a aol photo cam plus digital camera and i can't download my photos on this computor when i connect my usb plus to this computor i get a error message what do i do.

[tedconn]

Try taking the mouse out of your mouth first.

[Coach Knox]

Jayhawk invititational

Does any one have infromation on this tournament in Lawrence Kansas this weekend

[Coach Knox]

how does this work

First time aboard this how do you get your answers

[Coach Knox]

how does this work

how does this reply work how do you get your answers

[hazim56]

i have this question ( Describe standards for dial Network Layer services )
Please help me.

[lilnovi]

you are about to venture on a life journey needed for your own personal growth.?
...what does all that mean??????

[rajeshiete]

Hi,

I am using intel 865gvhz mother board with pentium-4 2.8 GHz processor(HT). My motherboard got damaged and when i give for repair, they are saying that my processor is pin type and it cannot be used with new motherboards.
If I will replace both of the motherboard 865GVHZ and also my DDR-1 RAM, then my problem will solve or not? Can anyone suggest what to do??

- Rajesh (New Delhi, India)

[getmark28]

I have a delimma. I have a 3 month old 42" Samsung LCD 1080p Flat screen TV. I accidentally bumped into the screen with a grocery sack of canned goods and caused "impact dage". I call a licensed repair dealer in southwest MO and was told it would cost @ $750.00 to repair. Well I can get a 40" Samsung about anywhere for $750 or less. Does it really cost that much to repair impact damage to an LCD screen....Thanks...Mark
getmark28@yahoo,com

[sanketsuman]

is any hulk game in cnet download..........

give me link please....................