Why Do So Many Askvilleans Only Cut And Paste Answers From Wikipedia?

[gaylen]

If that's all there is to it, why not rename this internet site "Wikipediaville?" If so many individuals really feel the want to only backup wikipedia's answers subsequently shouldn't the right response to each and every dilemma be, "Search it up on wikipedia?" Why need to men and women get coins for cut and paste?

[Ingalls]

In my opinion, if the question can be THAT easily answered, then the question-asker deserves to have a cut-and-paste answer. If the question is "Who is(insert person here)?" and that person has a decent Wikipedia article... you bet that I'm going to cut and paste at least the relevant parts, if not all of it.  I'd also at least try to add the official website of that person, if they had one. If a question is more of an opinion-related question(or something like this), or more of a how-to question, then I will offer my expertise, but I will also try to find a relevant website that either shares my opinion or contributes to my answer in some way.

[Adwr]

The ones that answer through Wiki only, are usually experts in nothing but the Internet. However, I, too have answered questions & added links to Wiki & other "answer" sites to help clarify what the person was asking or to back up my personal opinion answer.   I tend to head for questions that require more input than "see this Wiki article"...BUT many times(& I looked at your profile and see you ask many questions) people are asking questions just so they can get coins, not so they can get an answer to a real question or to see if others on here share their opinions.    I?ve noticed lots of these types of questions get ?Wiki? answers: Who were the main characters in That 70?s show? What is the fastest land speed record? Who hold the record for tallest man? You get the point.  These are questions the person could?ve answered on their own by heading to Wiki, not Askville.    To Sum it Up: Some of the people using Wiki have little knowledge in the question they're answering, some just want to answer in a way that lets the inquirer know they could've found the answer themselves within a few minutes by hitting a search engine.   Sources: My Askville Experience   Spatzie~Lover's Recommendations Read, Think, Cut & Paste Amazon List Price: $5.99 Used from: $3.83 This is all some people know how to do...& sometimes it's all the answer requires. Spatzie~Lover 81 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Braoin]

I'm actually tempted to cut and paste on of my most recent answers.The answer didn't come from Wikipedia,but it's an answer to this question.

[Kunz]

Let's face it, I think that the main reason Askvillers cut and paste whole answers from Wikipedia is that it is an easy way to get coins/experience points.  It is certainly much easier than writing a cohearant answer that specifically answers the question asked. As for whether coins should be given for cut and paste, I think it depends.  Let's say I ask the question "how did the Rocky Mountains form?" and get two answers.  Answerer A pastes a multipage article on the Rockies from Wikipedia with the words "your answer is in here" in the summary line.  Answerer B also uses Wikipedia but instead cuts out the part of the article that is specifically on point to the question asked, and gives some of their own feedback and maybe links another source or includes a widget that takes me to a book that gives more information.  In this situation I would give Answerer A an "okay" or "weak" rating because I do not think he has done anything to earn points(especially since I know exactly how to look up information on Wikipedia).  Answerer B would get a good or great rating because he answered the question specifically and gave some of his own commentary and in that case I think he should get some credit.  Of course Answerer C who gave an answer written in his own words and based on multiple sources gets a great rating right away.

[Dunne]

It is easy to use Wikipedia for cut and paste Let's face it, I think that the main reason Askvillers cut and paste whole answers from Wikipedia is that it is an easy way to get coins/experience points.  It is certainly much easier than writing a cohearant answer that specifically answers the question asked. As for whether coins should be given for cut and paste, I think it depends.  Let's say I ask the question "how did the Rocky Mountains form?" and get two answers.  Answerer A pastes a multipage article on the Rockies from Wikipedia with the words "your answer is in here" in the summary line.  Answerer B also uses Wikipedia but instead cuts out the part of the article that is specifically on point to the question asked, and gives some of their own feedback and maybe links another source or includes a widget that takes me to a book that gives more information.  In this situation I would give Answerer A an "okay" or "weak" rating because I do not think he has done anything to earn points(especially since I know exactly how to look up information on Wikipedia).  Answerer B would get a good or great rating because he answered the question specifically and gave some of his own commentary and in that case I think he should get some credit.  Of course Answerer C who gave an answer written in his own words and based on multiple sources gets a great rating right away. Sources: Me Mistral 81 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Jagger]

BrainBuilder_is_gone said: 1 I'm actually tempted to cut and paste on of my most recent answers.The answer didn't come from Wikipedia,but it's an answer to this question. 81 months ago

[Quinton]

Late2Serenity said: 2 I've been wondering the same thing, especially since Wikipedia is not the most accurate information source out there. 81 months ago

[Digon]

I've been wondering the same thing, especially since Wikipedia is not the most accurate information source out there.

[Dannie]

Wikipedia In my opinion, if the question can be THAT easily answered, then the question-asker deserves to have a cut-and-paste answer. If the question is "Who is(insert person here)?" and that person has a decent Wikipedia article... you bet that I'm going to cut and paste at least the relevant parts, if not all of it.  I'd also at least try to add the official website of that person, if they had one. If a question is more of an opinion-related question(or something like this), or more of a how-to question, then I will offer my expertise, but I will also try to find a relevant website that either shares my opinion or contributes to my answer in some way. Sources: my opinion. celeste_ 81 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.