What is the difference between Answers and Mahalo?

Answer 1

Both Answers.com and Mahalo are question and answer Web sites where people can ask about what they don't know and share with others what they do. Some of the key differences between the sites is that Q&As on Answers.com are in wiki format - which means they are editable by anyone from anywhere at anytime; essentially dynamic or "living" content. Mahalo's format is more static in nature as answers are not editable once posted. Answers.com has a system in place to prevent duplicate questions from being asked over and over again. Mahalo does not have this functionality; rather the same questions are asked time and time again - requiring people to have to wade through countless "same-as" Q&As.

Another inherent difference between the sites is "expiration" of the open question and answer process. Mahalo limits the time questions remain open and answers can be posted, while Answers.com Q&As are never closed. This is especially beneficial when looking at questions that will have different answers as time passes. For example, "Who won the most recent Super Bowl?" On Answers.com, contributors can update this year after year. On Mahalo... you get whatever answer has expired and become part of the permanent database. And last, but not least, is community. Answers.com has a community that is second to none - made up of intelligent, selfless people from all over the world who fundamentally believe in the sharing of knowledge for the greater good.