Why do people answer a question if they don't know the answer?

Answer 1

From observations from numerous question and answer forums, here are some of the possibilities.

1. General good faith and desire to help, regardless of familiarity with the material. The warm, fuzzy feelings may override common sense. It is much too important of an issue to remain quiet about, right?

2. Desire to appear intelligent or impress others. Some people have the need to appear intelligent. So they adlib and guess at the answer. Often, they are close, but there may also be overgeneralization, unsourced statements, or bias.

3. Pride or ego. Some people want to answer to prove something. It is much like someone in a bar who is intoxicated, obviously ignorant, and yet very vocal, with an anwer for everything.

4. The desire to promote an agenda. Too many people answer questions in ways that don't answer what is asked but instead promotes peer pressure, political correctness, moralization, or preconceived notions. If a person asks what is the best brand of cigarettes, they are not asking whether cigarettes are harmful or whether smoking makes them a bad person.

Answer 2

Because the foolish always believe themselves to be the wisest.