Why do you participate in WikiAnswers?

Answer 1

Our users speak out:

• Users participate in WikiAnswers because it is very fun! It is enjoyable for others to benefit from our extensive knowledge, and all the users that possess it. It's doing a good deed, because we share the answer to a question for the entire world to see.

• Contributors to WikiAnswers each have their own reasons for participating on the site. Some may enjoy researching and answering questions; some like to correct spelling and grammar errors. There's also the opportunity to help other people, make new friends, and become a part of the dynamic WikiAnswers community.

• I was asked a similar question soon after I became a supervisor on this site. At the time, I wasn't certain. I don't really recall how I answered it. But, last night, I thought about my experiences teaching.

Almost two years ago, I stumbled across the site. I had participated on several other question/answer sites, but just hadn't found any satisfaction. I was looking for something, but I wasn't certain what that something was. I still can't quite put a finger on it, but I know it is here. Part of it I do know. While I was a teacher, I made a difference, I contributed to something important. I was part of that thing. I belonged. On WikiAnswers I get those things too. Every time I ask or answer a question, every time I move an alternate (merge or split), every time I greet a member, help with a problem, stop a vandal…I contribute to something important, something that has value and that gives me value in return. I make a difference. Since at least that first time Brave3 approached me about becoming a supervisor, I started to belong. I'm a part of something larger than myself.

• Don't think I make too much of this. Above all else, I'm a realist. Like anything on the internet, parts of WikiAnswers will last forever. Will the site? I don't know. While the higher powers tolerate my eccentricities, I am here. What WikiAnswers has done for me is to help me build back the self-confidence I had when I was in the classroom. What WikiAnswers does is to help me help others. It has helped to empower me. I don't know if I will ever be permitted to be anything like I once was, but I won't stop trying. WikiAnswers has shown me that trying leads to some success. For that I'm grateful.
• I started it to find the answers to some of my questions but started liking it by giving answers to others' questions. I don't know when I fell in love with it, even though I do prowl on other community sites, but none of them satisfy my hunger of enjoyment and knowledge as this one. Today I not only love it, but am also proud of myself to be part of it. In one sentence I participate in WikiAnswers because l love it. :)
• I enjoy the intellectual exercise. I also like knowing I'm helping people. Many people have a hard time looking things up, and at this place, they can just ask and get an answer that helps them at once. I also like exposing the various financial scams and hoaxes that abound on the Net. That is my specialty, and I greatly enjoy the opportunity to help people against them.
• I first found this site just over two years ago when trying to find some information for my sister-in-law. Until I stumbled across WikiAnswers, I didn't know much about sites like this, but it was love at first site, literally.

  I love knowing that I have helped someone, that I have actually made a positive influence in the lives of people who needed help. I am the first to admit that many of my answers are short, very simple and basic answers, but to the asker they may mean the difference between a passing grade in school, or even knowing not to eat a specific food with certain medications, such as not eating grapefruit with Valium.

  But the part I love most are the questions that I see every now and then, those that tug at my heart strings, and I just know I have to give that question the best answer I can. It may take only a few minutes to type out a full, lengthy answer, or it may take me hours to write only one or two paragraphs. But it's the thought process as I'm writing the answer, and wondering and thinking about the one who asked the question that makes me want to give it my absolute best.

  I've shed tears as I've written some answers, while others have given me some good chuckles. But those that reallytouch me stay with me for a long time afterwards. When I get an email from one of these kids after exchanging numerous emails about their problems, telling me how well their life is going now, it makes every minute I spent emailing them worth all the time it took to get them to listen to reason. That's when I have one of my good cries. Tears of joy, joy for the kid who now has a better outlook on life, and a brighter outlook on their future.

  I have looked at other question and answer sites, but none even come close to WikiAnswers. I will be doing WikiAnswers for as long as I'm physically able, or as long as WikiAnswers exists, which ever is the longest.

• I fell in love with WA the moment my fingers touched it, I also like helping the other users that may be in need of a good slap. Also, I get an opportunity to improve my grammar skills and to meet awesome people.
• The reason I started to participate in WikiAnswers is different from why I choose to continue. I started because I'm a big fan of the New Orleans Saints and thought it'd be nice if I answered and organized all things about them. Later on as I continued to explore the site, I found there to be many interesting things to learn throughout it. That was from the questions and answers and from the community as well. The people I've met on WA have been a great influence on how I now perceive others in this world, and I can honestly say it was for the better.
• Because I am very proud to be here.
• I am on Answers.com because it is nice to answer questions that are important and useful. This question is possibly useful and important if you are thinking about joining Answers.com! It feels nice to know that you have helped someone, so thank YOU for asking this question.
• I'd rather do this than do the work I'm supposed to be doing in my school library.

• I'm bored and I'm pretty sure I have been on every other site on the web.

• I had a particular question that the normal search engines were not giving me the answer to. I found this website and was able to ask particular questions, enabling me to receive suggestions and answers.

• Since that time I have been able to ask many more specific questions. Share smatterings of knowledge by answering or adding upon other users answers. I have met a number of people that I otherwise would not have and during my time spent on this site have learned a number of things about various subjects. You never know what new question you will come across or tidbit or information you will find while researching a question.
• WikiAnswers gives me something new to learn every day. If someone asks a question and I don't know the answer, I can then research and answer it.

• I come to WA because it provides me a lot of unknown and unusual things in the field of knowledge along with some very friendly and helpful people.

• For me, the draw of WikiAnswers is that anyone can participate, and so it is a community teaching itself in a way... we all have something we want to learn, and we all have things that we can teach or share... and here, that all comes together. I love the fact that I can philosophize and still feel like I am helping people... and also that I can edit anything, anywhere, and the site lets me do that and doesn't make me write to the Webmaster. :)