search homework answers

A:I do get annoyed sometimes- especially when they don't even bother to attempt the problem before posting it. HOWEVER, I get even more annoyed at armchair economists who think that they know something about econ because their brother's cousin's girlfriend's sister told them that she saw something about the economy on the news- or maybe it was on MTV- and then spew their ignorance as if it were a badge of accomplishment. Equally irritating are he people who got Bs in their intro to micro and macro classes and now think that they know everything there is to know about economics.

A:I think it's fine if it's a math question (because 9 times out of ten they're looking for the way to do the question, not the answer). Likewise, if someone needs help with a word or phrasing something in an essay, because once they know, they'll be able to apply it on their own. What really gets me is when people rattle off a list of twenty questions about some book and expect people to sit down and answer them. If you're too lazy to read the book and too lazy to Google it, then why should I spend 30min answering questions about what the conch represents in Lord of the Flies? (It's civilization, by the way) And how often does anyone get an answer to those questions anyway? It's one thing if you are seeking clarification of a concept, but another thing completely if you're looking for someone else to provide the cookie-cutter answers to your cookie-cutter questions.

A:While I agree with your comments about the bottom feeding school kids who are too lazy to type the subject they are looking into their search window, would not the History section you are proposing aide and abet them? Some of these kids act as though they are merely interested in history and you know by reading between the lines of their question that they are sniffing around for someone to do their homework. And this really is NOT a discussion forum (or it's not supposed to be) but instead a question and answer forum. Although, even that seems a bit out of place since most answers to questions that are asked could EASILY be found on the Web. I have found very few questions that could not easily be answered if both kids and adults stopped being so lazy (or ignorant) and utilized the Web for something more than the lazy man's research tool otherwise known as Yahoo Q&A.

A:What, and take away all the fun for the rest of us? 8^)

A:Well, if they are cheating, it wouldn't just be at Yahoo. You can't stop someone from cheating at homework. The only way you can do that is to sit down with that person and watch him do it himself. That's the parent's job, assuming he/she has time and the inclination to do so. A true measure of a student's knowledge is in the test. Yahoo Answers won't help a student there. When I see someone asking for homework help, I assume that he is looking for honest help and not just the answer. Not only will I give the answer, but I'll explain how I came to that conclusion. This hopefully gets the student rolling in that direction so he can do his other questions. If someone writes out the question, I'm going to assume he needs help. For example, it is pretty easy for many people to solve for x: x + 5 - 5x -10 = 2x. It would have taken a student less time to solve it than to write it in. So, if a student takes the effort to type it in, then he clearly does need help. It's not laziness (or he just sucks at being lazy). I will eventually ignore someone who posts eight similar questions that are obviously from his assignment. I'm fine with answering a question or two to get the ball rolling. If someone thinks he can just copy and paste the answers, then I won't play ball. I'm interested in only teaching the student how to fish...I won't give him fish beyond the first one. Oh, and I am 35. I certainly am not using the forum for homework help. I frequent forums dedicated to the software I use and ask questions there...it's like homework help but it's to help me in my job.