[iltos]

an interesting article in the MIT tech review today, about folks who sit at their computer, dishing out help about any and all subjects.

from one such gent, who answers questions at yahoo answers

''This way here I can be grandpa to hundreds,'' Marchal said. ''A lot of people tell me this is the best advice they ever got.''

and, like the dedicated and technically knowledgeable volunteers here at tsg, businesses, too, are turning to expert voluteers in their online forums

Adobe Systems Inc., maker of Photoshop and other design software, also benefits from online volunteers. Murray Summers, a freelance Web developer in Spring City, Pa., spends up to 10 hours a day giving people advice on how to use Adobe's software on the company's Web forum, often starting at 6:30 a.m.

So far, this desire to help has resisted absorption by entreprenuers into a business model

Helping strangers for no tangible reward is a huge phenomenon online -- huge enough to have repercussions for the largest businesses. Yahoo sells ads on Answers, where visitors do most of the work, while other companies gratefully let volunteers provide online technical support.

Google Inc. started its Answers service four years ago, three years before Yahoo, but pulled the plug on it this December. One major difference between them: on Google Answers, the answerers were paid, at rates set by the askers.

Google didn't explain why it cancelled the service, but research company Hitwise estimated that free Yahoo Answers had 24 times as much traffic in October.

so....how to explain this?

''The underlying explanation for psychologists is that when you pay somebody to do something ... they get the feeling that they're not doing it because they enjoy it,''

''It's not that human nature has changed, it's that the cost of participation has been dramatically lowered,'' Rheingold said.

Patricia Wallace, author of ''The Psychology of the Internet,'' believes the anonymity of the online environment makes people more likely to take the risk of helping.

that's the view from the experts, anyway.....from those who enjoy helping, tho, it's a bit more basic

"'I really enjoy the community spirit, and when you work in your basement like I do, it's kind of like having someone in the next cubicle,'' he said.

ya just gotta respect that pov, methinks
what are your thoughts on this?

[Blackmirror]

I have often thought about online Samaritan work...... it would be fullfilling to help someone but there must be risks invlolved. and how do they vet you are suitable
...It is moderated like this forum or one to one help ??

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

I have often thought about online Samaritan work...... it would be fullfilling to help someone but there must be risks invlolved. and how do they vet you are suitable
...It is moderated like this forum or one to one help ??

you have months of training and lots of role playing till they think you've got it right but it's also down to your personality and attitude and having the ability to listen and not judge

[iltos]

Originally Posted by dotty999

you have months of training and lots of role playing till they think you've got it right but it's also down to your personality and attitude and having the ability to listen and not judge

you sound experienced, dotty....have you done anything like this before?

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by iltos

you sound experienced, dotty....have you done anything like this before?

something along those lines... yes

[iltos]

Originally Posted by dotty999

something along those lines... yes

well...you passed on the interviews and tests and profiles....did you find it fun and rewarding?

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by iltos

you sound experienced, dotty....have you done anything like this before?

Now if one can just get people to answer a simple question!

[BanditFlyer]

Great thread. Very interesting topic.

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by iltos

well...you passed on the interviews and tests and profiles....did you find it fun and rewarding?

it's certainly not fun, but it reaps many rewards, thankfulness that I could in any small way help someone, pride in doing so and a sense of achievement for every time someone thanks you for just being there so they don't feel alone at a time which is critical in their lives

[DiSaidSo]

On Yahoo Answers, the users vote on the answers. I thought I'd try it out last Spring and I asked about some radar terminology. I googled, I clicked the "help" link on the site, and I couldn't figure it out. I got about 3 or 4 answers to my question back. It's not like this is common knowledge stuff, you know? But there were many more votes on the answers and the one that got the most votes was indeed the best answer.

It goes along with the Wiki mentality that a thousand regular people will have more knowledge than one expert. I know that I have received so much help from the internet because I think, "If these people don't know, then someone will be along shortly who will definitely know." And also, it is so very rewarding when you do help someone. It's kind of that feeling of, "Hey! I'm good at something!"

And that is why YOU are Time's Person of the Year 2006! If you don't get it, you should read the article... very interesting and relevant to this thread.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by dotty999

it's certainly not fun, but it reaps many rewards, thankfulness that I could in any small way help someone, pride in doing so and a sense of achievement for every time someone thanks you for just being there so they don't feel alone at a time which is critical in their lives

hmmm....this sounds like it has something to do with "real" stuff....the stuff of people's lives....not goofy trivia questions or "important" technical questions....if you'd rather not say, i'm good with that, but you've piqued my curiosity....

what'd you do online, dotty?

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by iltos

hmmm....this sounds like it has something to do with "real" stuff....the stuff of people's lives....not goofy trivia questions or "important" technical questions....if you'd rather not say, i'm good with that, but you've piqued my curiosity....

what'd you do online, dotty?

I no longer do it iltos but your quite correct, I used to work on an online crisis helpline until I started to work the night shift

[iltos]

Originally Posted by dotty999

I no longer do it iltos but your quite correct, I used to work on an online crisis helpline until I started to work the night shift

wow...good for you, dotty
i can see where that would not be fun, but feel very rewarding...

again...if your done with this, i understand...but i'm the kinda guy that asks bunches of questions....just tell me to stop, and i will

was it hard for you to leave the "job" at the "office"?....that would be the hardest thing for me.

[dotty999]

Originally Posted by iltos

wow...good for you, dotty
i can see where that would not be fun, but feel very rewarding...

again...if your done with this, i understand...but i'm the kinda guy that asks bunches of questions....just tell me to stop, and i will

was it hard for you to leave the "job" at the "office"?....that would be the hardest thing for me.

I didn't leave my job, I worked during the day and worked voluntarily in the evening till late but now I work the night shift so unfortunately I had to give the helpline up

[iltos]

Originally Posted by dotty999

I didn't leave my job, I worked during the day and worked voluntarily in the evening till late but now I work the night shift so unfortunately I had to give the helpline up

sorry, i confused you....i was asking if working with people in crisis made it hard to turn off the computer and go back to your life...i can see where i'd have a hard time with that.