# Why Do People Answer Other People's Questions?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 26, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203 "2002-03-26T16:55:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/21 "2002-03-28T13:14:35Z")

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Do I _really_ have to answer this question?  
[sub]Aw c’mon, 19 replies and no one’s said it yet?! Well, someone had to do it… _ducks out of thread nimbly_[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/22 "2002-03-28T14:02:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Surreal \*  
> \*\*Not much. \*\*

Why did you answer **lieu** ’s question?

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**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/23 "2002-03-28T15:52:48Z")

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Good point. I was hoping maybe **lieu** would reciprocate and answer _my_ question.

And I’m answering _your_ question just to put this thread back to the top!

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/24 "2002-03-28T17:58:54Z")

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It’s kind of like playing _Trivial Pursuit_ on a really big board. The masses can verify that your understanding of a matter was indeed correct and you can often learn a lot just by browsing some interesting topics. It’s give 'n take. I don’t come here with just questions or just answers, but with a mix.

As for the opinions, again it’s nice to either see your viewpoint supported by others, or to be exposed to an angle you’d not previously considered.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/25 "2002-03-28T18:02:58Z")

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Oh yeah, sometimes I’m just freakin’ wrong and this way I can blush in private.

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**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/26 "2002-03-28T22:05:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jmonster \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Torture rodents? \*\*

No, no that’s what this board does! How many hamsters have suffered to provide this board with a functionning server? 🙂

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/27 "2002-03-28T22:36:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Munch \*  
> I’ve always been under the impression that someone was keeping score.

Funny, I’ve always been under _the fear_ that someone was keeping score! 🙂

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**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-other-peoples-questions/100203/28 "2002-03-29T08:47:22Z")

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Because

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