Although it is helpful, I RARELY ask questions and am at level 66.

Not really, I am level 50 and have asked a handful of questions and don't answer a huge amount either.

no, most of my questions are unanswered anyway. I get points for answering. and noone forces you. you just get something for your efforts.

I don’t think so. But who am I to think.

my questions get so few answers....I don't ask many any more. Are you saying that your level will increase if you ask questions???? I'm not quite clear on this question. please enlighten me. thanks.

No force. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Asking Questions is not a requirement for gaining new levels. Gaining new levels is more of a reward for gaining points. You get points if others rate your questions and your answers. You can earn many points just for giving good answers as long as other answerbag members believe that they are good and/or helpful, therefore you do not need to ask questions to level up and so no, this website doesn't force you. I find that whenever I have a question I want to put out there, someone has already gone ahead and done it so I just read the answers that already exist and rate them if I have found them useful and I hope others do the same with my answers, it is a nice surprise when you get points for a question you answered ages ago. The points and levels are an acknowledgement of your input into the site. The points system may act as an incentive to stick with it but again, there is no force, or sinister mind manipulation behind it as far as I am concerned. However, the more active users on the site, the more advertising revenue the site can receive and the value of the site is increased which is an interest to potential investors, that is how many "free" websites make their money in case you were concerned, as a result you will be exposed to advertisements.

Gosh no. I have answered far more than I've asked and I have leveled at a respectable rate.