Yes. I agree with you.. I mean cool you're friend joined does it really need to be asked in a question??? And people seem to be more inclined to answer those questions than actual questions that actually require thinking.

yes i guess AB is moving towards social networking but i think this shift was inexorable once the site was opened up to social questions...

and what would be that problem? The third Arpanet 'email' sent was a recipe for potato salad.

When I first started in Sept. of 2006, somebody asked "Why do people ask questions that they could easily answer themselves using Google?" (http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91585) Here's what I thought then (10 days after starting): "I think there are different factors for different people and situations. Certainly laziness, ignorance of search engines, and wanting to hear a range of opinions occur sometimes. But another aspect is simply that it allows them to interact with others. Answerbag is a form of "social networking" website; talking to other people -- even virtually -- helps to reduce the sense of isolation we have sometimes. Its like asking "how are you doing" in a social setting; its not that the answer is all that crucial, its just the mechanics of social connection." Note that I had only been on the site for 10 days, and the points system had not yet been invented. So I think we're seeing a change in degree rather than kind. It's had the social networking aspect all along, but removing restrictions on the kind of questions that can be asked, and implementing the points system... those steps changed the ratio of social-to-serious.

I still think that AB has the main focus of answering questions and providing information. Yahoo Answers sounds like food served at a school cafeteria, sure... it's filling and good for you. Answerbag is more like dining in a fine restaurant with table cloths, fine tableware and waitstaff service. Which would you rather have?

I've actually found answers to some of my questions here. I can get a quick answer here sometimes, whereas if I google something I may need to sift through many pages of info before I get what I need.

Honestly, you aren't going to find any q&a site that lasts without a social feeling to it. Google Answers was a bomb. Yahoo, what a joke. This place seems a nice place to come to be able to get serious answers as well as socialize without fear of repercussion like on Y!A. It is inevitable that everything will change eventually. You can either fight it, leave it or accept it. When Y!A changed and I could stand it no longer, I left and came here.

I think many ask question here not only receive a answers but, answers with an opinion. Also I enjoy giving answers with a thought and best of all if I am wrong, I am corrected. So not only may I be helping sometimes but also learning. I have 46 years of experience in life, and those who are young here I do enjoy giving some answers from my experiences in life.

I think it is a bit more social but i love it! :)

Nelson I think the majority of us come here and stay just for the social networking aspect of AB. Sure alot of the questions asked here could be easily answered with google but sometimes some of us would like to get a wide range of opinions on a subject rather than the generic crap a search engine like google gives on it. Are there certain questions I can live without seeing being asked sure but I would not infringe on a person's right to ask them. I for one am sick of seeing people give very little information on a situation and then want us to tell them if their mate is cheating on them or not. Even better their partner beats them and calls them all kinds of names on a consistent basis should they stay and deal with it or leave. As much as I want to believe those kinds of questions have an obvious answer to them I would not infringe on a person's right to ask them. Maybe for all I know they don't know what to do and want other's advice or maybe this is a way for them to get attention they aren't getting at home or whatever. I for one think that if AB imposed rules that took away the social networking feel of AB a large majority of the membership would eventually leave the site.

If it were simply a question-and-answer site, I would not hang around. Anything you can find in a book doing research is not creative, nor thoughtful, nor whimsical, nor humorous, nor serious..therefore, it offers me nothing since I am perfectly capable of doing my own research. What I cannot look up is the various thoughtful points of view, opinions, experience shared by our members. If you want questions to which there are specific answers, and only one is right, there is the library, there is the internet, there is school! :)