1) "Answerbag was founded in July 2003, by Joel Downs and acquired in early 2006 by Infosearch Media. However, on October 3, 2006, Answerbag announced it would join with Demand Media." "On August 1, 2007 Answerbag publicly announced the creation of community leader roles, who are chosen by site staff to help moderate the site and manage content." Source & further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answerbag 2) "Who owns Answerbag?" "Demand Media. But it [is] run by the lovely AB staff, who owned it originally" Source & further information: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/102616 Further information: http://www.answerbag.com/about/ 3) Answerbag has a great number of satisfied users, who seem to generally approve the job of the staff. If you are unsatisfied with the service, the best way is to fill a feedback form (using the "Feedback" link at the bottom of the page). It is certainly not appreciated to insult the site staff or other users, whether in a feedback nor in questions, answers or comments. Netiquette is the magic word. This site is privately owned. The staff members have their own opinions and choices, and may appreciate some particular users more than others. If there is a conflict between users, those opinions and choices could play a role, even if generally speaking, some kind of neutrality is the goal. Some decisions are taken by the Community Leaders. If you suspect that a Community Leader (CL) is taking wrong decisions, you could make a feedback about it. If the staff agrees with you, the CL could be told to avoid this. If a CL is making too many bad decisions, they could lose their status.

Big suprise that this question gets DRed. The reality is that people on here just want your typical PC answers. God forbid anybody actually think about the issue and be concerned about the consequences in the real world we live. You are right on with this question. Mine from yesterday got marked as offensive when I was using sarcasm to make a point. Screw the damn points, continue to share your views. Here come my downrates.

I dont have a problem with the staff or users i come on for a laugh and see if i can help by answering question and i dont take it to serious...if given time its a relly good site.

You should refer any links of concern to either a CL or someone with "Staff" by their name. You can also reach them via the feedback link at the bottom of every page.

The admins or the Community Leaders run this site.

Is this question a joke? A test? or what. Who are these GROUPS? What murder are some people getting away with? Yes there is a certain amount of hypocrisy, but I do not see that is Joels fault. This question seems to me to be one to try to instigate drama and discontent among the newer members because established members are aware that all things in life are not equal. That is not just Answerbag , that is life.

Tex, We all know whose running AB ... But thank you for having the fortitude to post this question, and the b^lls to state what so many others are thinking, but don't dare say.

The owner is running it

Who are you speaking of who gets away with murder?

I disagree. They do a fine job of dealing with all of us. Sure, we may disagree with some decisions they make, but, I imagine they deal with hundreds of decisions every day. If you are an idiot, as I have been in the past, and continue to be at times, how can you expect them to treat you fairly? Just so you know, I am not calling you an idiot. I just think they have a lot of bs to deal with, and there is a proper way to deal with these types of issues, asking them in standard questions will do you no good. Email admin@answerbag.com Or the feedback at the bottom of the page. Email rich@answerbag.com

This question has been posted before, in different forms, and I still don't see these "groups." Please, can enlighten me who these special people are, and exactly what constitutes as "murder?"

Sometimes it might seem to be on auto pilot. But it's a question and answer website. With specific guidelines that need to be kept in mind by all participants. It's not always clear on who has the leverage to do what here. But getting caught up in the a clique based view of the site might be causing you a little paranoia. For the record I enjoy a little sarcasm and opinion based questions and answers. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as misguided as I find it to be. Thats the great thing about having and accepting opinions.

Why does it surprise me that you asking a question like this. I am probably one of the so called people who ganged up on you because of a difference of opinion. Remember me? I was one, along with others who own "small" dogs. We voiced our opinions and you voiced yours. However, when we didn't agree with your way of thinking,and had enough of your insults you started blaming innocent people for downrating you. Well,surprise surprise, here you are again blaming others.Maybe if you were more understanding,and less critical,you would encounter fewer problems on AB. If you don't like the way things are run on here, then find another site where whinners are welcome!

That would be AB-Rich and AB-Joel. They are doing a fine job as far as lot of people are concerned. Get a grip on yourself, it's just a website. Nobody is out to get you and if you have an issue with a user or group of users, send the AB-Staff links to support your case through feedback or ask a CL to look into it. If you don't enjoy it, then perhaps it's not the right place for you. There are plenty of blog sites with forums that allow people to let it fly. AB is not one of them. Simple. They have a Terms of Use and community standards. If you can't live with that then time to find a new place to hang out.

I neither see the "groups" you're talking about nor understand why you'd continue to come to this site if it's such a source of frustration for you. You claim it's altruism for the folks who need your guidance, but there are enough level-headed people here to outweigh the occasional assholes you've been facing. I've not seen eye-to-eye with everyone, and I've even been called names, but I have a thick enough epidermous to get past that and see how much fun this site can be, if you just look at it that way.

I've seen the current answers on this question, and I've seen your "respectful" comments to everyone. I can feel that as you typed each of them, you were still pounding on your keyboard. 1) You have your answer to who's running this site, and how to contact them in numerous responses. 2) "The hypocritical nature of the way this site is run..." I don't see it. I understand where your arguments are coming from, and I've also seen comment threads where your comments have been removed. The ONLY reason CLs remove comment threads that I've seen is because someone's called someone else names, insulted someone, or go on an obscenity-filled rant. ALL of which can get you tossed in the Penalty Box. If you haven't, yet, thank your lucky stars that SOMEONE is looking out for you and letting you stay, because people have been PBed for less. 3) I understand about "groups" that you've mentioned, but I believe you are specifically referring to those you rail against as being "not normal". Science has determined this is NOT the case, that it happens at an extremely young age (birth, probably), and that few can actually fight the urge to be what they are. Believe it or not, it's been going on since the beginning of time. It's just that it's out in the open now. THAT is what is "not normal" to you. You have been told, again, numerous times, that if people are calling you names, and insulting you for your beliefs, you can STOP, scroll to the bottom of the page, and use feedback, OR you can bring in a CL (the list of current CLs is in my profile. Find "Community Leaders") to handle it. Letting yourself lose control and argue back, cussing away, will get YOU into trouble, most of the time. And 90% of the time, "CL WARNINGS" are for BOTH or ALL members who are involved in an argument. As for the "respectful" way you respond when confronted, I've seen at least ONE CL on this question insulted, and you STILL are here. I've seen 2-3 other VERY long-term ABers insulted (or what could be taken as insults) both here and on your prior question, and you're still here. (And those are comments THEY LEFT! WHAT was in the ones they removed?) YOU have to accept that some people will take your views as wrong-headed, just as YOU take THEIR views as such. If you insist on answering controversial questions of any type (political, religious, about sexual orientation), you will get SLAMMED by people. That's the way of the world, ESPECIALLY on a free, anonymous, website with people from all over the world, from every walk of life, from every sexual orientation, race, creed, religion, political view, age (from 12 to 70+), etc. The point is, YOURS is not the only RIGHT opinion. (Well, religiously, maybe...) Yours is YOUR opinion. Theirs is THEIR opinion. Yes... You should be able to state your opinion RESPECTFULLY. But, if the questions are removed as offensive, OBVIOUSLY you are NOT being respectful. Change the way you ask it, and try again. Discussion is good. Yes, you will get DRs. ANY controversial question or answer to one, leaning one way or the other or all the way to one side or the other will be DRed by those who disagree. Heck... I've been DRed because I eat MEAT... So? I knew it was going to happen at some point. So I didn't let it bother me enough to rail against Vegans. Besides, we have NO IDEA who DRs us... We have an idea of their leanings, simply because they did, but that's about it. Arguing gets you nowhere. DISCUSSING may get you some respect, but YOU have respect those with whom you are discussing, too... Just as you expect THEM to do to you. Look... Point is, you can rail against the site, and believe that it's ITS fault for allowing people to rail against you, or you can convert the argument to a discussion by not dropping to their level (if they start the name-calling, first). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't UNSUBSCRIBE from the thread and move along. You've hit on someone who WILL NOT listen at all. Maybe the next time you run into them, they'll be more prone to listen than if you keep insulting them or return their name-calling. I've seen it happen, time and again. So have others. Now... Take a "chill pill" and relax. If you don't like it here, leave. Otherwise, play by the rules.