How to Submit a Question to WikiAnswers: A Comprehensive Guide

WikiAnswers, a once-popular question-and-answer platform, served as a valuable resource for users seeking information on a vast array of topics. While the site is no longer actively maintained and has seen a significant decline in user activity, the historical content and the spirit of collaborative knowledge-sharing it embodied still hold relevance for many. For those curious about how the platform used to function and specifically how to submit questions, this detailed guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the process as it existed.

It’s important to note upfront that WikiAnswers is largely inactive now. You won’t find a bustling community or quick responses as you once did. However, understanding how the platform worked is still valuable for comprehending the evolution of online Q&A and the mechanisms of crowdsourced knowledge. This guide serves as an archive of the platform’s former functionality, not an instruction manual for using an active community.

Understanding the WikiAnswers Platform

Before diving into the steps of submitting a question, let’s briefly understand the core idea behind WikiAnswers. It was a collaborative, wiki-based question and answer site where users could pose questions on various topics, and other users could provide answers. It was intended to be a community-driven platform, relying on users to both ask and answer questions, thereby building a massive knowledge repository.

Unlike some other Q&A platforms, WikiAnswers aimed for more general knowledge sharing and did not focus on opinions or subjective discussions. The goal was to provide factual and concise answers, often with links to external sources for more in-depth information.

Steps for Submitting a Question to WikiAnswers

Here’s a breakdown of the steps you would have taken to submit a question on WikiAnswers:

Step 1: Accessing the WikiAnswers Website

The first step, logically, was to visit the WikiAnswers website. This was generally done by entering the URL (likely something similar to ‘wikianswers.com’ or ‘answers.com/wiki’) in your web browser’s address bar and hitting Enter.

Step 2: Navigating to the Question Submission Area

Once on the WikiAnswers website, you needed to find the area designated for asking new questions. This was usually quite prominent, often situated on the homepage itself or readily accessible via a clear navigation menu or button. Here are common ways this would appear:

• Prominent Button: A button labeled something like “Ask a Question,” “Pose a Question,” or “Submit a Question” would typically be displayed. This button would take you directly to the question submission form.
• Navigation Link: Alternatively, there might have been a navigation link in a header or sidebar menu that pointed towards the question submission area.
• Search Bar with Prompt: In some cases, the main search bar might have had a prompt like “Ask a question…” encouraging you to begin typing your query directly.

The goal was to find an obvious pathway that indicated where you could start the question-asking process.

Step 3: The Question Submission Form

After clicking the designated button or link, you would have been presented with a question submission form. This form usually contained several key elements:

a) The Question Field

This was the primary field, a large text box where you would type out your question. It’s crucial to formulate your question clearly and concisely. The better you articulated your question, the more likely you were to receive helpful answers. Consider these points when framing your question:

• Clarity: Make sure your question is easy to understand. Avoid jargon or overly technical language unless you’re sure the target audience will grasp it.
• Specificity: Be as specific as you can. Broad questions may result in vague or unhelpful answers. For instance, instead of asking, “What is the weather?” you might ask, “What is the average temperature in London during July?”
• Purpose: Consider the purpose of your question. Are you looking for a definition? A list? A comparison? Knowing the purpose can help you frame it more effectively.
• Complete Sentences: While not always mandatory, using complete sentences can help to clearly convey your intention.

Here are some examples of good question formulations within the WikiAnswers context:

• “What is the capital of Australia?”
• “How many moons does Saturn have?”
• “What are the main causes of World War II?”
• “Who invented the telephone?”
• “What is the boiling point of water at sea level?”

And here are some examples of less effective or potentially problematic question formulations:

• “What do you think about life?” (Too subjective and opinion-based)
• “Tell me about stuff.” (Too vague)
• “Who is that famous guy I saw on TV?” (Too lacking in detail)

b) Category Selection (If Applicable)

Depending on the WikiAnswers interface, there might have been a section to categorize your question. This was important for organizing content on the platform and making it easier for other users to locate relevant questions and answers. This usually took the form of:

• Dropdown Menus: You might have selected a category from a nested series of dropdown menus. For example, you might select “Science,” then “Biology,” then “Human Anatomy.”
• Keyword Tags: Alternatively, you could have been asked to add keywords or tags to your question. These tags would help classify it and make it searchable.

Selecting appropriate categories or tags was important as it ensured your question reached users with relevant knowledge.

c) Additional Details (Optional)

Some versions of the submission form might have provided an optional area for adding further details. This was useful if your question had unique context or requirements that couldn’t be fully expressed in the main question field. For example, if you were asking about a specific historical event, you might want to add extra background information here.

d) CAPTCHA or Verification

To prevent automated bots from submitting questions, a CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) or similar verification mechanism was often employed. This typically required you to identify distorted characters or solve a simple puzzle before proceeding.

Step 4: Reviewing Your Question

Before submitting, it was always wise to carefully review the question you had formulated. This included checking for any grammatical errors, ensuring the question was clear, and verifying that you had categorized it correctly. Double-checking helps make your question effective and understandable for those who would try to answer it.

Step 5: Submitting the Question

Finally, after ensuring your question was ready, you would click the “Submit” button. This would send your question to the WikiAnswers system where it would be displayed on the site for others to view and answer.

What Happens After You Submit a Question?

After submitting your question, several things could happen:

• Waiting for Answers: Your question would be visible to the WikiAnswers community, and users knowledgeable about the subject could provide answers. The time it took to get an answer varied depending on the question’s complexity and popularity of the topic.
• Editing Your Question: In some cases, you might have been able to edit your question later if you felt it needed clarification or modification.
• Editing of Answers: Similar to a wiki, users could edit and improve upon the answers that were provided, leading to a collaborative and evolving body of knowledge.
• Flagging Inappropriate Content: The community had mechanisms for flagging content that was inaccurate, abusive, or violated guidelines.

Tips for Submitting Effective Questions

To maximize the chances of getting helpful and accurate answers, here are some useful tips:

• Be Clear and Concise: This point cannot be stressed enough. Clarity and conciseness are crucial for effective questions. Avoid ambiguity and get straight to the point.
• Provide Context When Necessary: While being concise is important, don’t leave out key context. If your question relies on specific circumstances or events, be sure to mention them.
• Use Proper Grammar and Spelling: Errors in grammar and spelling can make your question harder to understand and can discourage others from taking it seriously. Take the time to proofread your question before submitting it.
• Search First: Before submitting a new question, perform a quick search to see if your question has already been asked and answered. You might find your answer already exists on the platform.
• Choose Relevant Categories: By placing your question in a relevant category, you ensure that it reaches users with an interest and expertise in that field.
• Be Patient: It might take some time for users to discover and answer your question, so be patient. Sometimes, a question might be answered quickly, and sometimes, it might take a few days or even longer.
• Thank Contributors: If you find a response helpful, take the time to thank the user who answered your question. Acknowledging their efforts is a good way to encourage ongoing contributions.
• Be Polite: Maintain a respectful tone in your questions. Rudeness or aggressive language will deter others from wanting to help.

Why Is This Information Still Relevant?

While WikiAnswers is no longer a prominent platform, this information remains relevant for several reasons:

• Understanding the History of Online Q&A: Studying WikiAnswers provides valuable insights into the history of online question-and-answer platforms and the evolution of collaborative knowledge sharing.
• Learning About Wiki-Based Platforms: As a wiki, WikiAnswers exemplifies the power and challenges of collaborative content creation. Understanding this model can help you appreciate similar systems, like Wikipedia.
• Improving Question Formulation Skills: The same principles for formulating good questions on WikiAnswers are applicable in other contexts. Learning how to write clear and effective questions is a valuable skill, no matter the platform.
• Historical Context: For some users, WikiAnswers might hold sentimental value, and this information helps in understanding how they once interacted with the platform.

Conclusion

Submitting a question to WikiAnswers, while a largely historical activity now, was a relatively straightforward process. By understanding the steps involved and following the guidelines provided, you could have effectively posed your question and potentially received answers from the community. Although the platform is not as active as it once was, the lessons learned from it – particularly concerning how to ask clear, concise, and well-categorized questions – remain valuable in many other online contexts. The spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing that defined WikiAnswers still resonates in today’s digital landscape, even as platforms and technology evolve.

This guide serves as a record of the now-dormant but once vibrant platform, and it hopefully provides insights into the way online communities can work together to share information and answer questions.