Yahoo! Canada Answers Blog

Last summer, we launched Community Moderation on Yahoo! Canada Answers, a system that allows trusted Answers users to work together to report and remove content that breaks the Community Guidelines and the Yahoo! Canada Terms of Service. Due to its very nature, there is always a great deal of interest in this system and how it’s working, so we wanted to give you an update on it and how the subsequent appeals process works.

What is Community Moderation?

Traditionally on Answers if a question or answer broke the Community Guidelines or Yahoo! Canada Terms of Service, an Answers user could report it. This report is reviewed by a real person and a decision is made whether to keep it up or to delete it. This system is still in place.

However, Community Moderation works in parallel to the old system. Once a report is submitted to Yahoo!, Community Moderation automatically measures the contributions and reporting history of both the reporter and the person being reported.

Community Moderation then determines whether it can remove the reported question or answer directly from the site based on community input or whether further review is needed.

So how do I build a good reputation?

First and foremost, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the Community Guidelines. If you’re interested in reporting bad content on Answers, it’s very important that you’re accurate. When you feel you have a good idea about what’s acceptable on Answers as you begin to report content, you will build a good reputation and gain influence.

On the other hand, misuse of the new system will result in a lowered reputation. A low reputation means that the power to report and remove potential abuse is diminished, and may even risk suspension.

The community is very important to the Answers team: without it the site is nothing, so we have set up protection mechanisms to filter out specific targeting of one user by another. Similarly the system promotes accurate reporters, giving them more influence.

How accurate is Community Moderation?

According to our current analysis, 94 per cent of reports removed by Community Moderation in America were correctly removed. Occasionally it makes mistakes, which we would strongly encourage you to appeal, but on the whole your efforts in reporting are making a massive and accurate difference to the site.

What should I do if my content is erroneously removed by the community?

By the very nature of the system, incorrect reports are occasionally going to happen. If your question or answer is reported, we’ll send you an email stating that it has been removed. If you feel that the system’s decision was incorrect, first read the Community Guidelines to check. If you think there’s a strong case, click on the “Appeal” link in the e-mail to submit an appeal. This will be reviewed by a Yahoo! employee. If we agree, your question or answer will reappear on Answers, and the member(s) who reported you will have less influence when they report potential abuse in the future.

As a team, we’d like to strongly emphasise the importance of appealing, once you’ve read the Community Guidelines and are certain your content has been removed in error. This is because if your appeal is successful, not only will your content be reinstated but your reputation will be boosted and those that reported you will lose reputation.

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We all rely on our friends and relatives to help solve everyday problems, but sometimes they’re not around to help you out or haven’t found themselves in your particular conundrum. And that’s where Answers comes in: somewhere online where you can ask how-to and why-is-it questions, to get answers from the millions of people out there!

We know you’ve all experienced the wonder of Answers, that glow you get from getting a really great solution to your current headache, but occasionally we, the Answers team, come across questions asking why we should even share knowledge on Answers at all? People question: what’s the point?

So we thought for once, instead of asking you why you think Answers is a great place to share and exchange knowledge, we’d flip the script. We’ve asked various members of the global Answers team, from those who work with the community to those who build and maintain the site, what they think is so great about participating on Answers and what their favourite moments have been. Here is what they said:

Martin, Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team, on the power of a bus …
“Since Answers launched the UK and Ireland, we’ve loved watching the community grow. Seeing people get a great answer and walk away with a problem solved, thanks to Answers, is a wonderful thing. But nothing compares to literally being there when a first-time participant just … “gets it.”

During 2006, we took Answers on the road, finding experts and enthusiasts wherever they might be: food events, flower shows or university campuses. As we took them through asking a question, the responses varied. But there was always a common moment, that made the whole trip worthwhile, when a great answer appeared. I could compare it to a “Eureka” moment, was like a metaphorical light bulb switched on above their head, but it was deeper than that. Suddenly to them, like it did to millions of other people worldwide, Answers really made sense.”

Silvia, Yahoo! Spain Answers team, on cooking up great ideas ...
“I really love cooking and in Answers I find a place to exchange knowledge related to food. I like to try new things, especially from places I’ve never been to. Answers is a really good place to find recipes and ask for techniques. You can check out the results of the answers provided by the community here: www.mamasabe.com. I also like to help people who are learning to cook with simple recipes and tips.”

Christian, Yahoo! Germany Answers team, on expanding his knowledge circle …
“Profiting from others’ experiences is great. Each of us relies on the advice of our circle of friends. Yet on Answers, you can benefit from many more people and their experiences and knowledge — and you also can gain the friendship of others. Even if I still rely on my friends, the Answers community has helped me with so many things I could never have found out with regular web search, I’ve lost count.”

Fionna, Yahoo! Canada Answers team, on the power of Answers …
“To me, Yahoo! Answers is the Internet. The Internet is an infinite and instant source of interactive information … and so is Yahoo! Answers. It’s a vast community of people using the most powerful search engine of all — their own brains — to help each other. Yahoo! Answers perfectly encapsulates all the power and possibilities of the entire Web in one place.”

Mark, Yahoo! Answers Global Product Operations, on making a difference to someone …
“Like most people, thoughts regularly pop into my head on subjects that I want to know the answer to.  I could spend my time researching to find out … but prefer instead to take the old-fashioned (and lazy!) approach of asking people directly.  For this, Answers is unbeatable.

But, in my eyes, the thing that really makes Answers great and continues to amaze me is that every second of every day people around the world are busy using Answers to find information in exactly the same manner. Every contribution we make can make a difference to someone else in another part of the globe.”

This is the first in a two-part series of blog posts on our thoughts on Answers, but the site would be nothing without you, the Answers community. Why not have your say about what you enjoy most on Answers by leaving a comment below. We’re all ears!

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Are you an avid blogger? Well, then you might already know that you can add an Answers box to your blog. We call it Yahoo! Builder. What? You didn’t know? Well worry not, that’s exactly what this post is about. Yahoo! Builder is one of the features that Answers and Yahoo! have created for you. To use it, you just need to log in to your Answers profile and find a box on the right side of the page which looks like this:

If you click on it, you’ll be redirected to a page that’ll give you different options of modules and their codes to be included in your blog. Depending on the space available within your blog, your template, the colours you’ve chosen and what you like, you can choose the one that fits your blog and personality best. Modules are available on JavaScript, Flash and HTML. Each of them is different and has special features:

JavaScript Module

This module looks like this in its simplest version. It’s the one I like best because it’s easy to customise with colour, width, font type, size and content. Say that the focus of your blog is music, with this template you can choose to display questions on that specific topic or with particular keywords to ensure that your Answers module will be in tune with your blog. Once you’ve tailored it to your liking, you just need to use the code we’ll provide and add it to your blog. It’s easy!

Flash Module

This module updates itself in real time and shows the questions you’ve asked in Answers, making it easy for your readers to reply to them in a fast and comfortable manner. It provides you with another way of surrounding yourself with the people you choose, since it’ll be another way of showing Answers to those who share your interests and will help you keep those you care for around to answer your questions, support you within the community and create content that appeals to you.

HTML Module

This is the simplest module we have; it’s small and you could say that it’s a direct link from your blog to Answers. You can add it wherever you want, and you can tell anyone who navigates your site to join Yahoo! Answers and answer your questions. It’s up to you, so what are you waiting for? Tell your friends and readers about it and get the best answers to all your questions!

Already have it? Or perhaps what you’re still missing is a blog for you to customise and add your very own Answers module. If that’s the case, don’t worry. That’s another topic we’ll discuss some other time so that you too will be able to show off what you’ve been doing on Answers all around the net. If you’re already a blogger, then it’s time for you to try out how these modules and how easy it is to create them. Remember, all you have to do is log in to your profile and all the instructions you need will be waiting for you.

Let us know how it went!

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Linking, no linking, spam, sources … we’ve been getting a lot of questions about the inclusion of links on questions and answers. In this blog post, we will cover each one explaining the differences, what is considered acceptable, and what is an infraction of the Yahoo! Canada Answers Community Guidelines.

What is considered Spam?
As a reminder, Spam is the word used to refer to unsolicited mail. This also apply to Yahoo! Answers. If you notice someone answering questions compulsively with a link to an unrelated site (usually a site offering money or selling products), report it as a Community Guidelines Violation!  You’ve found a spammer.

Can I link to a question I posted?
We have all seen people close their answer with “Please answer my question http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/…”, but the question they link to has nothing to do with the topic you were asking about.

As Answers users, we have received those kinds of Answer ourselves … and it’s not nice! If you think about it, it’s the same as spam: unsolicited links … and that breaks the Yahoo! Canada Answers Community Guidelines.

But remember: if you want to include links to your personal web site, blog or Flickr page, you are welcome to do so — on your profile page. Let the community know a bit more about you on your profile! To edit your profile page, click on “My Profile”, and then “Edit Profile”.

But what about links linking to relevant content?
Of course you can add these — that’s why we included the “sources” box on the answer page.

Have you posted or seen a similar question in the past? Do you know a web site or book that might help the asker? Just paste the URL into the source box and you’ll be making your answer much more complete. And this is totally pro-Community Guidelines.

And remember: people can get to your question on the category pages, from your profile or by doing a search … you’ll get the answer you’re looking for!

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Photo by design to forget

Another school year has started, and by now the reality has set in: Summer is over and it’s time to get serious and hit those books. It’s an ideal time to improve study habits that may have gotten a little rusty over the last few months. After all, it takes time to develop good habits, and a fresh school year gives students the opportunity to jump-start their academic identities. Here are some of my tips to help reinvigorate your academic career.

• Get your stuff together: Make sure everything you need is in one place. Nothing will derail a productive study session like interruptions for finding pencils, paper, or that textbook you left who-knows-where. Find a place where you can keep all of your supplies orderly and ready. When I was younger, I had a basket to put my school supplies in. When I was in high school and college, I had a box in the trunk of my car for studying-on-the-go.
• Find a place where you can work comfortably: I like ambient noise when I am working (or studying). Some people need silence — I need a little hustle and bustle going on around me. My ideal study spot is a coffeehouse — preferably with free Wi-Fi. It keeps me steadily caffeinated and occasionally offers just the right kind of temporary diversion.
• Work in short bursts: The “right kind of temporary diversion” I mentioned earlier keeps me from getting overwhelmed. I’ve also found that explaining what I’ve just read to someone else (usually my unwitting study-buddy) helps the information stick more firmly in my memory.
• Eat healthy snacks while you study: The brain consumes about one-third of the calories we consume every day. My hit list includes broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sugar snap peas. I’m also a big fan of dried fruit (sulphur-free!) and protein bars. I find I’m much more productive if I’m not dreaming of my next meal.
• Get organized: Know what you need to do before you sit down to do it. I love lists, and my favorite thing about lists is checking completed tasks off of them. Keeping track of tasks (whether in list form or otherwise) will also help circumvent any forgetfulness.

What study tips and environments work for you?

Jasmin

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The Internet is a busy place and sometimes it’s hard to keep up to date with the latest update from your favourite sites. To make your life easier, we have added a button with a link to our RSS feed (see what RSS is here) on the sidebar, and another at the end of each post.

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Many of you are already using My Yahoo! to follow the blog activity that you enjoy. As a Yahoo! Canada Answers user, you might be interested in doing the same with the Answers blog. Please find below some very easy steps to follow:

For My Yahoo! users
1) Click on the “Subscribe” button
2) Copy the URL
3) Go to My Yahoo!
4) On the left-hand side, click on the Tab called “Add Content” and then on “Add RSS feed”
5) Then paste the URL
6) Done! A box will appear, you’ll now be automatically informed as soon as any new article is published.

As you can see, it’s not that complicated and the steps are almost the same for any RSS reader, but feel free to leave as a comment if you need more help doing it!

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Flickr photo by ralphbijker

With the current state of the economy and rising cost of everything from fuel to fun to fashion, I’ve been taking a pretty close look at my budget, and one thing is clear: I spend way too much money on food. With working full time, teaching an evening class, working in my pottery studio and cultivating a social life, I juggle a pretty busy schedule.

I’m rarely organized enough in the morning to bag myself a balanced lunch, and cooking a healthy, inexpensive dinner for myself is usually the last thing I feel like doing after a long day. Instead, I usually dine out or grab something on my way home, which can really put a strain on the wallet (not to mention the waistline!) This week, I thought I’d root around Answers to see if I could cook up some inspiration for optimizing my weekly food budget, and maybe even get some basic meal ideas I could keep handy at home.

• When shopping at the grocery store, Holly suggests skipping the processed foods and offers some recommendations about which natural ingredients give you the biggest bang for your buck.

• Paul makes a really good point about avoiding grocery shopping when you are hungry. Studies support the idea that hungry shoppers tend to spend more and make less sensible decisions on what to buy. Eat beforehand and shop with your brain, not your stomach. He also suggests avoiding the grocery store when you are angry or depressed — those shoppers tend to buy more sweets and indulgent items, and find it more difficult to make healthy food choices.

• Silly’s-gone-C-r-A-Y-Z saves cash by buying foods in large quantities and repackaging them into smaller servings. Cooking an entire ham at once yields meals for the entire week and is a lot cheaper than cooking individual portions every day. A little planning can pay off big-time.

• Bringing lunch to work instead of hitting a restaurant is certainly a wise money-saving practice. Jeffrey P recommends packing it up the night before so you’re not rushing to try to take care of it in the morning. He also keeps grab-and-go items like canned soup, crackers and fruit on hand to make putting together a healthy lunch a little easier.

These are some wonderful ideas that make a great jumping-off point to start me on a healthier eating pattern, both fiscally and nutritionally. What others can you suggest?

How do you maximize your food budget to make the most of your dollar while still eating well?

Richard S

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Here at Yahoo! Answers, we’re always working on new features and enhancements for the site, but we also recognise sometimes things do go wrong and need fixing. Earlier this week we addressed a couple of outstanding bugs that we know have been bothering many of you. They are:

* E-mails are now sent to your contacts when you submit a question. When you receive an e-mail about a new answer, the text properly describes the answer.

* We have significantly enhanced the breadth of the dictionary in the spell check function when asking and answering a question.

We are committed to fixing the outstanding bugs on Yahoo! Answers, as well as developing other possible new features, but in the meantime we wanted to share this news with you and thank you all for your patience while we addressed them.

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Flickr photo by jmsuarez

After last year’s writers’ strike, this fall television season comes back with mixed emotions from most TV junkies.

Finally, many of our friends are back in our lives once a week. Shows like Prison Break and Heroes have been off air for so long it seems we have almost forgotten them. Whereas reality shows are blooming. Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance Canada are still fresh in the mind of viewers who were watching dance shows all summer long.

The influx of great new shows on every channel seems to have been trimmed down to a trickle. Lost fans are sure to tune into J.J. Abrams’ latest show, Fringe, while sentimentalists have the new 90210 and Knight Rider. But other than those offerings, it is slim pickings. We should be happy we have our old favourites back.

Shows that barely got a foot out the door last year before the strike put them on hold are also back, much to the joy of viewers who were hooked in the first few episodes. Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money and Life along with a few others all have premieres over the next few weeks, so if you didn’t see them the first time, you won’t really be too far behind.

I generally cherish the ritual of making sure I am home each week to watch my favourite show, but those times are changing. With personal television recorders in many homes, you can tune in later to skip the commercials. Finding shows online or renting full seasons in the store is so easy now that you can watch whatever you want. The idea of TV is definitely changing, but for now I will still be tuning in.

Stephanie

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We all enjoy connecting and communicating with friends and peers. Yahoo! Answers empowers you to gain experiential knowledge from the community … but while it’s great for research and problem solving, sometimes when the urge to connect, chat or canvas opinions strikes, other parts of Yahoo! are a far better fit.

First there is Yahoo! Mail, which we’re all familiar with. If a person has turned on his communication settings on Answers, then you can also contact him by e-mail. Messenger is also a great tool to connect live with your friends 24/7. There’s also Yahoo! Groups, with thousands of subject areas to choose from.

If you’re into polling, there is also another Yahoo! destination site you might want to try. Bix.com is a place to “create, enter, and judge.” You’ll find contests for anything from the top 10 cutest dogs to the all-time greatest superhero.

The next time you want to find out what is the best sand structure or the most annoying celebrity, why not check out Bix.com for yourself and put your creative skills to the test in a friendly face-off? You could even enter a sponsored contest and win prizes!

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