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Top Q&A Sites Reviewed

prostoalex writes "MIT Technology Review runs a real-world test of top question and answer sites — AnswerBag, Amazon Askville, MSN Live Q&A, Wondir, Yahoo! Answers and Yedda. The sites are rated on the features and originality as well as availability of answers to the journalist's three questions: 'First, I searched each site's archive for existing answers to the question "Is there any truth to the five-second rule?" (I meant the rule about not eating food after it's been on the floor for more than five seconds, not the basketball rule about holding.) Second, I posted the same two original questions at each site: "Why did the Mormons settle in Utah?" and "What is the best way to make a grilled cheese sandwich?" The first question called for factual, historical answers, while the second simply invited people to share their favorite sandwich-making methods and recipes." The results might be surprising to some readers. While it's generally believed that small startups are better at building efficient solutions, the leaders of the MIT Technology Review are all sites built by Internet giants — Yahoo! Answers, MSN Live Q&A and Amazon Askville all ranked above the competing sites."

6 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Apparently, Ask Slashdot didn't make the cut by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It turns out "Just Google it." wasn't viewed as an actual answer.

  2. Hang On... by makillik · · Score: 2, Funny

    But what is the meaning of life?

    1. Re:Hang On... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      42

  3. I have an idea by LaughingCoder · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about asking each of the sites this simple question:

    "Which is the best question answering site?"

    --
    The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
  4. Q: What does STFW mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A: STFW, you lazy bum!

  5. OT: fun with google chatbots.. by WillDraven · · Score: 2, Funny

    You: anarchists
    Cat: Libertarians are not anarchists.

    You: you got that right sister
    Cat: To do this, verify that the lock icon appears in the lower right corner of the Internet Explorer window.

    You: i run linux you insensitive clod!
    Cat: Our answers are usually geared towards putting the insensitive questioner in his or her place, but the fact is that sex with a fat partner can present challenges and/or require different techniques.

    --
    This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.