AOL Answers

AOL Answers (formerly known as Yedda) is a semantic, proactive social search service which aggregates questions and answers to any topic and allows users to collaborate on them. Aol Answers was launched on August 31, 2010 by American Online ("AOL"). Apart from the branding-related changes, the site is identical to its predecessor, Yedda, which was launched on August 14, 2006. The original participants on YEDDA (prior to the name change) are commonly referred to as "Yeddians" (or "ole time Yeddians") and they were the core supporters who provided all the Answers that built Yedda into a productive forum for obtaining Answers. AOL has long advertised it (during the Yedda era) as a place to get "expert answers". Being open to any who wish to Answer, there are more non-expert answers than actual expert answers. However, there is a wide variety of regular participants who are experts in various fields (or at least "highly experienced and knowledgabe") who often provide solid, knowledgeable answers and expert opinions (including doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, nurses, business owners and executives, etc.). That is the "expertise" that makes it a good place to seek advice, help or answers. Additionally, there are some "ole Yeddians" who give excellent answers based on common sense, good logic and analysis and just lessons learned along the way in their life experiences. One characteristic that runs strong and can be seen is a sincere desire by many of those Answering questions to be empathetic or "helper personalities"; they show compassion and make considerable effort to they and be helpful and supportive and to give good, time consuming explanations to the better asked questions or the serious problems that some questions raise (such as people who are clinically depressed, or suffering emotionally from marriage or relationship problems or teen pregnancy problems, to name a few that are common).
Site operation
Any question is allowed on Aol Answers, except ones that violate the Aol Answers terms of use. A group of active users from the "Yedda" era are aggressive about reporting unduly vulgar or particularly offensive questions, as well as reporting any commercial use or postings. AOL had done a better job of deleting such inappropriate postings and advertising, than it historically did with its "CAT" group (Community Action Team) for chat room monitoring. As a result, subject to some exceptions, the general quality and decorum on the Questions and Answers found on YEDDA (now AOLAnswers) has typically been of a relatively high calibier for a site accessible by anyone. The site is free to all users and registration to use it is very simple (no request for credit cards or any personal information).
What AOL Answers offers
YEDDA has been popular for people who like to ask questions on many topics; for people who like to help or advice others or give their opinions. Anyone can join in and do either thing, but it takes more than one posting or a few to gain recognition and credibility on YEDDA (now AOL Answers) A core group of participants, with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives, actively participate in answering questions 24/7. The quality of answers and the number of responders corresponds closely to the quality of the question posed and whether sufficient details are provided in the question. Typically, for those who take the time to ask a well worded question with some background and relevant facts, intelligent and sometimes extensive answers will result. If the question is particularly interesting or controversial, it can create a "thread" of answers that can go on for years and can go to over a hundred answers in some cases.
Just as anyone can ask questions, anyone can answer questions. This has the positive effect of allowing a lot of different perspectives and people with a variety of experiences relating to the topic to respond. Of course, with that comes the negative potential for some people who do not know the subject matter well to respond to questions they probably should pass over. However, this latter problem does not unduly diminish the value of asking questions there because the substantial nucleus of "ole time Yeddians" (i.e. a good and very active group that has been participating during the "Yedda" era) tend to self monitor (informally) and they do not hesitate to jump in and give more accurate information, or to challenge bad answers or to add "Comments" saying the answer is "Not Helpful" and explaining why they find the answer not helpful. ["Comments" can be added by anyone at the bottom of any answer by anyone. It gives unlimited opportunity for one or many others to rate a given answer as "Helpful" or "Unhelpful" and to debate or explain or express opinions by way of the "Comments". This tends to be another form of "self regulation" on the quality or accuracy of Answers. In some cases, the "Comments" to an Answer can create a "threat" of its own with a long line of "Comments" on one Answer.
How the Q&As are handled
The quality of the ANSWERS, for those asking bona fide questions which are well written, is generally very good. Many people have found help on everything from legal questions to how to deal with plumbing and automotive issues. Some of the questions which tend to get sincere and in depth responses are family, marriage and relationship issues. Political issues attract some variety of answers, reflecting most viewpoints. Sometimes help with homework is solid, but not so much when it is obvious the student is unloading all the assignment for others to do it for them (works best when there is an indication that the student is trying or why they are struggling and some effort and appreciation for help). Questions can be simple, but get better answers if they are clear and complete.
History
Yedda was originally developed by Yedda Inc., an Israel-based startup founded in 2006 by Avichay Nissenbaum, Yaniv Golan, Osher Frimerman, Eran Sandler and Daniel Verhovsky. The site went into private alpha on January 2006, and was released to the public on August 14, 2006. It was acquired by AOL in November 2007 and AOL kept the Yedda name for the first few years of AOL ownership.
Effective August 31, 2010, AOL relaunched Yedda under the new name AOL Answers.
In recognition of the value and contribution of the original Yedda community, some of the Yedda-era users of the site were awarded a special Yeddai! badge.
Criticism
Effective August 31, 2010, AOL (without any prior announcement) abruptly relaunched YEDDA under the new name AOL Answers. This was done with very little, if any change in how it worked, other than the fact that the old Yedda.com search for it was killed and many regulars could not get back in. They had to use AOL software to get back to the former "Yedda" forum. Many felt this showed a lack of customer satisfaction concerns by AOL-a common complaint in years past by "AOL Members" (when they use to pay monthly to participate).
Some people don't find the new name "AOL ANSWERS" to be creative, catchy or classy. It certainly lacks uniqueness or any real "zip". It is noted Yahoo had the name YAHOOANSWERS before AOL followed that name direction of Yahoo- thus causing cries of "copycat of Yahoo". A substantial number of the "ole Yeddians" preferred the old name ("Yedda"). They have made known that they think adding the AOL name (calling it such a generic name as "AOL Answers") detracted from the high caliber it had set.
Yedda was in Beta form with AOL but it still has some bugs, most notably the use of "Newbies" who appear to be bot-like generated questions by no known person. This is also an issue about the use of a screen-name (as opposed to the generic "Newbie" apparently employed to ask a single question with little apparent interest reflected in returning (one with no profile, who never adds any response, not even to requests for more information. The leading long time users of YEDDA are working to try and have AOL address this problem.
Some have nicknamed it "AOyeddie" - they steadfastly refuse to call it "AOL Questions".

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