You are a wonderful bunch of people. tell me why(and how) you spend the time to be constructively involved.?

What are your motivations for participating - either as answerers or questioners? I have been retired for some years and like to socialise "0n line" - but most of you are still of working age and still find time to contribute. What do get out of YA? Is it the possibilty of a useful response, a sociial contact, or something else. I'm intrigued - I feel ypur answers to this question might inform/help us all.

Public Comments

1. I am currently working in Austria and find the time passes much more quick on here than doing nothing as there is no english tv. And also lots of usuefull info.
2. I do it on company time, gramps. I don't have your generations' work ethic burdening me.
3. I am at work and it feels good to offer any advice or guidance that I can from my education and/or experience. I don't have enough work to do. I'm almost finished with my MBA so I can hopefully find a more productive position with growth potential. Right now, there is nothing in my area that pays like this job does. It's pretty sad actually. This keeps my spirit up and makes me feel connected to real people. I have to pretend to be busy. It's bizarre. I've said that I'd actually rather be really busy. But this is good. I ask questions on here to get some much needed opinions and advice. I learn a lot on here. Sometimes I laugh. :)
4. I socialize here and also it is entertaining (usually) I love my contacts, they are supportive and FUN! Although I work full time, the sort of job I do allows me more flexibility to be here at different hours, without neglecting my job or family. (((HUGS))) and thanks for your nice contribution!
5. I first started using this when I had no computer and the only thing I could get on at my college computer was this so I decided it would be a good time to meet/talk to new and interesting people (although not all are!) I ask questions to get the hopefully useful advice of friendly people who are here to help And I answer so I can try and pass my knowledge, wisdom, experiences to others who may need help. Passes the time by anyway =]
6. I like to think with my expericence, I can help people on YA. My motivation is to help people with my knowledge. I consider my self 'retired' because I am not working and have not worked for a while. I am 52 and would so like to work, but I feel as though life has passed me by.
7. i am house bound most of the time due to having an operation, i had a kidney removed about three tears ago all the mussels on my left side have died, leaving me in a lot of pain, this also gives me time to come on here, i do have pain relief, which does takes about 80% of pain away, so i try to stay happy its not your fault and i really do enjoy it very much .
8. I work unusual hours, although I have been known to sneak on line while at work, and peruse Yahoo Answers. I discovered it a short while back, and I find it an interesting place to spend some time. Sometimes I've been silly with my responses, but hopefully some of my answers have actually helped someone out.
9. I stumbled on it by accident and now I'm hooked. There are many thoughtful contributions from experts in their field, genuinely witty people making snarky comments and the occasional wacko. Mostly I've found those who contribute are genuinely trying to be helpful. I don't know why that surprised me, but it did. I used to be a reference librarian (now I'm more of a generalist) YA has everything I used to love about answering reference questions; learning new things, looking at things differently. Plus I get to pick and choose the questions I respond to. I like to just randomly read this site, I always learn something.
10. Thank you for the compliment ! I had to retire early from teaching maths through osteo arthritis, and was completely computer illiterate... but with a little help, soon started to get around the internet, first with e- bay, and then into classic cars. I found this site by accident, and was very quickly hooked on homework help, and the science and mathematics sections. I really enjoy answering the questions that students post, and find a satisfaction in helping them understand the solution. It keeps my brain cells functioning adequately too since some of the problems are quite demanding.
11. at 61 retired with health problems it`s a window on the world. i find pleasure helping others.
12. For the longest time I saw the section that included answers on my yahoo home page. One day just said, what the heck is that as my ipod was charging. I find it fun and intersting, frustrating and silly at times. Just like real life..LOL!!!!