Do’s and don’ts
At Yahoo! Answers, we strive to provide quality content for the community. Every day trusted users work together to report and remove content that violates our Community Guidelines. Because abusive content is the most talked-about topic, here’s a refresher on the core set of principles that must be followed by our community members.
Do’s
- Behave with courtesy
- Ask and answer clearly
- Share what you know
- Cite sources
- Categorize correctly
- Star and “thumbs-up” great questions
- Report abuse
Don’ts
- Rant
Posting questions that offer your opinions rather than seek others’ knowledge is a no-no. Also a don’t: answering questions for the sole purpose of venting. When you post a question, it must be written in the form of a question. When you answer, it must attempt to answer the question being asked.
- Insult others or use obscene language
Sexually explicit images, non-health-related sexual content, and profanity are not welcome on the site. We also do not tolerate any form of insult, discrimination, or hate speech. Answers is a diverse community, and everyone should be treated with respect.
- Spam
Answers is not a recruiting site, a dating site, or an advertising billboard. Posting irrelevant links for personal or financial gain is prohibited.
- Cheat
Creating multiple accounts to “game the system” is an infraction, as is copying and pasting other people’s answers to gain points.
- Be harmful or violent
Don’t promote violence or harmful practices. Threatening or harassing other users violates the Community Guidelines. Anything that is considered illegal in everyday life is also illegal on Answers.
- Post illegal content
You may share information about where to download free entertainment and programs, as long as the site you mention is free and legal.
In extreme infractions, members may risk losing their Yahoo! ID, and consequently, access to all other Yahoo! services.
We’ve received many questions about why this or that was deleted, and we hope the explanations above will help you to better understand our Community Guidelines. If everyone follows these rules, our content will stay at its best.
Have more questions? Leave us a comment and let us know! 
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Please the “dummy” version of chat violation. Or better yet, when and if we do that further explainatioin in the violation notice.
Also do REAL people really play a part of an appeal of an accused violation?
Please, a good explanation, sorta the “dummy” version of chat violation. Or better yet, when and if we do that further explainatioin in the violation notice.
Also do REAL people really play a part of an appeal of an accused violation?
Because if they did they would see where the answer fit the question.
Hi Yahoo! Answers,
I like what you said here, but I wonder why when I report blatant rants CC ( Customer Care) usually restore them back to the site?
How about you check the email I plan to send you later down in evening today so you can see what I am talking about.
I reported a question that asked: ” Don’t you hate it when people answer your question with low quality answers?”
And in the additional details he/she continued to rant. And yes, my eyes popped wide open when CC reinstated his/her question.
It didn’t have once or twice last week. It happens many times.
If you are going to suggest that we report rants only for CC to have them restored back to the site, then in my humble opinion it is a waste of time.
I plan to send you an email today, so please anticipate it.
From your trusted contributor
Dad
Oh yeah, I like that: follow the rules. Reminds me of this prison movie. Guard: Don’t break the Rules
Prisoner: What are the rules?
Guard: Break one and you’ll find out.
Sheeeeesssshhh, Yahoo must you follow that premise and principle?
I think we should do away with the user reporting system. Too many users abuse this to go on trolling rampages of reporting.
what about avatar games?
It should be ‘Dos and Don’ts.’ By your logic it would be ‘Do’s and Don’t’s’ which is obviously wrong.
‘Do’s’ is Do Is. Or maybe ‘and don’ts’ belongs to someone called Do?
I report my little heart out on the people who post the same questions repeatedly in several sections to acquire… personally gratifying answers, shall we say, but nothing happens to them. I report the clearly insincere and antagonistic questions where you know people are just playing and trying to be gross or clever, and nothing happens. I answer a question with “:::snoopyhappydance:::” to indicate my affirmative response to a question, and not only does it get a violation notice, it loses on appeal after my explanation.
You need to get professionals in charge who understand the mission of Answers and want it to stay on track.
Hi Emma – you are correct, however, I’m following our Style Guide which spells it this way. Mitzi
This is important to me to know. Thanks so much.
Actually there is no rhyme or reason for anything around here. Cheaters are never investigated, so do away with the dumbass process of points it is assassinine.
system is pointless, even if we report someone, nothing happens.
“Do’s and Don’ts” is correct. When there is a potential for confusion, need for clarity, some plurals acceptably have apostrophes. So “obviously” isn’t so much so to those who write this junk for a living… or own a Chicago manual…
This is ridiculous. Telling us how to express ourselves is truly sickening. You control freaks piss me off continually. I have said the mildest things, had them reported, appealed, and then reaffirmed the violation. I asked if body hair on my rear end is too unattractive. I have also appealed using the guidelines to support my appeal and had it ignored.
The report system is crap. Sometimes it takes a long time for something to get removed, a short time for something to get removed, but usally not at all.
Here is one that I reported while ago that had nothing happen: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090615150812AAvIEtM. Same with a bunch of other stuff that I reported.
I previously answered a poll question that asked “What are you doing right now?” I answered, “Watching Nick @ Nite”…and got reported…for “chatting”…I appealed the removal and LOST!! Well, after that, I have not posted ANY answers at all. I couldn’t understand how answering a poll question was “chatting”…..To me, it was Bull..
Allow me to take a moment to explain “free speech” to people. I find that 99% percent of the people who flog the term have no idea what they’re talking about. The First Amendment begins, “Congress shall make no law…” Essentially, Freedom of Speech applies to the government imposing restrictions on speech. On the other hand, private enterprise can pretty much make up their own rules. It’s their property; their playground. It’s like an apartment complex not allowing possession of guns. It’s not a Second Amendment issue because the government isn’t doing it. A private citizen on private property gets to make the rules. You’re free to rent elsewhere.
Yahoo can set and enforce any limitations they choose, and you, in turn, can choose not to use their services or property. It’s part of a free and open market, the very foundation of our capitalistic society. If you don’t like the goods and services one person offers, you are free to go someplace else.
I’m quite tired of people yelling that their free speech has been restricted or that they’re being censored. No, and no. You agreed to the rules this private organization put in place when you signed up. I’m sorry you don’t like them. Please, go someplace else if you don’t like it. I’m tired of the whining. My only complaint is in inconsistent application of the rules, but after I try to rectify an error, still, if I don’t like it, I will go elsewhere, too.
I think a lot of you are missing the “answer clearly and concisely part.” Or, the “ask clearly and concisely”. If people supplied enough details in their questions, it would be easier to help, as there are real people here who sincerely want to help others.
I get very annoyed at the spammers who are continually advertising weight loss pills and diet pills to young anorexic girls who are really in trouble. I report all of those. and, it does work, as long as you are a memeber in good standing. I also won an appeal the other day for the only answer of mine that has ever been removed in 3 yrs. The kid who reported it could not take an honest answer to his question. Don’t ask if you don’t want an honest answer.
I’ve been here for 2 years and just learn from what you have written here. Please leave it up! Its a reminder to all of us!
Thanks!
Yahoo, you don’t enforce your rules and guidelines. There are many people that constantly insult and bash others and the content is not removed even though it’s been reported. And something needs to be done about the trolls that make another account immediately and continue bashing, harassing and insulting.
You have let the trolls take over. YOU NEED TO ENFORCE YOUR CG AND RULES!
the basis for Yahoo Answers,
is for Questioners, to ask for help on a query,
and the Responders to answer as best they can to help resolve issue,
there are Phishers, and Advertisers, and Spammers, and the odd self sub promoters, that actually do answer questions with their own set of references,
obviously users with no name like “A. ANONYMOUS” and an answer like ” go here to> “link” and wait a moment” is hazardous possible phishing for your cookies,
or “jjklqwabe” asking for specific name of topic that only questioner knows of, for self promoting,
routine spam continues with new user 20 answer limit to the likes of try here> “link” , and some times repeats like spam-bots,
there is some assistance through > Forum , to search for similar causes and errors, and does help to go there for latest discussions,
unfortunately, I’ve seen some users use technically adult content, but when you assess their category as in mothers and newborns , the images, icons, and words, are legitimate within context of reason for that topic, not meant to be harmful per content, yet they end up reported by others not reading context,
often with politics and beliefs, and generic polling, the conflicts are greater, and get reported or merely many thumbs down for wrong reasons, where sometimes those reporting have no interest or concerns in that category, this would be trolling and hate mongering of sorts,
rules do mention not to bother saying anything, if there’s nothing you’ve good to say, so why risk taunting others for mere spite and ignorance,
the point system as best I can see is only that, some top users only tally points for this alone, yet they do have to have rational answer to gain best answer days later, maybe someday we could exchange some of those for Yahoo stamps or air smiles,
sometimes categories accidentally get misplaced, not because of user, but context in main question,
“Can I drive a fast Plane? >
Can – recycling,
I – personal heath,
drive – computer hardware
a – spelling
fast – science
plane – woodworking
there is some hanky-panky with software downloading, or whats best, as opposed to what is affordable as best for beginners, as opposed to free online and further more, some users know not what they ask, nor some find answers, not realizing, its actually wrong by rules, not only Yahoos rules, but more-so internet rules,
do what you do as you do, ask for help, and help to answer,
Yes there sure is a lot of self gratification questions on this site, and a lot of potentially harmful answers to those who takes them as certain. You can’t police them all, but I’m grateful to those who try. thanx for being a good site for the community. Raven
I believe the significant majority of your efforts at this time should be driving out the spambots. They are ruining the experience far more than trolls, gamers and n00bs.
I also share the notion that at this stage, you should cap points totals at Level 7; that is, once you achieve Level 7, you stop accumulating points, period. That would eliminate all the point gaming. No more leaderboards, no more “Top Contributors,” significantly less reason for sock / meat puppetry.
I report people who REALLY deserve to be reported. People who are flat out rude and degrading towards others. Just the other day someone answered one of my questions, just to tell me that I was stupid. Me and two other people reported the answer, and it’s still there. Every time I report, it never gets deleted. Thanks Yahoo.
=(
=’((
waaaah!
I agree with all of that, and I have to say, I’m a very respectful user, but I was really pissed off when in the greek section, I used some greek in my answer and I got a violation… That was exaggerated, I think…
Your constant regurgitation of the rules is unnecessary. They are useless and meaningless when they are not consistently enforced and you can’t tell me that they are. The Community Based reporting is a joke. It has not cleaned up this site at all. It has just resulted in the suspensions of some very good users for nothing more than having a difference in opinion. Someone needs to police the “police force” and you are doing a poor job of it. I think that you should have monitors who are not involved in the competition for points and levels. Allowing people involved in the competition to enforce law and order is a lot like the NFL or NBA allowing the players on the field or court to officiate their own games. The system that you have stinks and you have spent more time primping the site and making it pretty than you have spent fixing the real problems.
Every day trusted users work together to report and remove content that violates our Community Guidelines.
I think this should be reworded to reflect what is really going on: What you can’t see due to your desire to take the ostrich approach.
Every day, trolls under the disguise of trusted reporters use their multiple accounts to report and remove content that does not agree with their personal beliefs and philosophies.
Howcome Racist and anti-semitic rants, that are thinly disguised as questions are allowed to remain, where as light hearted or slightly off subject stuff gets whipped away in a jiffy?
What about all the people who report your question when it is legit because they don’t like it? How come nothing happens to those people…
Great time to post this blog, YAT! Good to see a reminder about the Community Guidelines, examples of acceptable behavior, etc. That reminder is surely needed right now.
Yes, while it is true that “every day trusted users work together to report and remove content that violates our Community Guidelines”, those efforts would go a lot further if Community Moderation actually FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.
You forgot one other restriction…
>> Don’t use Humor.
I got a Violation “hit” for doing just that, back in January. And I got hit in a message that *** SUPPORTED *** a Yahoo! Answers decision (!)
Of course, if you one of the Community Guidelines Police, you can say just about anything (in my observation). And they can hit back at you – HARD.
That’s why I’m NOT using my real name / e-mail…I’ve learned how to Duck.
Please, people – Watch Your Tails!
“Every day trusted users work together to report and remove content that violates our Community Guidelines”
Indeed we do. That is, when Community Moderation is FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
My account was suspended even though I followed the Community Guidelines (after reading them carefully). I have submitted a request but have heard nothing.
good
I know it’s horrible wat people do.
“Every day trusted users work together to report and remove content that violates our Community Guidelines. ”
Trusted users can’t report any violations when the reporting system isn’t working, which seems to be more out than on for the past few months. For example, it’s been almost completely down, again, now for going on four days after only being partially up for less than a week.
Maybe, just maybe, “…abusive content is the most talked-about topic…” because we can never get rid of it due to the reporting system not working.
We are aware that Yahoo has priorities and this free site is understandably not highest on your list, but please do something about the forever broken reporting system.
People are more likely to join Yahoo for paid services if they are happy with the free services they try out first.
Thank you
Reporting is a total waste of time, someone needs to read the questions on the forum and take users suggestions seriously, we are the ones that know what is wrong and what would make this a better site, than it is now. A problem ignored gets bigger not better.
I don’t know. I have personally posted some questions on here that were at times politically charged, but was trying to find what people thought…or…forced them to think. Guess what? They were sometimes deleted here on Yahoo. I guess it’s true what they say…the USA is becoming more and more like communist China.
It would be helpful if the people who moderate Y/A also understand the guidelines, and not be so arbitrary with violation notices and suspensions.
It seems that they do not understand or follow the criteria.
“what about avatar games?”
They are STILL a guaranteed violation notice, they have NOT been legalized.
Perhaps you could at least have an automated system that instead of automatically removing an answer that is reported, checks to see if the answer was posted by a trusted user or Top Contributor and if so, tags it for review by someone before removing it. I have had several honest answers reported by jerks who are looking for specific answers, only to have them restored on appeal. I am myself a frequent reporter of spam and do not break the rules. I should not have to go through an appeals process to have my answers restored, the burden of proof should be on the person who reports it if the answer was posted by a trusted user.
YOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ones who rant are giving me reason to avoid certain categories. Such as the gender and womens study. How are they allowed to continue?
It doesn’t do much good to post your list of “Don’ts” when nothing is being done when they are reported.
But, following the “Do’s” list and having it falsely reported for who-knows-what seems to be the only thing that does result in a deletion. To make the experience even sweeter is that you can’t even get a response when the Y!A Appeal Form is submitted.
Nice blog entry, but it’s not enough. You need to find a way to get this message through to the largest number of users you can, and the blog is not enough, because only a small proportion of users ever read it.
Neither is the Help FAQ section, which is still incomplete and wrong in places (btw I’ve sent you several feedback forms concerning those FAQs, but I wonder who, if anyone, ever reads them).
If you still won’t consider a mandatory tutorial, then please use special introductory screens to be progressively shown to new users, or any of the several good educational suggestions that users have been providing for the last 3 years.
Investing a bit more time in education (aka prevention) is much more efficient than trying to fix the mess once bad/poor content has already been posted.
Please think about it!
how do you expect anyone to take yahoo sewriously when they use a cartoon hamster in a karate suit to write a blog about their rules and regs?
come on!!
Sometimes things are said on yahoo answers that may or may not hurt someone’s feelings. Well what I have to say about that is if you are sensitive you do not need to be on yahoo answers. I mean JC a narc is a narc. Leave your feelings on the couch and by all means; GET OVER IT AND YOURSELF! I am not talking to everyone here. The people I am speaking to know who they are!
Thank you for posting this people here simply do not know whatr is allowed it seems
Oh, please. You guys will delete something at the drop of a hat, no matter if it meets any of the requirements above. Some people report a question/answer because they find it personally insulting to their religion, political opinion, or whatever. “Boo-hoo, someone made fun of Jesus, sad cries, I’m gonna report it because my feelings are hurt,” and instead of telling them to put their big-girl panties on, you guys just delete the question. I don’t report posts that are insulting to my beliefs, I just laugh and get on with life.
I understand the need for 2 people to report on certain issues, but why when it obvious it is spam or Porno & reported when added in details it is not keyed to alert like words used when asking a question? also how do you report Inappropriate avatars? I used the report button twice the first time it was removed , the last one is still on here? I stated in details it was not the answer reported but the avatar , the chick looked naked showing her breasts.. why is it still here?
A-HA!….There it is in black-&-white, under the 4th example called “Cheat”:
– Creating multiple accounts to “game the system” is an infraction,
– as is copying and pasting other people’s answers to gain points.
I am the Top Answerer in a computer category, with 6000+ Best Answers.
(The 2nd-place person has only 700 Best Answers and disappeared from
Yahoo!Answers in February. )
I’m sick and tired of 2 very obvious and flagrant abuses of the Guidelines:
1) GAMING THE SYSTEM — All too often I’m losing votes by 4-1 margins
to people with absurdly wrong and totally illterate answers. It’s so obvious
that these people have numerous accounts and just vote for themselves,
no matter how outrageously stupid or false their answers are. There isn’t
one sane person on this Earth who would ever ever vote for their answer.
Like a fool, I “report” on these people, but nothing ever seems to happen.
They’re still there wreaking havoc and spamming the category.
2) COPYING AND PASTING — Being the Top Answerer, I’m all too often
the victim of people doing exactly that with my Best Answers. How many
times have I seen “MY” Best Answer used by somebody else, pretending
that the answer is really theirs — including using every single punctuation
mark, capitalization and line-break of mine? It is too embarrassing to say.
But, like a fool, I “report” these people, and nothing ever happens.
What in the world is the “Report Abuse” button for, if nobody ever seems
to be reading them? And who are these “Community Moderation” people?
– Clicking the first bullet supposedly sends the report to “Customer Care”.
– Clicking the second bullet apparently sends the report to the “YA Team”
Can somebody please explain to me the proper steps I should be taking?
I would be very much obliged. Thank you.
(inukjuak90@yahoo.com)
I have had several questions deleted over the years, and even if you held a gun to my head I could not give a reason why, there was nothing abusive, obscene, graphically sexual, illegal, etc. etc.
I have asked every time what rule I violated and NEVER got an answer other than the canned “We have reviewed your appeal request. Upon review we found that your content was indeed in violation of the Yahoo! Answers Community Guidelines, Yahoo! Community Guidelines or the Yahoo! Terms of Service. As a result, your content will remain removed from Yahoo! Answers”.
Does it just make them feel powerful that they can do this to anyone with no accountability?
If we post a question like
“How is everyone today on June 16, 2009?”
In Polls and Surveys, and then the next day we ask
“How is everyone today on June 17, 2009?”
Does that mean I repeated a question? Or does it have something to do with chatting? Because the other day I did the same thing, and the second question got deleted, why is that?
I find it very disturbing that your report system is so open to abuse; their is something fundamentally wrong with this system. You are losing good people all the time.
I agree that handling of reports of misuse is not handled consistently. This discourages use of the reporting system. Discouraging use of the reporting system makes it easier to post spam and other abuses.
The system says that a reliable report will increase a reporter’s influence in the community, and an unreliable report will hurt a reporter’s influence. Apparently, the reliability of a report of abuse isn’t determined by the reporter, but by the person receiving the report.
I rarely report anything…and…
I know I should take my part in contributing to the Answers community – but I’m not entirely clear on what’s what and what’s not.
like..
To some people, the word “crap” might be as offensive as the word “damn”, so does that mean we can report an answer using the word “crap” as profanity?
Or to some people graphic make-out stories are just as innapropriate as “non-health-related sexual content.”
Does that mean when someone posts a question about how they like to make-out or touch, anyone offended by it can report it?
And then what about when people ask a question that’s just asking for a catty answer? Like, “am i pathetic?”, “i’ve never dated and i’m 35 does that mean i’m unattractive?”, “how ugly am i?”
And someone answers with a truthful answer based on the information given, but it might come across very offensive to the person…
Like-say… “you sound really pathetic get a life wow.”, “if you’re single at 35 you must have downsyndrome or something, WOW.” or “on a scale of 1-10, one being the lowest, I’d give you -3.”
Thet could be very offensive answers,but maybe it’s just the truth of how that person views such a case.
so please specify! thanks…
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
Post all of the CG on one page so users can scan them.
(Link to examples and expanded definitions.)
Encourage new users to read the CG in any way you can.
Rewrite the CG to be CONCISE AND CLEAR.
Call the rules RULES not guidelines.
But this is better than not doing anything, just the fact that you seem to be blogging about Answers again is one helluva improvement.
Thanks.
Yeah i put some bad Questions on Yahoo and now Yahoo teached me
Abuse is ignored on answers,rules are not applied consistently and some are above the rules.
Yes we can go to the forum and read about answers problems,don’t post any disagreement though. Better not to post at all. Abuse is rampant there and no rules are enforced to curb the abuse. Answers may be close to shutting down and I can’t say it would be a bad thing.
A year ago. A movie titled Clueless. Some body answered said 1996. I answered correcting his answer 1995. My answer got delated and sent me a violation.
No big deal – but I was noticing that many of my questions are or have been in (tiebreaker) mode for longer than usual. I am the only answerer to these questions and it’s odd to me that they haven’t been posted yet. I stand by my answers to them – I believe them to be solid answers to the posted questions.
Yes, in the past, I did get the tiniest bit out-of-hand. (2 violations/removals in 2 years). Now I hold my tongue – or if I start a rant, I stop and press ‘Back’
Just curious – some small glitch – TY Y/A – I enjoy the site !
When will you guys at Yahoo stop giving unjustified Violations to users who don’t break the guidelines while letting trolls & troublemakers continue to do what they want? Why is it that users who obey the guidelines continue to get violations while while those who post questions that spread hatred bigotry racism guys who post questions about how big their private parts are continually stay posted & somehow stay even though they are reported? This is not right & that has to change.
Yankee.
I’m the victim of someone reporting several of my answers as “violations” when in fact they are no where near violations. Yahoo doesn’t apparantly check anything. I simply irritated someone by given the correct answer in contradiction to their incorrect answer. The sad thing is, Yahoo isn’t even sending me notifications of the violations so I can only see them on the activity page–which only shows, what?, the last 5 things. For every violation that I know of, I’m filling out an appeal, but that won’t go anywhere. And what about the violations I don’t know about?