Got Questions? Got Answers? Get AskMe!
Written: Jan 19 '02 (Updated Oct 14 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A great service where you can both give and receive answers to life's questions
Cons: None... I think
The Bottom Line: A great site for everybody!
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| fyvel's Full Review: On line websites |
**Update**
Unfortunately, AskMe's Q&A service will be shutting down permanently as of November 25, 2002. Apparently this service was just an "experiment" to test the usability of the system for more important matters.
I will leave this review up, in memory of the great times I had at that site :)
End Update**
AskMe.com is a really great web site. I have been a member there since 12/31/1999 – just over two years. In that time I have really enjoyed my time spent there. I think just about anybody could enjoy the site – they have a little something for everyone!
What is AskMe.com?
AskMe is a site that allows members to sign up as “experts” in a given category. The experts then answer questions that people ask them.
Ok, I’ll give you some more detail!
So now that I have tickled your curiosity (or perhaps not), I will explain a little bit more of what the site is about.
There is one thing you should know before you go there and get confused. When you type in www.AskMe.com, you will be taken to a page that doesn’t really have to do with the part of the site I am talking about. The little site that started out with a different name (heck, I don’t even remember what it’s original name was, something that had “expert” in it) has now progressed into some strange internet business venture, or something. I’m not reviewing that part of the site because it doesn’t really apply to me and I have never used it. The part I’m reviewing is the site as it has been all along – the question and answer service. So if you are a bit befuddled when you see the home page, don’t be. Just go down to the bottom right and you will see a section that says “Great answers from real people” – click that link and you will be taken to the AskMe I am talking about.
The first thing you may notice on this page is how many categories are listed. There’s a ton of them, and within most categories are sub-categories. Like I said – there is something here for everyone!
So now you’re going to want to join. It’s simple: click on the “Join Today” link at the top of the page, and you will need to fill out a form. All the information you need to give to sign up is: e-mail address, username, password, first and last name, your postal code, and you also need to indicate if you are 13 or older. Once you have signed up you can take advantage of all that this site has to offer!
Asking Questions
Finding the appropriate category
If you have a question about something, the first thing you need to do is find the appropriate category to ask it in. Let’s say you want to spice up your profile page but you need help with HTML. Just click on Technology & the Web, and you will be taken to a page with a list of sub categories. Internet and the Web seems to be the most appropriate, so you click on that. At this point you can choose to ask a question in this category or narrow it down more. In this case you will want to select another sub category – Building Web Pages. Again you have the option of asking your question here or narrowing your search even further. Another idea is to ask the question at this level and at subsequent levels. Let’s say you ask your question here, but you would also like to pose the question to experts in an even more specific category; this time you pick Basic HTML. This category is at the bottom of the barrel, there are no sub categories within this to choose from (but you can suggest one if you like).
Asking your question
Once you have decided on a category (or categories) to ask the question in, you can either ask the question to one or more experts directly, or you can post the question on the question board, or you can do both.
To post to the question board (which I recommend!), just click the Ask a Question button.
To ask an expert, just click on the Find an Expert button. This will take you to a page that lists the experts. Each expert has a profile, where they list what their knowledge is in the subject. Each expert is given a rating in that category based on how questioners rated their answers. You can also see how many questions they have answered in that category. You can choose to view their previous answers. If you want to ask your question directly to an expert, just click on the Ask This Expert button.
When you receive an answer to your question, you will receive an e-mail with a link to the answer. You can also check for answers by clicking the “Members Only” link at the top. When you receive an answer, please remember to rate it! You can leave comments if you want, but the expert who answered will receive no notification that you have left the comment. The only way they know is if they happen to check back or if you ask a follow-up question.
So you think you’re smart, eh?
Alright, you’ve spent some time at AskMe and you think you have what it takes to be an expert. Chances are you are an expert at something(or at least know enough to pass off for one!), and it’s quite likely that AskMe has a category for it.
Find the category in the same way that I explained above. If you have ESP and you’re interested in showing off your talents, go into Entertainment and from there you will see the appropriate link, Psychics & Fortune Tellers. For most major categories, there is a separate “Other” category, for example, Other(Fortune Tellers). Don’t forget to sign up for the “Other” categories as well as any sub categories that may apply.
To become an expert, hit the link (in the appropriate category) that says “Be an Expert”. This will take you to a quick sign up page. Anybody can be an expert on anything, all you have to do is fill in a form by giving 15 words explaining what makes you an expert in that category. But once you’re an expert, you have to prove your worth by giving good answers to people’s questions.
Chances are nobody is going to ask you a question directly until you have become an established expert. Right now your name is at the bottom of the list, and even if anybody does happen to find you, chances are they aren’t going to ask you when they can ask another guy who already has 546 answers under his belt in this category (***Disclaimer: this number is completely fictional; any resemblance to any experts at AskMe, living or dead, is completely coincidental***). So how do you get your name out there? Go to the question board! Answer as many questions as you can, and give long, detailed answers that anybody can appreciate (and will feel compelled to give five stars to). Once you’ve answered enough questions to get your name on the board, well then you can slack off a bit *grin*.
If somebody does eventually choose to ask you a question directly, you will be notified via email (not on a daily basis, but right as the question is submitted). Or you can go to the “Experts Only” link at the top and it will take you to a page listing all of the questions you have been asked.
This is the best part - if you don't want to answer the question, you don't have to. You can choose to decline the question, and best of all, it isn't held against you if you do. You can choose if you want to give a reason for declining, but you don't have to. I am signed up under several science and homework help boards. Some kids will sometimes ask a question directly quoted from their textbook. That's not so bad, I will leave a short answer helping them with the answer, but without directly giving it to them. The worst is when someone poses a question like Write a 4 page essay on.... Ummm, are you serious? Hey kid, I told you I would help you with your homework, not write your essays for you!
And if a particular user is really nasty to you (I am sure you have all had your experience with that kind of person!), you can choose to block that person from contacting you. Sound familiar? Thankfully, in the two years I have been there, I have only had to block one person.
AskMe is also nice enough to have a little box off to the side that shows you all of your statistics. For example, here’s what mine says as of right now:
Your Overall Statistics:
Member Since: 12/31/1999
Your Overall Rank: #795
Answered/Received: 1090/1090
Average Response: 1.5 days
Point Range: 5K-10K
That reminds me – as you answer questions, you are awarded points, which are used to evaluate your place on the social ladder. Don’t worry too much about trying to figure out how they work, they seem to be awarded as ambiguously as Income Share.
One final thing – you can go into your profile and choose to be notified on a daily basis when there are new questions on a particular question board, just so you don’t have to check back every day. This is only really useful for the less active boards since most get new questions on a daily basis.
~~~Thanks for reading!~~~
Recommended:
Yes
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fyvel
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Member: Mandy
Reviews written: 90
Trusted by: 80 members
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