Why do people think they are going to get answers to personal issues from any social media?

They might have experienced the same problem, and want to share what worked for them.

Because the real world sucks. I prefer chating with someone going through the same thing as i am. I cast a larger net on Fluther than my apartment neighbors

Because others have been through similar situations and can offer support and helpful advice.

Humans are, by nature, social creatures. Most are rather co-dependent; few are self-sufficient, but it works for us.

But technology has allowed us to communicate with billions of others practically instantly, yet our technological advancement has far outpaced our societal growth; we have abilities we haven’t learned to handle yet.

Take someone who has little common sense to begin with, give them that sort of power, and you wind up with… well, the internet.

@marinelife Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Problem is, between trolls and well-meaning idiots, there is plenty of bad advice, and plenty of opportunity for abuse. After all it isn’t a real person on the other end of the connection; it’s just a bunch of pixels on the screen. Some people have that degree of detachment because they honestly cannot grasp that the words on their screen originated from a living being! And some are just sociopaths.

Because they do get answers.

@Dutchess_III so true and with a real person input, but you do have to be careful of the trolls.

@Dutchess_III Because they do get answers.
Elucidate, how can a person get a real answer? What are some examples? If a person is being bullied aside from common sense things they can figure out on their own, for instance, what can some typed voice out in the clouds sovle for them that they cannot solve for themselves?

@Hypocrisy_Central Maybe it isn’t always the answers they get but the empathy and the ability to talk to others that have been through the same thing. And sometimes they can’t see the common sense answers because they are too close to the issue. Sometimes they may need to hear it from someone to see what worked for others.

Relating to Fluther specifically, I sometimes want an objective opinion, or I don’t feel like discussing the issue with people I know, for various reasons. Maybe I’m considering doing something and don’t want people I know “in real life” to know. Maybe I am wondering something and too embarassed to discuss it with my friends or family.

Maybe I know that there are people on here who can specifically address my issue. Maybe it’s something like an engineering question, and I know some engineers on here who can help. Maybe I want to talk about Porsches, and there’s someone on here who owns one. Maybe I want to talk about what it’s like to live in a certain place, and I know there are people who live in that place on Fluther.

If that one person was really who he said he was, and if he was really in the abusive relationship he said he was, we gave the the courage to GTFO.

@Hypocrisy_Central Because common sense isn’t common. People might need a common sense answer. Others just want to share. Others just want conversation and Lurve.

@jca Maybe it’s something like an engineering question, and I know some engineers on here who can help. Maybe I want to talk about Porsches, and there’s someone on here who owns one. Maybe I want to talk about what it’s like to live in a certain place, and I know there are people who live in that place on Fluther.
I would put those as more technical or academic questions over personal issues.

Sometimes real life people can’t provide the answers we need. Sometimes we even don’t want them to know about the issues, like they are some kind of secret we have to hide to protect the relationship. And like some have said, we need an objective answer, so we come to social media, in search for help from other people.

That said, I agree with the fact that some have overrestimated the social media, seeing them as a know-it-all while the issues can be only be solved by people who have seen them in real life.

It’s actually a really good and important question.

Why are people giving themselves up to the whimsical counsel of (often anonymous) figures out in the ether?

Same reason, I suppose, that people imagine that they will be saved by ambitious, corrupt and amoral politicians who no more give a shit about them then they do a stray cat, but who absolutely love their vote.

Either way, it isn’t good.

There are millions of people on the Internet. Some are bound to have the experienced the same things you have. It’s nice to know that someone understands what you’re going through, and to know that someone cares. Some people literally have no one who cares for them offline, so the Internet is their place for communication and to find someone that actually cares for them.
The Internet can be a pretty good place for advice as well. If you have common sense, you’ll know which ones are right and which ones are not. The Internet is full of many different kinds of people so it would be helpful to keep your options open and listen to other people’s opinions on the subject, you just have to know which ones will work for you and which ones won’t.
If you are having problems offline though, while it may be comforting to get some advice and suggestions online, if it is really bad, then you should definitely go see an expert. Don’t just rely on what people on the Internet say. Just be open-minded, smart, and careful.

@Mimishu1995 Sometimes we even don’t want them to know about the issues, like they are some kind of secret we have to hide to protect the relationship.
Often it is never good to have full disclosure in everything; we humans are too fragile to handle that, but any information that if finally brought to light would doom a relationship, thus needing to be hid, that is not a real relationship.

@Misspegasister28 Some are bound to have the experienced the same things you have. It’s nice to know that someone understands what you’re going through, and to know that someone cares. Some people literally have no one who cares for them offline, so the Internet is their place for
Here is what that all said to me, that it is not important to get a real answer, all that is needed is an ear to empathize and a big cyber hug of commiseration. If I was in a terrible relationship, I should know what to do. If I were standing in an ant hill at the park no matter how hot the day and how shady the tree, the smart bet is to move your butt or get ate up. Why would I need to ask another person who got stuck in an ant hill and could not figure out what to do for advice? What advice could they give me, move away from the ant hill? That was the logical choice I could and should have made on my own anyhow.

The Internet can be a pretty good place for advice as well. If you have common sense, you’ll know which ones are right and which ones are not.
If one has common sense, are they afraid to use it until it is parroted back by some stranger? If they know when they hear it from a stranger, why could they not come up with it themselves?

@Hypocrisy_Central Sometimes it’s hard to think of solutions ourselves so we go to other people for them. What I mean by common sense is that if multiple people give you multiple solutions, you should be able to see which ones are a smart thing to do and which are not.

^ What I mean by common sense is that if multiple people give you multiple solutions, you should be able to see which ones are a smart thing to do and which are not.
Which means I have to still apply the same question. If you can tell by strangers that you should make sure your ladder is on a solid surface where it will remain balanced, how could hearing it from 4 other people make it better? If you did not know it was a smart thing to do, how would hearing it from 4 other people be better unless you have to admit, you are ignorant to it being the smarter move and acquiesce that by sheer numbers they have to be wiser when it comes to ladder placement. But where to place a ladder, which gas to buy, or how to cook a perfect ham is more of a technical question if fact, and not an abstract issue.

@Hypocrisy_Central That’s why those who do seek help online shouldn’t just rely on that, but also see an expert offline as well.

If they are not just gathering thoughts, ideas, then it is hopeless. Word for word, they never tell the whole story. They just want assurances and attention that they are not getting elsewhere. Most people don’t just have philosophical conversations anymore. It’s disturbing. And because we are no longer brought up with the capabilities to think for ourselves, we are educated into following by example. Also quite disturbing.