What benefits do you derive from a website that allows you to ask any question and allows anyone to answer that questions?

you’d be surprised

Take a good look around – you’ll see plenty of appreciative feedback comments from people who have asked questions ranging from “how long do I boil an egg?” to “my wife left me. what do I do now?”

If you don’t know what I know and you want to know, then you’re going to want what I know so that you also can know. The more we know, the more we can help the ones who don’t know, yet want to know. No?

Ask yourself another way “what benefit do you derive generally” from being able to ask questions?

The web is just another medium.

What benefit does one derive from gazing upon an artistic masterpiece or listening to one of the master’s symphonies?

I don’t know either, but their are alot of entertaining smart asses on here.

you rang?

What benefit is a website that allows anyone to edit pages full of encyclopedic content, such as Wikipedia? You get something that is a decent place to get started looking for information about a subject (even if it’s not a final authority on anything).

Fluther combines the common-sense part of Wikipedia with a user-friendly interface and a sense of community as well. Fluther won’t be the authority on anything either, but there are friendly people that will point you somewhere. (Whether that “somewhere” is valuable is left to the reader.)

@Chrisnak: type Milo into the Fluther search engine and you will see for yourself.

Personally, I find it very informative to read many of the questions and answers on here. I also find reading the variety of viewpoints on issues very stimulating and mind-opening.

Differing perspectives

You get answers from a lot of differing perspectives and viewpoints.

A good mix of perspectives, a wonderful collection of viewpoints and opinions, and backgrounds with a host of expertise in a variety of areas. You can always ignore anything that isn’t helpful, so why not?

i enjoy the idea that people are thinking of me naked at my computer, serving up my special type of folk knowledge. if they get something out of it, more power to ‘em!

If you don’t already know, this might not be the right place for you :)

@eponymoushipster Yes, that is exactly what I was doing. Imagining you neked.

Its like having a conversation with a friend, except that friend is an expert on almost every subject, and has a severe case of split-personality disorder (almost all of which are awesome!)

Collective wisdom, friendship, entertainment.

I get no benefit whatsoever. In fact, I get negative benefit. It’s just horrible to discuss issues with people I like and respect. I never have to do that in real life, so why do I do it here?

But what’s worse, is that I actually answer questions. Like this one. There’s clearly no benefit to answering this question since it isn’t actually about anything. Kind of Seinfeldian, that way.

That’s par for the course, of course. I challenge you to find a single question of any redeeming value anywhere on this site. If you can, I’ll buy you a virtual dinner at any webstaurant of your choice.

So beat it. Scoot. Run for your life! This place will suck you in and not let you go until you have a lobotomy, or get arthritis of the brain. Oh, wait. Aren’t those the same thing?

@chyna <wink> welcome to fantasy island.

Validation

How about different viewpoints, a source of knowledge in subjects you may be ignorant in, and last, but certainly not least, online compatriots that make you feel worthy of love and respect.

This is what Fluther is, and if it had no value or benefits, I wouldn’t spend so many hours here. I like this place, and I like the people here, and I have even learned to respect those whose opinions differ from mine. This place is a place that helps a person to grow. I don’t see a problem with that, do you?

@evelyns_pet_zebra Well said, sir. Lurve.