I know it’s been done before … but why do some posters have to reply when they don’t know the answer?

[Rosesandbee]

A few weeks ago I had a fairly niche question relating to my line of work, clearly indicated in the post title. I had several replies loftily informing me I could not do what I was planning to do from posters who did not work in my job. Other posters were clearly correcting them and providing links showing this. But they were not perturbed by this and continued telling me and others how right they were and how wrong we were.

And you see it on threads relating to other countries - posters who live there will say ‘nope that’s not quite right’ and still they insist they are. Or benefits, or housing, or just about anything!

Do they just feel the need to say something, anything? Like annoying kids who raise their hands when they don’t know the answer just because they like hearing a voice? Or do they genuinely believe their knowledge encompasses everyone else’s?

@Rosesandbee - sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that 🤣🤣🤣

Don't know?! But. . . . My auntie Mary on Facebook said....

Well it’s a discussion forum open to everyone, not a service providing accurate specific answers. You are bound to get varying opinions, there can be plenty of good free advice too, but you can’t expect people to only post with the answers you want/need. The site is just too big for that.

Like on Amazon when someone asks a question about a product and gets responses like 'sorry i don't know haven't used it yet.'

Oh, sure, I completely accept some posters WILL reply even when they haven’t a clue what they are talking about. But what I am asking is WHY!

Why?

I guess because either they want to or it's an attempt to bookmark a thread they want the answer too and can read back later?

It's not a case of 'why' , it's up to the individual, there will be many reasons why

See also...

'How tall is your 5 year old boy?'

'My 4 year old is 90cm'

🙄

Because some people are nosey, got nothing to do with the time, bored 😴 out of ,maybe tiny minds,
Just want to see what kind of reaction they will get, intriguingly , they think like that way,

It's probably similar like watching the every day drama on the street, in a cafe or outside one, watching 👀 the world,
The difference is obviously 🙄 its online ect...

Got nothing better to do with time.

I find this, I’m a lawyer and when I comment on something to do with my specialism I am often corrected by someone who clearly doesn’t have a clue. I will never say “I’m a lawyer” because I don’t want to be seen to be giving legal advice - it’s risky to give advice outside of work as you’re not covered by your indemnity insurance. Which is why most legal advice on social media is total rubbish - actual lawyers won’t comment. Once was corrected by a poster who informed me her boyfriend did something vaguely related to what I do and that’s how she knew I was wrong… Righto… cut out the middle man and you’d pay £235 per hour for my advice but of course your boyfriend knows better.

Yanbu. This pisses me off on my local fb page. If you can't answer the question or add anything constructive, don't bloody answer.

In response to the op, I think they do it because they must think their knowledge or input, however unhelpful is superior 🤷‍♀️

I think it's the schoolchild thing you mentioned, OP - some people just like the sound of their own voices. I think there are also a fair few unhinged people on here who claim to be lawyers/"safeguarding leads"/doctors but are nothing of the sort.

Another one is, "You can just google it, instead of starting a thread"

Ah yes, but I'd like to have a chat, thank you.

It happens all the time. Someone will say if you are size 18, what do you weigh and the first answer will always be. I am size 10 and I weigh 9 stone. God knows how people like that communicate in real life.

That was sort of my point above, although I appreciate you perhaps don’t believe I’m a lawyer either - but that despite it being very unlikely I’d be identified I am still reluctant to give legal advice and say “I’m a lawyer” because we are so aware that you just can’t go around giving advice without a retainer between you and your client.

Arises from the case of Lejonvarn v Burgess [2017] EWCA Civ 254 which related to advice from an architect but the principle is relevant to other professions.

One thing you can be certain of here on MN, is that whatever you say, someone will tell you that you are wrong.
You might be a world authority on some obscure branch of quantum physics, but if you post a comment including a fragment of your specialist knowledge, someone who failed Physics with Chemistry GCSE a lifetime ago, will immediately post to tell you that you are wrong!

But who knows why they do it? Maybe they get a buzz out of putting someone else down?

People also struggle to differentiate between facts and opinions, I.e they can’t accept a differing opinion is just that - an opinion and so can’t actually be wrong. But then dispute a proven fact, which can be backed up with their opinion. That’s so frustrating.

@BlueDinoRawr Oh goodness - I didn't mean you! I'm sorry if you thought I did. I meant that there are people on here who make preposterous claims to be lawyers, then spout a complete load of crap (quite often involving "custody" and "change the locks"). Those are just the ones I happen to be able to identify, but I'm absolutely sure the same would be true of all professions.

Same with people who blithely confirm that they haven't read the thread and then impart their considered opinion in a long post. A post that they would realise is completely wrong or irrelevant if they had read the thread. Drives me insane.

I’m not offended, better to treat anyone claiming those credentials on MN with suspicion anyway.

I work in housing and see this all the time on landlord/tenant posts. SUCH bad advice being given. Of course, the poster doesn't know that, otherwise wouldn't have asked in the first place.

I don't know but I've seen it on loads of threads. People who clearly don't know anything about the topic giving their uninformed opinion.🙄

Some will continue to argue even when they're presented with the facts.🤯

This annoys me too op. I don't offer advice on an issue unless I know what I'm talking about, but am often stunned at the confidence of people who clearly don't have a problem with doing so!

I've seen posters tell me I'm wrong on my specialist subjects or comment on how Government works (I'm a civil servant) despite not having worked in the public sector! Can see why the lawyers get annoyed!

I’m afraid I can’t help you, but someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

I think it's that a lot of people sadly genuinely can't distinguish between fact and opinion as @BlueDinoRawr said. So they can't recognise that they are spouting nonsense.