Is This Unethnical?

15 years ago

Well answering your own questions is kind of lame but I don't know if it is unethical exactly. But why not answer real questions? There are plenty of them there.

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Ben_Curtis

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Rich Struck

Well answering your own questions is kind of lame but I don't know if it is unethical exactly. But why not answer real questions? There are plenty of them there.

Right. There are plenty of questions all ready for intelligent answers. Wouldn't it be better to dive in there?

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JoshuaG

15 years ago

Its only unethical if the answer you give is uninformed and doesn't help the reader.

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Lisa Gergets

15 years ago

If you have to ask whether it's right, it's not right.

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rlrlphs

15 years ago

You should do it one Link per day because it looks so spammy to put 3 links in one day and in one page.

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petevamp 15 years ago

I have done this not exactly the way you are saying however. I do know someone who does this. The ask a question with one dummy account then answer the question with another dummy account. If you target the keyword you will get instant front page listing due to yahoo having tens of millions backlinks.

However if done to much yahoo will suspend your account so do not use an account you want to keep. Now the way I did this was I simply found actual questions in my niche then answering with the best of my knowledge then giving them a link to one of my pages. How ever once again I did this with a dummy account because with in 3 days or some one not wanting your answer there they report it to yahoo.

Yahoo just suspends your account indefinently so that you can never answer a question or post a question again on yahoo answers. But it does work really well I used this tactic with one of my affiliated traffic sources and simply answering 5 questions I got 4 signups to that affiliate program that day and about 20 later that week so it is well worth it. How ever none of them upgraded but it did not matter because I gain from them if they upgrade or not.
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sbucciarel

Banned 15 years ago

That's an old trick and one that worked well when I first heard of it. Lots of people do it. Unethical? I sort of doubt that your question and answer will add any real value to Yahoo Answers and more than the million or so Tweets that say "Want to find out how to get 40K followers"?

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Matt Bard

15 years ago

How would you feel if someone asked you a question that they already knew the answer to?

What would you think of that interaction?

You could possibly think to yourself, "Why would someone do this"?

In your case, you're going to do it to give the "appearance" that it is a real question.
Making something "appear" to be different than it actually is can be thought of as deceitful.

It's ok in magic acts but...

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Paul Myers

15 years ago

Do you think it is wrong to do this?

Let's see... You are going to pretend to be two different people, and vote for yourself under the fake name of the "questioner?"

Ummm... Does the deception in that not stand out pretty clearly?

Paul

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Killer Joe

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Let's see... You are going to pretend to be two different people, and vote for yourself under the fake name of the "questioner?"

And all coming from the same IP I guess :confused:

What could go wrong...

KJ

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ArticleFreak

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Killer Joe

And all coming from the same IP I guess :confused:

What could go wrong...

KJ

To be honest - nothing!

Plenty of people do it and there are not too many problems.

I have a few answers accounts and never had any problems whatsoever - I do NOT us them however to answer my own questions.

I believe that it is better to answer questions already there - brings you more traffic IMO.

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John Durham

15 years ago

Posts like this do not help the rest of us with our faith in Nigerien sense of ethics, which I saw you post as a concern not long ago.

This is just like asking the question : "If they cant prove I did it, doesn't that mean I'm innocent"?

Of course it's not ethical, but that only matters if ethics matter.

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

Just do it, marketing is marketing, as long as your not scamming anyone. Give correct information even if you're answering your own question.

Edit: Get a friend on another computer to answer the question and tell them to leave a backlink

Translation: "There's nothing wrong with duping yahoo as long as you make money. Who cares about playing fairly right"?

"Black - hat" is just a pretty word for "dishonest".

My granny taught me that "semantic" is just a pretty word for "hiding the truth" and hiding the truth is as good as "lying". But that only matters if it matters to "you".

If you would rip off yahoo, then you would rip me off too. That's how I see it.

There's my TWO CENTS

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michael_nguyen 15 years ago

If you would rip off yahoo, then you would rip me off too. That's how I see it.

Not true, for me anyway.

Point to add. I've used yahoo for backlink purposes to move my site up the SERP. My sites are affiliate physical products so I'm hardly "scamming"

Each to their own
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yommys01

15 years ago

Thanks warriors, I have been battling with this for some time now but I am glad it is all sorted....Idea dropped.

Originally Posted by kadensnga

Posts like this do not help the rest of us with our faith in Nigerien sense of ethics, which I saw you post as a concern not long ago.

This is just like asking the question : "If they cant prove I did it, doesn't that mean I'm innocent"?

See, I will not lie to myself.. This is something I have been considering for some time but never done it and only wanted to know what warriors think.

If I had not felt it was unethnical and that I should not do it, I will not start the thread and be as honest as saying I wanted to do it.

I could have said MR ABC is doing it meanwhile it is me that is about to do it. It is always better to be constructive in criticism..

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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Let's see... You are going to pretend to be two different people, and vote for yourself under the fake name of the "questioner?"

Ummm... Does the deception in that not stand out pretty clearly?

I thought he meant he would ask the question and then answer it as the same person. I'm not sure if that is against the terms of use. I would think they would frown upon that at the very least.

But, if he's talking about using two accounts as you mention, that's a violation of their terms of use, which can result in getting banned not only from Yahoo! Answers but from all Yahoo! services.

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ArticleFreak

15 years ago

Many people do it, but in my opinion it is unethical.

As someone already said - answer genuine questions and leve your link in the source.

Good luck,

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MeCanX

15 years ago

Honestly, it's kind of a toss up to me...because if that option is there and yahoo doesn't stop you from doing it...I.E. keeping track of I.P's who post and then answer then it's a matter of how you feel about it. Don't get me wrong ethics are very important to me...

I personally, probably wouldn't do it...because i like to do what i'm doing now as it's easy and makes me good money online. I'm the type that likes to keep it simple...

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michael_nguyen

15 years ago

Just do it, marketing is marketing, as long as your not scamming anyone. Give correct information even if you're answering your own question.

Edit: Get a friend on another computer to answer the question and tell them to leave a backlink

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williamstarrett

15 years ago

More than one person doesn't make it ethical, it makes it a conspiracy!

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

Just do it, marketing is marketing, as long as your not scamming anyone. Give correct information even if you're answering your own question.

Edit: Get a friend on another computer to answer the question and tell them to leave a backlink

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Matt Bard 15 years ago

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

...as long as your not scamming anyone.

What is your definition of "scamming"?

If someone acts on information that has been setup to represent something other than what it actually is would be "scamming".
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Matt Bard

15 years ago

If I have a software product that has won more awards than any other software maker it could lead you to believe that my software is better than the others.

But what if those awards came from my own companies and they were awards given out to only software makers within my own company and that my software branch of my company was the only software branch in my company.

In other words, there is only one person that could qualify for my award. Me.
Is that scamming? It's all legal, but is it scamming?

Of course it is.

And you would feel like an idiot if you bought my software and then found out about the phony awards.

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michael_nguyen

15 years ago

I'll type it again

"as long as your not scamming anyone. Give correct information even if you're answering your own question."

Only he can answer that. It may seem "unethical" to work the system but I really don't see the problem if someone else can benefit from it.

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John Durham

15 years ago

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

I'll type it again

"as long as your not scamming anyone. Give correct information even if you're answering your own question."

Only he can answer that. It may seem "unethical" to work the system but I really don't see the problem if someone else can benefit from it.

You are giving unsolicited advice, when you could easily look up on yahoo answers where someone actually really "asked" that same question probably and answer there instead, if your intention is truly to contribute to someone who needs answers.

Sorry I hurt your feelings. I love you, how bout a hug!

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michael_nguyen

15 years ago

Originally Posted by kadensnga

You are giving unsolicited advice, when you could easily look up on yahoo answers where someone actually really "asked" that same question probably and answer there instead, if your intention is truly to contribute to someone who needs answers.

Sorry I hurt your feelings. I love you, how bout a hug!

My intention is to move my sites up the SERP and my little link wont hurt anyone if I post it in the sources box. I don't hug warriors! I fight them!

Using yahoo answers

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John Durham

15 years ago

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

My intention is to move my sites up the SERP and my little link wont hurt anyone if I post it in the sources box. I don't hug warriors! I fight them!

Using yahoo answers

Bummer. Well, I still love you man!

Originally Posted by yommys01

Thanks warriors, I have been battling with this for some time now but I am glad it is all sorted....Idea dropped.

I commend you for taking such a noble step of asking your fellow warriors. Truly that says something great about your personal character.

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GettinRough

Banned 15 years ago

[DELETED]

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Dan C. Rinnert 15 years ago

Originally Posted by GettinRough

dog eat dog world

someone else is doing it, i guarantee it

do what it takes.

I can also guarantee there are people out there that mug tourists for cash. There are those that break into cars and apartments and houses to steal stuff. Just because other people are doing things doesn't make it right to do them yourself.
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- Matt Bard 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert
  
  Just because other people are doing things doesn't make it right to do them yourself.
  
  Dan,um, I think we might be brothers. Didn't mom always say something like that?
  
  Oh, by the way, she loved me more.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Killer Joe 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Matthew Maiden
  
  Dan,um, I think we might be brothers. Didn't mom always say something like that?
  
  Oh, by the way, she loved me more.
  
  Yea, that's what I've heard
  
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LB

15 years ago

Hey, what's the address for Google again?

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LB 15 years ago

Originally Posted by LB

Hey, what's the address for Google again?

Google.com
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- LB 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by LB
  
  Google.com
  
  Thanks man, you rule.
  
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  Tired of Article Marketing, Backlink Spamming and Other Crusty Old Traffic Methods?
  
  Click Here.
  
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- John Durham 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by LB
  
  Google.com
  
  BEST ANSWER!!!
  
  Dude that really helped me out! I'm sure glad someone asked that question! This is the kind of thing that makes this site such a great resource!
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  DussaultPR 15 years ago
  
  I really can't see you getting on the first page of Google for such a competitive term using that tactic. But who knows!
  
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John Brown

15 years ago

In the big scheme of things this will not matter at all, people have been doing this for a long time.

Unethical? Yes. But is spamming hundreds of sites with links to your site in attempt to make money from their link power any better?

Or manipulating the system (google etc) to the fullest extent to get what you want in the quickest way possible?

Then you can look at it from the view that people are looking for exactly what you are putting out and you are offering them value; assuming you're not just producing junk.

If you answer a question someone might've been asking, then you've accomplished what Yahoo Answers is meant to, so good job.

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Freeman77

15 years ago

Unethical? No, in my opinion.

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Matt Bard

15 years ago

LOL.

Thanks for the pic Joe. That was hilarious.

That explains why Dan's hair is darker too

Matt

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TrueDepth

15 years ago

If it is only for the backlinks, then of course it isn't unethical. Yahoo could stop it if they wanted. If you do it to promote something then it is a waste of time as humans can spot bs a mile away.

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ezeey

15 years ago

I don't see a problem with that. Only it is going to be quite ineffective, and yahoo might suspend your account.

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Igor Kheifets

15 years ago

It is kind of lame but if it works well for
your seo, just go for it. Who cares if it's unethical.

Igor

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Matt Bard 15 years ago

Originally Posted by igorhelpsyousucceed

Who cares if it's unethical.

Igor,

Do you realize that people are going to read this and assume that you probably do some unethical activities yourself?

Maybe you don't care and that's your right.

But, if you do care about your image and your ability to sell yourself or service then you might want to clear it up now. Because there are people reading this and deciding not to use your services or buy from you based on the statement above.

Matt
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Lance K 15 years ago

Originally Posted by igorhelpsyousucceed

It is kind of lame but if it works well for
your seo, just go for it. Who cares if it's unethical.

Igor

All I can say to that kind of advice is...

Be careful, karma can be a real b*tch.
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StephenDavies

15 years ago

I wouldn't do this personally. However there are plenty of opportunities to answer genuine questions on Yahoo Answers.

I tend to only answer questions related to the Clickbank product I am trying to promote via a Squidoo lens, so that it doesn't appear as spam or as an off message advert.

I get a lot less traffic from using Yahoo Answers in this way, but the ones that do click through are much more highly targeted.

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JAIDEEP2959 15 years ago

It is definitely unethical.

Yahoo answers guidelines does not allow it.

Besides that I don't thing money making online niche is popular on Yahoo answers.
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Jon Steel

15 years ago

It's deceptive - yes. But unethical? That's up to you. Ethics are based on YOUR idea of right or wrong. NOT ours.

Everyone has an opinion - but for this, only YOURS matters...

js

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ponting786

15 years ago

Hi,,,yommys01!

To me it is unethical upto some extent,but it cannot be a worth problometic as many people arouind the world do so..

You should answer genuine questions rather your own questions..

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magic456

15 years ago

Well Yahoo does say that if you find an answer to your own questions and you think it is more relevant than the other replies, than share it with everyone else. So you don't even have to write as two different users. Just reply to your question saying I found this to be very helpful...
-Magic

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betesh

15 years ago

I agree, its kinda lame

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Cody.J.Hobbs

15 years ago

The question is what is ethical. Posing a question and answering it truthfully is not necessarily unethical ... because it's true and you provide information.
Choosing it to be the best answer ... well it becomes grey ... you still could argue it's your oppionion ...
Making up thousands of fake users and having them all vote that this is the best answer is probably unethical ... some would call it black hat IM.

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Matt Bard 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Cody.J.Hobbs

Posing a question and answering it truthfully is not necessarily unethical ...

Posting a question that you already know the answer to in order to have people believe that it is in fact a question and not a setup so that you can look like someone who is knowledgeable is deceitful.

Deceit is not an acceptable business practice.

Definition of unethical: "Not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior"

One should expect business people to behave in a professional manner.
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Goatboy

15 years ago

I'm late to the party, but FWIW, when I have a problem like this and I am trying to find the right thing to do, I ask myself 4 questions.

1. Is it legal? Can I legally do what I am thinking of doing?
2. Is it moral? Sometimes things are legal but outside of my moral guidelines.
3. Is it fair and balanced? Am I cheating, scamming or otherwise abusing the system?
4. How will I feel about it tomorrow? No matter what else, I have to consider this.

If you are having second thoughts before you begin, then it sounds like #4 is biting you. #3 may also be in question, or you may feel that it is, and that may be why #4 is giving you fits.

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Is This Unethnical?

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