Question

Why do the vast majority of people asking questions never say thanks for the answer?

This is not a personal gripe, I never answer questions. I have noticed though, that there are a lot contributors, who have answered an incredible number of questions and received very little thanks for it. What makes them carry on answering these questions, and what's wrong with modern society?

Answer 1

See below.

Explanation:

I can't answer the question as to why some people don't say thank you for answers, because there is not really an answer to that type of question. As to "What makes them carry on answering these questions", for me, I just like answering questions, and see it as a challenge. It doesn’t really bother me whether someone says thanks or not. The reality is, you can always stop answering questions if you feel that way.

Answer 2

People are busy, I guess. They are more focussed on solving their ‘problem’ than thinking about what it took to get there.

Explanation:

It’s a shame in a way, but I agree with the last answer - I do it because I find it personally satisfying, any thanks I get is a bonus. Having said that, there is a particularly pleasant feeling when someone not only takes the time to hit “like”, but also explains why your answer was useful to them. There is a student in Florida, for example, who is exceptionally polite and never fails to say thank you - maybe that’s just down to the upbringing he has had.

I think it is also something we tend to notice more because of our evolutionary past - neurological research indicates it was (and is) more important for our survival to bring a threat (or disadvantage) into conscious thought than something pleasant. So I guess your question, to some extent, comes from that tendency to notice the bad over the good.

Can I flip your question round? Why don’t you answer questions? Try it - you might discover more that way?