Why do people answer questions "I don't know the answer"?

Hmmm... I do not know the answer! Maybe because some people have nothing better to do or maybe they think that if they make their non-answer seem as clever as possible they might get paid something! (Kind of what I'm doing right now really i guess) But hey without people giving non-answers like that you wouldnt have started this discussion and earnt yourself a bit more, so really you owe them one. Cheers!

Because they're stupid and think they will get credit for pithy little answers like that. They think that quantity counts over quantity, and they toss off a few words to try and boost their earnings and their post count. Obviously, they don't bother to actually read how the site works.

This is annoying, isn't it? One of the biggest problems I find with it is that it increases the number of pages that need to be opened to follow through the responses. If all the one or two word or senseless responses were removed, navigation through the good ones would be much faster. I always give a "-" to those responses and always give a "+" to sensible ones, whether or not I agree with what they say. The good thing is that we are seeing fewer silly ones and much less copy and paste than we did a few weeks ago, and I believe this is partyly because of people like DoubleB, SKSouth and others in the MLPD

I don't understand it either. I feel the same way about posting an answer to a question, with "No, I've never done that." when you were asking for help or advice.

It seems like some people just want to make as many posts as possible. They don't understand that making a junky post won't get them anything. It is kinda irritating, but people are going to keep doing it. You'll probably get a ton of "I don't know"'s to this topic. lol.

well i think some newbies here just found their first discussion and so desperate to join in any discussion that they responded with "i don't know"...!!

i think people just give such answer for name sake.they think they get paid for such replies,infact this is just a misconcepption.the response needs to be valid and reasonable.as a mylot user,each of us must take it as our duty to eliminate such absurd replies.its really very bad.

I don't Know.. (: I think many people are here soley to earn money, and they somehow think that any answer, regardless if it of any real contribution, will make them a few cents. If I don't know or honestly do not have an opinion, I move on to the next one.

May be they have a misconception that they can earn for whatever they reply.This can only be the best reason.

I am so tempted to answer with an "I don't know" but that wouldn't be very nice of me.... snicker. I guess they read the discussion they feel like they should respond with something. Picture yourself in a real life conversation with a friend - the friend asks you a question on a topic you have not much information on.... you do not know the answer, do you then just stare at the friend blankly or turn your back and walk away? I suspect you politely respond.... hmmm, good question. Beats the heck out of me.... or faintly "I don't rightly know, off hand"

well think those kind of people like to get more number of posts to their accoutn only and that too they dont realise that they wont earn that much for typing oneliners...

Mental Block? Mental disorder? hahahaha!!!! "I don't know the answer". hahaha. Its just natural. Because some matters are very hard to think quickly.

I agree that someone should not respond to a subject unless they have something constructive to add. Otherwise, it is a total waste of time and doesn't accomplish anything.

I feel some people just to not really understand what mylot is all about. To me this is a site to share our thoughts and feelings on a certain subject but some people I feel do not know english well so that is one reason I feel. Also I feel that some people just want to make money but than they start asking why am I not making any money. I just hope they learn but if they dont thats okay I just keep on moving and starting and responding hoping that I make earnings and learn more about others.

Because they are thick!!

well the answer of course as others said..simple..just to increase the number of posts..and they are not the only one's to blame..there are many who start stupid discussions as well..thank fully mylot's policies are such that a good answer would earn you more and a nonsensical one might not earn anything..so that would take care of such people..

I dont know why they do that. I know that it makes me mad when I see it, and I see it happen alot. I think that they probably figure as long as they are posting SOMETHING they will get paid for it and also to raise up there number of posts.. I hate when I have a question that I really want a real answer to and its a I dont know or just a bunch of nonsence that I cant even understand.. usually I just hit the - rating for them.

oh my goodness! that bugs me to no end when people do that too!! i mean..i ask for some advice and people actually say "i dont know"..well thanks for the help buddy! and you're right, those sort of answers dont even get you money! those kind of people are just retards!

If they're really that desperate for the money, they should go to Dormcheck. They pay a penny per post lol. I go to mylot if I want a serious discussion, but if I want a quick couple of bucks, I'll respond like crazy to Dormcheck. I'm up to 6 bucks and change over there and made a dollar in one day just from posting nonsense.

i don't know the answer. lol. seriously, i have encountered a lot of responses like that and it irritates me. i'd prefer not to respond to a topic if i'm not interested in it (or if i don't know anything about it) rather than post such a lame answer. you're right, the person who started the discussion won't benefit from it. but maybe other people think they would earn from "i don't know" answers so they respond to topics they don't care about anyway.