Why do some people ask this community when they could have found an answer themselves by doing an Internet search?

Some people aren't as good at using search engines as others. Although you might take it for granted now, it's something not everybody learns to do well.

Moreover, many questions asked here are not answered elsewhere. Genuinely new content is being contributed here everyday.

It's true. Many WikiAnswers questions could be answered with "Look up 'XYZ' on Google," or "Check your owner's manual," or "Check the current Blue Book price guide," etc.

However, many people haven't developed good research skills. They may genuinely be at a loss for where to look for information. Regular users of search engines tend to forget that they once may have learned how to use a search engine, although in many cases no previous knowledge is needed. Very few people are really good at it. The same goes for libraries. Librarians exist because people aren't born knowing how to use a library. Even a phone book is something you once needed to learn how to use.

You don't need to help anyone here on WikiAnswers. Naturally, it's completely up to you if you choose to help answer a question or not. But if you do help answer a question, try to assume that the person who asked genuinely needs your help.

I really don't know. they could just be lazy like me. or they could have tried and nothing came up because it wasn't the technical term but other people might know something about the topic.

Some may use it to test others, to see if other people know the answer to a question that they know the answer to. They may want to see how fast someone will give them the answer. Some people also put up trick questions deliberately, to see what people will answer.

Ask yourself, why are YOU on it if you want an honest answer.

No matter what the reason, and there are many I'm sure, without reasonable [& some not so] and decent [and some not so] questions this community would not exist and I [we] would not get the pleasure of sharing our [my] knowledge. So I say - keep asking.

First answer by ID0000000000. Last edit by Flukey. Contributor trust: 57 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 272 [recommend question]