Through several metrics we continuously measure we determine reliability of users. So, empathetic and positive users that are constantly providing good answers receive a higher score and in the contrary the opposite is true.
The higher the score the more questions the user gets assigned and the more he earns per response.
People that are better qualified thrive and people that are not fall behind on this meritocratic system where users have to earn their place.
How do you know my answer was “good”? I’ve seen highly upvoted answers in my area of expertise on a number of platforms that were wrong to dangerously wrong. How will you know the difference?
That’s not how “good” answers work. If I tell you the sky is green and that makes you happier than hearing that it’s actually blue, your site no longer has value for getting or understanding answers. That is a fatal flaw, and I’m not sure what you’re offering that, say, Reddit isn’t, aside from an inability for anyone else to correct clear mis/dis-information.
We do get your point and it is a fair point. However, an important factor while getting feedback or answers is getting a diverse and unbiased set of points of view which will likely enrich the person whose seeking that feedback. It may very well be the case that some of those points of view are incorrect but it may very well be the case that some are not just helpful but accurate. The key is to be able to have a large enough, diverse and unbiased sample. Of course, equally important the user's ability to interpret, filter and report in such case the data. And that is what were trying to do here. Hope this helps.