Ask500 beta

Archive for the ‘Featured Questions’ Category

Ask500People Weekly - Sept. 3, 2008

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Welcome to the sixth issue of Ask500People Weekly, a digest of Ask500People news, featured questions, and cool comments. Here’s what’s up this week!

Notable Polls

Joy Ike asked: “I’m trying to make it as a musician. Do you think this music has real potential? Seriously asking.” And she posted a link to her MySpace Music page. Fifteen people voted:

  • Very Likely: 67%
  • Likely: 20%
  • Not sure: 7%
  • Unlikely: 7%
  • Very Unlikely: 0%

Waugs (Canada) commented: “Your voice reminds me a bit of Des’ree but the style is different. I like your piano style, moving clusters around, I do that also. Excellent performances all around. That sounds like a real drummer, a very tasty player. Thanks for sharing this!”

SpangeNW (United Kingdom) replied: “What waugs said. Really enjoyed listening, great voice. I have it playing now. Hope you make it!”

GenaK asked: “Difference between Kosovo and South Ossetia. Should they be independent?” Over 180 people voted:

  • Only Kosovo should be independent: 9%
  • Only South Ossetia should be independent: 4%
  • Both of them should be independent: 66%
  • None of them should be independent: 20%

SpangeNW (United Kingdom) commented: “Both of them should. I wonder why the world was willing to back up Kosovo against Serbia but sees Russia’s actions as unacceptable. South Ossetians deserve the same support as the Kosovans, as should any region that feels it is oppressed by it’s central government or not represented properly by it.”

Tim100 (Slovakia) commented: “None of them. It’s very simple: the nation should have only one state. Example 1: Kosovo. Albanians have two independent states, they both are neighbour states (Kosovo, Albania). Example 2: S.Ossetia. Why should Russians from this area have their own new state. Only few miles to the north they have a Russian state – the Russian Federation. I think it was a bad idea to agree with Kosovian independence, because with this step should agree Serbia. Example 3: I come from Slovakia, but there are many minorities in my country. Do you think it would be ok if Hungarians, who have their own state (Hungary), would establish a new Hungarian state in the territory of the Slovak republic?”

iamafractal asked: “I like this taste the most…” Over 300 people voted:

  • Sweet: 60%
  • Salty: 26%
  • Sour: 11%
  • Bitter: 10%

Wingnutt (Germany) commented: “I like hot stuff. I have been eating so many habanero peppers over the last 15 years or so that Tabasco doesn’t even tingle anymore.”

davisfreeberg asked: “Are you addicted to coffee?” Over 330 people voted:

  • Yes: 30%
  • No: 70%

Eirrac (Canada) commented: “I’m a tea drinker. All sorts. I’m not a fan of coffee at all. I’ve tried it many times, but I could never understand what the fuss is all about.”

Peterf (Norway) commented: “I’m certainly not addicted to standard American coffee. The worst — that is weakest — I have ever drunk.”

Wingnutt asked: “Do you think that lowering the drinking age on college and university campuses is wrong?” Over 330 people voted:

  • Yes: 53%
  • No: 47%

Dauguy (United States) commented: “The U.S. has the highest drinking age in the world. The range is from 0 to 21. Looking at the places with no limit, I would have to say that it is not an age thing, but a cultural one. Thailand isn’t renowned for its alcoholism rate, but Soviet Georgia was.”

Chipmonk (United States) replied: “Well if there are places with no age limit and the people there can drink responsibly, maybe we need to examine what they are doing that makes them so successful. Maybe we can instill the same values in young people and get the same results.”

Coming Soon

We’ve got some exciting things in the works, including even more fascinating demographics for polls and a better way to keep track of your favorite questions and conversations. Stay tuned!

Happy Asking!

Have something you’d like to Ask 500 People? It’s as simple as clicking here. Find a question that made you go hmm? Read a comment that made you LOL? Let us know and we could feature it in the next Ask500People Weekly! And if you’re not signed up to receive the Ask500People Weekly email newsletter, it’s not too late. Just check the box for “”Best of Ask500″ in your profile.

Ask500People Weekly - August 6, 2008

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Welcome to the fourth issue of Ask500People Weekly, a digest of Ask500People news, featured questions, and cool comments. Here’s what’s up this week!

Stumbling Towards Geekery

One of the many fun ways that people discover Ask500People is through the StumbleUpon social bookmarking service. StumbleUpon also taps the “wisdom of crowds” to find interesting destinations on the web. Click “Stumble!” and, while you never know where you’ll end up, you’ll almost always find something great.

Check out our StumbleUpon page, and if you’re a StumbleUpon user, share your thoughts on our site and help others stumble across it, too!

Notable Polls

waugs asked: “In your life, which do you regret more?” Over 700 people voted:

  • Something you did: 37%
  • Something you did not do: 63%

PhxMike (in the United States) commented: “Absolutely the things I did not do. Even the things I thought
I regretted at the time, long term, ended up to be good.”

LaRousse5 asked: “When was the last time you spoke to your mother?” Over 730 people voted:

  • Today or yesterday: 58%
  • Within the past week: 17%
  • Within the past two months: 10%
  • Longer than two months ago: 15%

Vieffan (in the Netherlands) commented: “Within the past two months. But that’s just because she is on
vacation. usually I speak to her every day.”

sarah_may asked: “Have you ever been on TV?“Over 720 people voted:

  • Yes: 44%
  • No: 56%

Hauli (in Canada) commented: “I was the anchor and an interviewer of a weekly news magazine show. It was primarily a current affairs and general interest show. I did this at the same time as hosting the afternoon show at a radio station.”

laika1651 asked: “Where do you obtain your music?” Over 480 people voted:

  • High Street Retail: 23%
  • Online Physical Purchase: 26%
  • Online MP3 Shop: 32%
  • Illegally: 19%

Ask001 commented: “In Canada, downloading for personal use is (still) legal. For that privilege we pay a tax on recording media. On a side note, even though I can download a full CD in less time than it takes me to buy one, I still buy more than I download.”

WishingForSun asked: “Do you have health coverage?” Over 540 people voted:

  • Yes: 68%
  • No: 32%

annecm (in New Zealand) commented: “Nope. Don’t need it here.”

suzannabanana1 asked: “How many years of education do you have?” Over 400 people voted:

  • I have a high school diploma: 72%
  • I have some college: 34%
  • I have a BA, BS, MA or PhD: 42%
  • I didn’t graduate from high school: 6%

Chipmonk (in the United States) commented: “Every year I’m alive is another year of education.”

Happy Asking!

Have something you’d like to Ask 500 People? It’s as simple as clicking here. Find a question that made you go hmm? Read a comment that made you LOL? Let us know and we could feature it in the next Ask500People Weekly!  And if you’re not signed up to receive the Ask500People Weekly email newsletter, it’s not too late. Just check the box for “”Best of Ask500″ in your profile.

Ask500People Weekly - July 2, 2008

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

Welcome to the second issue of Ask500People Weekly, a digest of Ask500People news, featured questions, and cool comments. Here’s what’s up this week!

Better Blog Embeds

We recently announced a new-and-improved embeddable poll, allowing you to post and share polls on your blogs and websites. Well, we’ve improved them even further, making them more compatible with people using WordPress for their blogs. If you haven’t yet tried it, you should! It’s a great way to add interactivity and activity to your site.

Notable Polls

source asked: “Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Does everyone have just one true love?” Over 300 people voted:

  • A. Yes: 55%
  • B. No: 45%

yolda commented: “This are two questions, which I would answer one with yes one with no, for example. I believe in soul mates, which can be more than one, and I believe that one can have more than just one true love.”

ChipMonk asks: “Do you have a valid library card? If so, do you use it at least once a year?” Nearly 500 people voted:

  • A. Yes (I have a valid library card): 22%
  • B. Yes (and I use it at least once a year): 37%
  • C. No (I do not have a valid library card): 41%

Hauli commented: “I use the library all the time. For new releases or any book that isn’t on the shelf, I can order online and they email me when the book is in for pick up.”

Vieffan asked: “Do you consider yourself old?” Over 400 people voted:

  • A. Yes: 23%
  • B. No: 77%

Ross commented: “I’m a hell of a lot closer to seventy than sixty five and whilst I like to think I’m not old, just oldish, I have to admit there are a lot of things I can’t do as well as I once could. But old? No. Not yet.”

Maeycken asked: “Do you know your neighbours?” Nearly 500 people voted:

  • A. Yes: 67%
  • B. No: 33%

PhxMike commented: “I live in a historic neighborhood, with a great deal of cultural diversity. Always fascinating, and everyone watches out for one another. We have several Sikh families, Hispanic families, gay & lesbian couples, a French couple next door, several elderly couples, and a pot smoker across the street.”

Happy Asking!

Have something you’d like to Ask 500 People? It’s as simple as clicking here. Find a question that made you go hmm? Read a comment that made you LOL? Let us know and we could feature it in the next Ask500People Weekly! And if you’re not signed up to receive the Ask500People Weekly email newsletter, it’s not too late. Just check the box for “”Best of Ask500″ in your profile.

Ask500People Weekly - June 18, 2008

Friday, June 20th, 2008

Welcome to the first Ask500People Weekly, a digest of Ask500People news, notable polls, and cool comments. In addition to unveiling the new “Edit Your Location” feature, we turned the spotlight on a handful of questions:

Chipmonk asked: “Does intelligence help a person to have faith in the supernatural, or hinder the ability to have faith in the supernatural?” About 400 people voted:

  •   A. Help: 39%
  •   B. Hinder: 61%

And SpangeNW commented: “I don’t know either way. Some of history’s greatest thinkers and scientists were also learned theologians and Isaac Newton was known to be a mystic.”

stoplookingatme asked: “You, on an uninhabited island with one comfort…“Over 300 people voted:

  •   A case of toilet paper: 22%
  •   A spirograph: 9%
  •   An mp3 player with 70’s hits (Solar charger included): 40%
  •   A cat named “Rocco”: 28%

waugs commented: “Music. Got to have it. I can wash in the ocean. I can draw on the sand. Maybe I can train a crab to be a pet. I’ll even name him Rocco.”

mclinton0026 asked: “What do you prefer?” Over 400 people voted:

  •   Kissing: 23%
  •   Hugging: 19%
  •   Neither: 9%
  •   Both: 48%

And Fewill asked: “Which flavor would you give up last?” Over 400 people voted:

  •   Chocolate: 47%
  •   Strawberry: 19%
  •   Amaretto: 13%
  •   Coffee: 22%

Have something you’d like to Ask 500 People? It’s as simple as clicking here!

Find a question that made you go hmm? Read a comment that made you LOL? Let us know and we could feature it in the next Ask500People Weekly!  And if you’re not signed up to receive the Ask500People Weekly email newsletter, it’s not too late. Just check the box for “”Best of Ask500″ in your profile.

We’ve Asked 500 People!

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Just yesterday we said we were “closing in on 500 votes,” and as the perfect cherry on top of this week’s upgrade sundae, Ask500People saw its first 500-vote question answered. User cleve from Bosnia and Herzegovina asked, “How old are you?” And to date, 517 people answered.  (So far, 60 percent of the voters are between 20 and 39 years of age.)  Thanks to everyone for helping us grow into our name!

Featured Poll: What year is it?

Friday, January 4th, 2008

I enjoyed this one which ran with great timing. Usually the International Date Line doesn’t really “pop” but it’s pretty useful here.

Featured Question: Is art still relevant?

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

We’ve always hoped that in addition to being fun, people will find poll results to be useful and thought-provoking. It was neat to see this post referring to this poll show up in our referrer logs, discussing whether or not art is still relevant in our times.

(click the image to view full size or view the poll)