One of my favorite online resources is Ask MetaFilter, a forum where members can ask any question at all and get prompt, thoughtful responses. Unlike other online groups that have problems with unreliable, rude, or judgmental respondents, MeFi boasts an unusually large and responsive membership. I've seen questions on health, travel, computers, relationships, cooking, movies, and everything else you can possibly imagine.
I certainly don't read every single question, but when I have time I do enjoy scrolling through the entries as they come up in my Google Reader. Some of my favorite questions are the ones where someone vaguely remembers a childhood book or part of a song or a movie, and invariably someone nails it—usually within minutes of the question being posted.
Anyone can read the questions and answers, but you need to pay a one-time fee of $5 to ask or answer questions. It is so worth it. Here are some questions I've asked in the past, just to give you an idea of the range of topics:
When I didn't get the joke in a New Yorker cartoon
When I didn't understand what seemed to be a crucial part of Per Petterson's novel Out Stealing Horses (I had posted the same query here but didn't get any responses.)
When Steph had been prescribed an unnecessary antibiotic and I hated to throw away the blister-pack-sealed pills in case a charitable organization could accept them
When I wanted to get Pete noise-blocking earphones so he could listen to music while drumming along
When PayPal blocked me for life because someone else tried to hack into my account (Luckily this happened after I joined MeFi, because PayPal is the only way to join, and I still haven't solved this problem!)
When, just last week, I despaired of ever finding jeans that fit me right (I am now the happy owner of both blue and black Style & Co. jeans, which were on sale at Macy's for $15 each!)
The MeFi folks do not judge, they just answer. I've been happy to provide my own two cents' worth to quite a few questions, and it feels great to be a part of the "hive mind."
Gah! No PayPal, and no way around it? Blocked for life? That just is wrong on about a dozen levels.
Posted by: Wendy | February 27, 2013 at 12:18 PM
I've found Quora to be very civilized, thoughtful and free.
Posted by: scott | February 28, 2013 at 04:17 PM