I’ve aimed a lot of criticism at human powered search engine ChaCha over the last couple of years. The service lets users ask questions, just like a normal search engine. But instead of a computer spitting out answers (see Google, etc.), real human beings answer instead.
The ChaCha service was absurd in its original web version, which has since been discontinued. The mobile version is actually very useful, although we questioned its scalability when it launched. New information from the company suggests they’re keeping costs low enough to make a business model out of it. More on that soon.
Now about this image.
Some fairly funny answers occasionally come back from the human guides, who early on at least had to deal with a lot of prank queries. But none of the ones we’ve seen compare to the one to the right, which is a Digg favorite tonight. It describes the Eiffel Tower sexual position (yes, you learn something new every day) in response to a completely unrelated query about a Randy Newman show in Seattle.
I contacted the company about it and got the following message:
I appreciate your reaching out to me regarding this iPhone prank. We researched this as soon as it came to our attention and our logs indicate that the answer displayed was definitely to a question previously asked by this same user. So yes, this is a fake as this person is misrepresenting what actually occurred. They actually asked one question (to which the answer was sent) and then a second question shortly thereafter and then received the answer to the first question which, due to the way messages are threaded on an iPhone display, the answer is appearing below a different question than the one that was asked to spawn the answer that is displayed.
So in the end this was a bit of a trick apparently used to misrepresent what happened in order to get some laughs – which appears to be working as this is getting some serious play across the Web!
Ok that sounds more than reasonable. But when I go to the URL in the image, it shows the question and answer linked (see below). I understand how text messages back and forth can get out of order, but not how the wrong answer can be linked to the wrong question in ChaCha’s own database. I also note the guide was on the job for one whole day before this happened. I’ve emailed the company for further clarification.
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Don’t you just love ChaCha?
The guide who answered it has responded on flickr, you may ask him what went wrong.
ok, the flickr page is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/t.....966648972/
The guide comment is a ways down and confirms the ChaCha position:
I still don’t get how the question and answer are linked in the database though.
also, it’s interesting that she took 1:12 to answer the question and was paid $0.20
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....984598183/
$12/hr, I love Web 3.0!
That is hysterical. I LOVE chacha…. not only can you get useful information, but as shown above, it can be great for party games (as shown above). If you haven’t used it give it a shot….
that may be the best search results i’ve seen yet
Wow that is a great photo of the service. Thanks for sharing.
Thats hilarious
lol, great post!
Lol! Awesome image.
I have been teaching people how to use technology & how to deal with tech-phobia http://youtechno.info and ChaCha is taking us in the opposite direction. ChaCha is madness.
so you’re saying cha cha is about rejecting and fearing technology. ok!
“no…you techno!”
Your link is dead…therefore you phail!
And so ChaCha found a great business models … next joke of the day please.
Guys!
There is a 1% chance that it wasn’t a wrong answer!
Think of a store owner who offers something else if what is being asked for is not available.
ChaCha is already more useful than Mahalo.
I thought that was called “London Bridges”
The difference would be that in London Bridges no high fiving occurs i guess…. LMAO
LOL, I would of died laughing if I got a response like that. I probably would of replied with “Thanks a lot! That was exactly what I was looking for.”
Haha.
I guess that they’re not targeting folks in rich countries to be their guides, as they say you can expect to earn an average of $3-$9/hr. ChaCha: “Got questions? Ask Indians!” Their education system is probably better than the US one anyway…
From ChaCha:
“Generalist Compensation
Generalist compensation is at $.20 per answer where Top Guide status is achieved. Guides who are still working to attain Top Guide will be paid at the rate of $.10 per question; however, achievement is reviewed on a weekly basis, so if you do not qualify for a given week, you will be eligible to qualify the following week. Average compensation is expected to be between 3 and 9 dollars per hour, though many Guides currently earn more. Give it a shot! Do you have what it takes to be a Generalist? Really think you can be a Know-It-All? Help ChaCha take the next step in delivering incredible Mobile Answers by being a Generalist. Like every ChaCha Guide role, work hours are completely flexible. “
try the link again - they changed the answer to a legit non-sex-pose answer.
i first saw chacha at the sundance film festival this year, where they were a partner. i was actually in park city for another competing film festival, slamdance. i asked chacha where slamdance was held, and received the answer that the festival had been canceled (when of course it hadn’t).
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/c.....754418778/
They updated their database. The link in the IM now shows the correct answer and response. I know you’re right and they updated it, because when I saw this yesterday and typed in the url, their database showed what was in the IM screenshot.
They’re covering their tracks.
http://search.chacha.com/u/PxbWIipF
I wonder what is the White House modeled after. And the Washington Monument…
Golden Gate, Seattle Needle, Superdome, Sears Tower….
Oh, My….I’m aroused….
hahaha. This is pretty amazing.
I doubt that most ChaCha guides are Indians– in fact, I *think* you had to be a citizen– although not sure and can’t really remember from my sign up days.
I work part time for ChaCha as a guide. I consider the earnings from this job, my coffee or play money. I am a systems analyst for a large financial investments firm. Due to the nature of my job, I couldn’t have a part time job out in the public for various reasons. So– this ChaCha guide job fit the bill. Might as well do something while sitting watching tv at night and surfing the net. Many other guides are stay at home parents, folks between jobs, students, and those sort of like myself just looking for a way to make extra money for whatever reason. It ends up bringing in about $300-400.00 a month for me in extra funds. For me, I can find MOST anything on the web so the job is much like a game– how fast can I accurately answer a question back to an infoseeker. To go from generic info about the size of a whale’s penis to the difference between felsic and mafic magma types, to does billy really like me, and finally to provide me the differences between obama and mccain’s environmental policies– it keeps the brain snappy and things interesting during time I would have spent just randomly surfing.
Someone’s changing their tune. So much for the deadpool, eh?
My goodness, you actually did not completely smash the company this time and actually said something not as bad. That’s progress, Mike!