All Questions
Tagged with answers discussion
116 questions
29
votes
6
answers
592
views
Old posts and answers need protection?
As member of SU for more than 5 years, I have quite a number of old answers
lying around. Some of them are so old and outdated that today they are just
ridiculous, such as recommending the ...
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
88
views
How do we handle duplicate answers?
I flagged a post for deletion that was (IMO) low quality being that it was more of a comment/question for more information than an answer. I had also posted onto the same question a duplicate answer ...
- 26.5k
14
votes
1
answer
320
views
Old "link-only answers" by a former moderator
When I report answers (new or old) that point to a link instead of answering the question on Super User, they get deleted or edited to reflect our policies.
However, I've tried to report this answer, ...
user33758
3
votes
3
answers
569
views
Is it okay to use headers to summarize content?
About a month ago, I adopted an answering style from Thaddeus of Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange. The new format uses bullet points below a level 3 header with a brief summary of the ...
- 46.4k
18
votes
2
answers
438
views
What should we do with answers that are low quality but otherwise legitimate attempts to answer the question?
In my extensive time on the review queues and 10k tools, there's one thing that's always been bothering me: low-quality answers that consist of no more than a few sentences and often a link to ...
- 46.4k
2
votes
2
answers
111
views
Should I take question quality into account when answering questions?
I noticed this comment from one of our established users:
I only answer questions I belive [sic] are extremely high quality – Ramhound (source; moderator only)
Assuming the questions are ...
- 46.4k
3
votes
2
answers
105
views
How is one sentence of unsubstantiated opinion the best answer?
I recently asked a question and received this answer:
No, hard drives are in sealed enclosures and these images are marketing shots to give you an idea of the engineering inside.
That's it. One ...
- 2,180
2
votes
0
answers
64
views
How to post trivial answers when that is all that is required?
Often a problem can be solved with a trivial answer, which can be stretched to make one complete sentence. These kinds of answers are often done as a comment because they don't seem worthy of "answer"...
- 27.8k
2
votes
1
answer
126
views
New OPs answering their own questions
Edit: Nevermind. This was a newbie question based on misunderstanding how the site works. Skip to the last edit at the bottom for clarification.
Much of the time, new OPs leave a question, get a ...
- 27.8k
1
vote
1
answer
61
views
Should I flag an answer which *tries* to answer the question, but is useless for this *particular* question [duplicate]
Going through the late answer review queue, I came across this answer. While it should normally be helpful ('root' and 'toor' should be the default username and password from what I recall), in this ...
- 1,430
16
votes
2
answers
309
views
Are link-only answers fine if they link to Super User questions?
Let's say someone asks a question: How do I upgrade a widget for defrobulator?. There are many possible answers, each one correct and the question isn't too broad. (And defrobulator in this case is a ...
- 57.9k
3
votes
1
answer
56
views
Should I post an answer that isn't a perfect fit?
If I have an answer to a question that would help some people with the same question, but not the OP, should I post it?
Case in point: https://superuser.com/a/748752/231678
This doesn't help the OP, ...
- 1,929
5
votes
3
answers
239
views
Why do high-reputation users tend to have lots of answers but very few or no questions, and am I asking too many questions for my reputation?
After looking through the user profiles of very high-reputation users, it seems that most such users have lots and lots of answers, but very few or even no questions at all. Why?
On the other hand, ...
- 46.4k
1
vote
1
answer
186
views
What's the policy on using the same answer to multiple questions about the same thing?
I just found a new method to do a certain thing ... And excitedly wrote/pasted it to all the questions for which this is an exact fit. Then I started worrying if it wasn't the right thing to do...
...
- 907
0
votes
1
answer
81
views
Why has a question's post notice been added to an answer?
I just noticed that an answer has a post notice that says "we're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context...". Why would an answer have answers? It doesn't make sense to me. ...
- 1,851
1
vote
2
answers
198
views
Why try to answer if you're unfamiliar with the question?
I just don't get the responses like the comments I see on How to disable blue highlighting of text form field when selected in Word?
First two comments are
"Can you provide a screenshot for before ...
- 4,326
-5
votes
2
answers
142
views
Wassup with "answers has to be platform independent"?
It seems that someone believes that SuperUser has to have answers that solves all problems in all OS's. While I strongly believe that each answer is right on its own if it addresses the question ...
- 4,747
18
votes
4
answers
473
views
Is it rude to answer a question that has been solved in comments?
In this question
Make system sounds louder than device
A couple different people helped the OP discover the solution to his problem in comments.
In cases like this, is it best to just suggest to ...
user201262
33
votes
7
answers
965
views
Is "It's impossible" a valid answer, or is it a comment?
Sometimes you can see a question like How to do <something> in <some program>, asking for advice how to replicate a feature of competitive program or how to do something that OP expects to ...
- 57.9k
8
votes
1
answer
180
views
What is the proper procedure for us laypeople to edit an answer?
How do I get rid of adware from Search Conduit/White Smoke?
A few days ago, I had this question answered with the assistance of another user. His answer did not entirely solve my problem, however. ...
7
votes
4
answers
570
views
Comments to a question that should be answers
Problem:
A trend of questions being answered purely in the comment field of the question. There is no formal migration of this into the answer format to the question. As a result, questions that ...
- 1,492
14
votes
2
answers
303
views
Should you answer a question that you know will get closed?
There are questions on SU that are sure to be closed for a variety of reasons. Should you post an answer if you have one? I would think so its OK if you know it will get migrated to another SE site. ...
- 74.1k
13
votes
1
answer
188
views
Are there optimal days/hours to post questions in order to get visibility and answers?
I know that maybe that's a a silly and weird question, if it's not appropriate please forgive me and feel free to close it.
Given the large amount of questions that the site gets daily, it may happen ...
- 9,736
6
votes
2
answers
245
views
What should you do when you're not receiving any reputation for your answers?
I have posted several answers on Super User where my answers are the only ones posted for the questions, and they have never been accepted, nor have they been voted on. What should I do to ensure that ...
- 6,190
-11
votes
3
answers
110
views
Wouldn't everyone who has a post vote down the other posts?
I see how the answer method works here and on all Stack Exchange sites, but, can someone explain to me why those who have answers to a question can downvote other answers. Doesn't this seem a little ...
- 349
1
vote
2
answers
64
views
Should I ignore questions that require more info on SU
Question Internet Explorer 10 immediately closes after opening ends with, "What's next?"
More information could lead to a possible solution. Should I do one of the following?
request more ...
- 101
9
votes
2
answers
523
views
How should trusted users deal with non-answers?
Shortly after earning 20k reputation, I've encountered a couple of non-answers and – out of habit – flagged both posts as not an answer.
Then, I've remembered my newly gained super powers,...
- 50.3k
2
votes
1
answer
87
views
How to acknowledge comments with corrections to post?
Another user has made an important point about an answer I gave, rather than editing the answer directly. What is the appropriate way to give credit to that user when I edit my answer?
- 564
17
votes
2
answers
906
views
Bad answer repeat offender
There is a certain user I've seen answering some questions on SU that are... well, just bad. Most of his answers consist of a few more questions to the poster (that should be in the comments) and then ...
9
votes
1
answer
336
views
Has the possibility of having a "Vote to Answer" been discussed?
I've run across a number of different questions that may have entirely acceptable answers yet an answer is not selected either due to a user not returning to complete it, forgetting, or not thinking ...
- 3,421
1
vote
2
answers
88
views
Target Audience
I read slhck's awesome answer about the target audience of SU, and I was hoping for a little more clarification. Usually when I see a question post using nontechnical language (random example), I try ...
- 1,733
2
votes
0
answers
63
views
Should my answer contain many possible solutions, or should I post multiple answers? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why “Please only post one answer to a question”?
Some times, a question is a good question but maybe some what broad but not broad enough for it to close.
In these situations ...
- 25.4k
16
votes
2
answers
539
views
How to make people do their civic duty?
Voting is important, right? And yet less than 400 people have earned the civic duty badge. Out of how many thousand? Uncool!
- 2,834
82
votes
4
answers
25k
views
How do I recommend software in my answers?
I have a piece of software that I would like to recommend as a solution to problems. I'm trying to avoid answering with "link only" answers, and so I need help on how I can answer valid ...
- 26.5k
6
votes
2
answers
155
views
Is there is a limit of how much "quoting" a linked reference I can have in an answer?
This was actually prompted while I was editing an answer that was link only, but there have been times that I myself have found a useful site with detailed instructions. Most times, when I'm ...
- 26.5k
11
votes
1
answer
107
views
Should we edit link only answers?
There's lots of them around, and most times I comment asking the OP to edit the answer and add more detail. However there are some cases where the OP isn't around, but the answer is still valid (...
- 26.5k
6
votes
3
answers
173
views
Why do people post their answers as comments?
Often while browsing Super User, I notice that people post their answers to questions as comments on that question. Why wouldn't they post their answers as answers, so that they can be accepted? I ...
- 2,788
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What do we do with low quality answers from high rep users?
Note: if I directly point you out, please don't take it personal
I've noticed for some time now that while I've been cleaning up, that there are quite a few active, higher rep users, that are posting ...
- 26.5k
7
votes
3
answers
106
views
Should "Not an answer" include off topic answers? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is an answer eligible to be flagged as “not an answer”? What to do?
This answer turned up flagged as not an answer. I'm not actually certain which way it goes ...
- 132k
2
votes
1
answer
89
views
Are welcome messages in answers acceptable?
I saw this answer and am not sure if the “Welcome to SuperUser.” at the beginning should be removed. It seems out of place to me…and aren't new users shown or emailed a welcome page or something ...
- 2,428
7
votes
3
answers
292
views
How should we handle joke or satirical answers?
I ran into this answer to the question "What lasts longer: Data stored on non-volatile flash RAM, optical media, or magnetic disk?":
I vote for stone tablets. They survive thousands of ...
- 46.4k
11
votes
1
answer
259
views
What to do with questions that can't be solved.....except by re-install?
Taking a look at this question:
Problems with sound and flash in Ubuntu 12
The OP asks a questions and then answers it with "Oh! Fixed it by re-installing linux!" I've noticed as I've browsed ...
- 26.5k
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
Why do some answers don't have edit link?
Currently in this answer of question 226923 I am seeing that there is no link to edit the answer, whereas just below that answer I can see that there is link to edit that answer.
Both answers are ...
- 1,062
3
votes
0
answers
85
views
Editing OS-specific questions or answers if the question or answer will also apply to another OS [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should the original intent of a question be broadened to make the answers more canonical?
I recently found out that this question - How print multiple independent pages in one ...
- 6,322
16
votes
4
answers
592
views
Is there a policy for or against providing executables and other self hosted downloads?
My specific case is on my answer here.
Is there any policy (on SuperUser or StackExchange) in either direction concerning providing an executable I uploaded myself for others to download? Of course, ...
- 62.3k
12
votes
4
answers
271
views
What to do with answers to abandoned questions?
This problem has been discussed in several ways by now, but I did not find the problem I am facing with it.
I often face the problem that I answer a question and the user who made the question just ...
- 3,428
9
votes
2
answers
221
views
How should I handle ranting in answers?
I removed a rant from this answer. Is this the right thing to do or should I take some other action?
- 46.4k
6
votes
1
answer
136
views
What do we think of "Alternative to" answers?
I recently saw this answer, where the user simply did this:
http://alternativeto.net/software/games-for-windows---live/
Most of them integrate in games explorer anyway.
Are we against just ...
- 9,184
7
votes
2
answers
162
views
Retagging questions with the answer
This is a bit related to this topic on MSO.
In a recently suggested and approved edit a tag was added to the topic, but it only became applicable through the answer. The user didn't know the tag was ...
Daniel BeckMod
- 111k
2
votes
1
answer
157
views
Why was my "not an answer" flag marked helpful, but the post not deleted?
I flagged this post as "not an answer":
I had the same problem as Dan Dyer. I followed slesker's instructions and now my problem is solved.
Now, to the openoffice developpers: I really ...
- 232k