5

When someone posts a really simple question which can be answer in just one line, what would be the best thing to do?

  1. Answer in comments and leave, which means there might not be any appreciation at all.
  2. Answer in the answer box with a bit more information on their question and get appreciation with upvotes and may be 15 more points if your answer is accepted.
Improve this question
3
  • 21
    Put it this way: if you post the answer as a comment, it's very likely someone else will copy-paste that to an answer and get the rep.
    – tombull89
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 11:54
  • Thanks! Got it. Next time, I will play well :)
    – Dhiraj
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 11:59
  • 1
    I think you are confusing "appreciation" with "reward." I leave comments all the time, and I suspect that they are often appreciated (particularly when they are there to point the user toward an answer or helpful contextual information), even though I am not rewarded for them in any way.
    – Aaron Bertrand Staff
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 14:59

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
34

Put it this way: if you post the answer as a comment, it's very likely someone else will copy-paste that to an answer and get the rep.

Improve this answer
4
  • 18
    My point, therefore, stands :D
    – tombull89
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 12:10
  • 1
    @tombull89 You proved it man :)
    – Dhiraj
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 12:11
  • 5
    @tombull89 And this is now one my most voted answer on all the StackExchange websites, you really made your point :-)
    – Florent Bayle
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 12:43
  • 5
    +1 because this was both clever and unscrupulous
    – Aaron Bertrand Staff
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 15:00
5

If you are sure about your answer you should post it as an answer, use comments to : request clarification, leave constructive criticism...

As explained well here: https://stackoverflow.com/help/privileges/comment

Improve this answer
5

Always go for the second option. There is a clear-cut distinction between a comment and an answer.

A comment is meant to ask for relevant information or clarification. An answer answers the question - straightforward, isn't it?

So, never give an answer in the comments section of a post. Having said this, if the simplicity of the question disqualifies it as an SO question, you're better off flagging it as e.g. broad or off-topic.

Improve this answer
1
  • Seems like you are going the smart way :)
    – Dhiraj
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 11:58

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .