New users can't ask for clarifications except as answers [duplicate]

Question

In some situations, a question can have more than one meaning, and a new user with less than 50 rep points would like to ask for a clarification that would make sense. In this case, they have to ask in an answer field.

Shouldn't we allow at least a clarification field, if comments are not allowed for less than 50 rep?

Clarification if a new user wants to get clarification on an ambiguous question asked by another user, they can't ask in comments, instead they will ask in the answer field.

shouldn't we allow this new user to be capable of making that inquiry? does it make sense to make the user ask in answer field or ask a new question to get clarification on another question to answer it!?

Answer 1

We funnel users to the answer input box for a reason -- because the focus is on getting answers to questions, not meta-commentary. Commenting is a privilege that should be earned by providing useful answers. And 50 rep isn't much.

It's highly unlikely a random drive-by user will

• understand our Q&A goals
• understand our commenting system

So by the time they earn 50 rep, they should have learned roughly how things work, and be in a position to offer a useful comment and not a "+1 AWESOME ANSWER" sort of comment.

Answer 2

I don't know the history that led to the introduction of the rep threshold for comments, but I'm for removing it. It frequently generates noise from new users with good intentions that has to be cleaned up manually.

Answer 3

I interpreted you as meaning a clarification on an answer or on an "solved" question, if you mean a clarification on a new question by a new user (e.g. new user B wants to answer it), then see even further below.

If we did add a clarification field, it would just turn into a comment field, and we'd be back at square one. We should instead encourage these new users to work within the system (as giving them comment abilities has been declined).

That might mean posting a new question asking about the clarification. I see nothing wrong with this, especially for a new user: I'd gladly upvote their well-written question. (Yes, if you have 10k rep, I treat your questions different than if you have 1 rep.)

However, I also include my public email address in my profile, and wouldn't mind a random new user from using it. (If I'm comfortable spending time responding to comments on SO, might as well do that for email, etc. Some users are still hesitant to send "random" email, though.) It's never happened to me, but it'd probably make sense to update SO with that clarification anyway.

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If you mean a clarification on a new question by a new user (e.g. new user B wants to answer it):

The new user could wait, as another user with 50 rep will likely ask or the clarification will otherwise be made obvious. Or they could make their best guess at a good answer that attempts to solve what they consider to be the most likely scenario in the question. Upon clarification they can edit or delete their answer to solve the actual problem.

Answer 4

From most FAQs:

you can always comment on your questions and answers, and any answers to questions you've asked, even with 1 rep.

So if referring to the posts you made, as new user, it's already implemented.

If you mean about new users wanting to ask clarification on another question or answer, they should ask a new question, referring to the one on which he wants more details. It would be better than posting a new answer which wouldn't be one, and probably better than a simple comment if what you want to ask is a bit more elaborate than a simple comment.

This situation happens very often on Super User, where a question is abandoned (or even answered for the Op's particular case), and someone has the same problem, or a similar problem with a few differences. In this case, they should post new questions, to be able to provide their own details.

Answer 5

I disagree with Jeff Atwood. Having fewer than 50 rep points doesn't make someone a complete moron. There are certainly situations where clarification would be helpful to many other readers, and instead new users are forced to begin an entirely new, but nearly identical, question rather than just building a comprehensive answer in one place.