Whether we like it or not, SO is enabling lazy users:
Lousy question, then somebody delivers the goods.
We need to block the answer box totally, once a question is downvoted a lot. Just allow commenting only!
Related:
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Sign up to join this communityWhether we like it or not, SO is enabling lazy users:
Lousy question, then somebody delivers the goods.
We need to block the answer box totally, once a question is downvoted a lot. Just allow commenting only!
Related:
You know, sometimes all it takes to get the context needed to improve a smelly question is a great answer from someone that was able to decipher it. If we can avoid putting a question on-hold entirely by some great surgical edits, that's definitely preferable.
Remember, it's not just about the OP getting their answer, it's about the quality of questions and answers we warehouse for future visitors to find. If we can hit the quality spot quickly, sometimes with the help of a great answer, then I don't see a problem - everyone wins.
When that's not possible, then we put questions on hold and let the OP know what they need to fix. Sometimes folks have a heightened sense of urgency that they need to escape, and that process can help.
This is what closing is for. Questions that we don't feel should be answered should be closed not (just) downvoted. The question you showed would qualify for closure.
If you don't have enough rep to vote to close, then you can flag the question for closure to direct those who can to that question.
Optimize for pearls, not for sand it the motto of StackExchange.
While I strongly agree that help vampires should not be fed, there are other reasons for downvotes as help vampires. And there are cases, where the poor question has resulted in some excelent question, which is easily googled - a pearl!
What's more, such pure question may be edited, making it more clear and precise, but the downvotes remain as long as they are not matched with enough upvotes. Blocking answers would make even such questions a helpless case.
The best way to enforce "do not feed vampires" policy is to delete spoonfeeding questions as fast as possible. The posters of the answers would therefore lost their reputation, that they've expected so easily to earn - discouraging them for future spoonfeeding.