Is it OK for me to use ideas from someone else's answer in mine? For example, if I post an answer, and someone else posts an answer or comment with an additional idea, can I incorporate their idea into my answer?
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2I frequently link other answers, but would never paste someone else's work into mine. I tend to regard this as an attempt to get credit for someone else's answer. If an answer would exclusively refer to someone else's post, then it should be a comment rather than an answer.– halferNov 12, 2013 at 15:34
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2 Answers
Yes, if it complements or completes your answer (so it's not just a rip-off but really an organic addition to what you are saying). Make sure you give them credit for the idea. I tend to do something like
A general way to achieve this is xyz. (Or, as @username says, you could do abc.)
It's important to remember that one of the main ideas behind Stack Overflow is that it becomes a general repository of quality questions and answers. This is the reasoning behind a lot of how the site is designed, from being able to edit (almost) anybody’s posts to community moderation. As such it is entirely OK, and I would say even encouraged to include information from someone else.
In short as @probably Pekka says yes as long as it an organic addition to what your saying and you make sure to credit them...
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7+1 for such an nice meta-answer (and on
meta, no less ;-) ) Nov 12, 2013 at 15:13 -
1It's too minor to propose an edit, but the spell is Stack Overflow ;) Nov 12, 2013 at 15:25
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1@brasofilo Updated, I always though the site name was without the space, but it looks like your right and it is with a space.– JackNov 12, 2013 at 15:28
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I forgot to mention that the link in my previous comment results from the magic link
[so]. Yep, me too, I only realized it was separated after seeing some edits here in Meta. Nov 12, 2013 at 15:35