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As far as I know if a question will be closed and in the same time someone write an answer, then a message will appear to that person telling him that he can't answer anymore and everything what he wrote was in vain.

But (now I see first time) it seems that things are not really so:

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2 Answers 2

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There are a few things going on here:

  • The server will allow submissions up to 4 hours after closure.
  • The client-side javascript polls the server for question status roughly once every 45 seconds. If it sees the closure, it disables the form.
  • Unless, that is, you've been writing long enough to have saved a draft. You might get a notice saying that the question is closed but your form will still work.

The draft system is what's responsible for the weirder outliers (I've seen hours-long delays before) and is much newer than the up-to-45-second window but this one could simply be a client-side delay issue.

You could probably force an answer through up to 4 hours later by just tinkering with the javascript to re-enable the form if you really wanted to. Video showing you can.

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People that started to write answers before the questions are closed have a leeway of 4 hours so they can submit their answers. This is by design.

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  • 1
    I'm sure that I saw many times that freaking message (This question has been closed - no more answers will be accepted) before passing 4 hours.
    – Radu Rădeanu
    Jul 19, 2014 at 0:15
  • That's not exactly what Jeff's answer says. As of that post, the backend allows a 4hour delay it but the frontend should be shutting down well before then. Jeff's post explains up to 45 seconds (which would cover this question). Though (and this should be stressed) that post is over three years old. Things do change.
    – Oli Mod
    Jul 19, 2014 at 6:32
  • @Oli what exactly Jeff says that differs from my answer?
    – Braiam
    Jul 19, 2014 at 12:37
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    Not all users who start writing are allowed to finish. If you haven't written enough, it'll shut you out.
    – Oli Mod
    Jul 19, 2014 at 17:45
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    @Oli right, I still don't see where I got it wrong "People that started to write answers before the questions are closed"
    – Braiam
    Jul 20, 2014 at 16:54
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    Because you can still be cut off if you haven't been writing long enough. If you don't make it to a draft savepoint, your form is locked down.
    – Oli Mod
    Jul 20, 2014 at 17:16

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