7

Title says it all. See this answer. I have bolded the questionable part of the quote.

Burn Ubuntu to a DVD and you won't have any trouble booting it... glad that worked for you. Please rate and accept my answer.

6
  • 12
    I hate this kind of pushing messages. Op even didn't mention it worked. Let alone that it is the best option. It doesn't belong in an answer. Aug 4, 2016 at 12:56
  • @JacobVlijm - Actually... askubuntu.com/questions/806312/… Aug 5, 2016 at 12:52
  • the downvote wasn't mine. Aug 5, 2016 at 13:56
  • 2
    This sort of thing is best in a comment. And if you are to put it, it's best to put something along the lines of "If this answer solved your problem please remember to upvote and accept it! ;-)", or "If any of the answers solved your problem please accept and upvote it, if there are multiple answers which solved your problem please pick the best one".
    – user364819
    Aug 6, 2016 at 20:20
  • 1
    But really should only be posted if the OP never comes back, or leaves a "Thanks!" but doesn't accept any of the answers.
    – user364819
    Aug 6, 2016 at 20:22
  • 2
    I think this kind of pushing inside the answer makes users (new especially) feel they must accept or vote on the answer. This leads to bad or wrong answers been accepted and/or voted up because the OP will feel pressured in to voting for it, it is essentially begging for rep before an answer is even tested or verified.
    – Mark Kirby
    Aug 9, 2016 at 9:29

4 Answers 4

18

No, that is not acceptable. What I would find perfectly fine and acceptable is a comment asking for acceptance if the OP said the solution works but they didn't bother to accept any answer.

That is as much noise as "Please help" in a question, with the added "fault" that it might even imply begging for rep.

Edit: besides, that's not even an answer. The OP asks how to fix USB boot errors and the answer reads "burn a DVD instead".

18

It's not the end of the world, but it's definitely noise, so you can edit it out.

Thank you for reading my answer. Please like, rate, share, and subscribe.

5
  • 7
    Don't forget to donate and support on Patreon, Flattr and PayPal. Aug 4, 2016 at 14:12
  • 5
    If this answer has solved your problem please consider accepting it by clicking the checkmark located underneath the downvote button. (I'm still being sarcastic by the way) Aug 4, 2016 at 14:33
  • 4
    I am tempted to edit out the noise in this answer... :)
    – edwinksl
    Aug 4, 2016 at 19:40
  • 1
    That's exactly what I'm saying! :D Aug 5, 2016 at 10:41
  • 1
    @StefanoPalazzo :) Aug 5, 2016 at 12:48
7

In my opinion, it's not mainly about what you say but how you say it.

While reminding new users who might not be familiar with the site yet to accept an answer if it solved their problem, this should always be worded as friendly suggestion, never in imperative and never unconditional.

Accepting an answer or not is still only the choice of the question author, and nobody is allowed to force them.

However, the answer is not the right place to put this anyway, as it does not help with the problem described in the question. It would be better suited as comment below the answer.


I personally leave a comment more or less like this below my answer if it is the only (valuable) answer to the question of an obviously new and inexperienced user:

If this answer solves your problem, please consider accepting it by clicking the grey round check button on the left of it. Otherwise feel free to leave a comment if something is still unclear or not working as expected. You should also invest two minutes to take a [tour] of our site and learn how it works. Thanks and welcome to Ask Ubuntu!

If there are several valuable answers though, and I am polite enough not to highlight and advertise my own answer, but leave a comment directly below the question instead so that the OP is not influenced in their choice which answer to accept:

If any of the answers below solves your problem, please consider accepting the one you like best by clicking the grey round check button on the left of it. You should also invest two minutes to take a [tour] of our site and learn how it works. Thanks and welcome to Ask Ubuntu!

4
  • 1
    I wish I could accept your answer and Andrea Lazzarotto's :( Aug 5, 2016 at 12:50
  • 1
    I use I could accept answers in other user's question :)
    – Anwar
    Aug 5, 2016 at 13:57
  • 1
    @AnwarShah - So do we all. Aug 6, 2016 at 12:33
  • correction. I wish* @AndroidDev
    – Anwar
    Aug 6, 2016 at 13:50
0

I've nudged OP's via comment to take the question off the "unanswered list" by accepting an answer, stating what is not working with an answer (so it can be amended with improvements) or posting their own answer. Who's answer is accepted is a moot point because the important thing is to take the question off the unanswered list.

Of course our egos all want our answer to be the accepted one but the right thing is for the right answer to be accepted. Occasionally based on OP comments you have to badger them to write their own answer.

You must log in to answer this question.

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