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I've signed up to try to participate by adding my answers to question such as these:

Strange artifacts along window borders after waking computer from sleep mode

Because I have another solution (changing the Theme to another, then back, using Appearance settings). It's not ideal but seems to be better for people than "compiz --replace".

Anyways I can't answer or comment. I have no question to ask so can't get reputation that way. I get that spammers attack msg boards, can some admin please gift me the needed reputation to contribute? Otherwise it's a catch-22.

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  • Also I'm on Launchpad (launchpad.net/kabikaboo) so you can see I'm not a bot or spammer.
    – aidave
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 16:08
  • 4
    You just asked a question and with my +1 you have five more points. I think you can answer a question as a new user but I'm not positive on that.
    – WinEunuuchs2Unix
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 16:34
  • Thank you! I was able to submit an answer to the question in question. :)
    – aidave
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 16:55
  • I am still unable to comment on the thread, but this is good progress.
    – aidave
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 16:55
  • @aidave, long ago, I had that problem, too. I think many Stack Exchange users forget that when you first get started here, it's frustrating to have low reputation. Keep in mind, once you get above some reputation threshold, the network will automatically give you +100 rep on each network site, so you'll (almost) always be able to post on any Stack Exchange site. Hang in there!
    – daveloyall
    Commented Jul 14, 2017 at 20:44

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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To expand on WE2U's answer, because I'm the one who protected it...

Protection is a minor hurdle added to (usually popular) posts to prevent new users from answering questions with non-answers, like this:

Oh yeah, I have the same issue too! I'm running Ubuntu 16.04 and NVIDIA drivers 123.45! How can I fix this?

As this is a Question/Answer site (see our tour), we don't exactly like these "me-too!" answers. They're not answers, and they definitely don't help anyone.

This site in general works on a privilege model. The more you give to a site (and the more trustworthy you become), the more you can do here. To get over the 10-rep hurdle, you just need to acquire 10 reputation (or 2 upvotes on a question/1 upvote on an answer).

There are, of course, plenty of questions that would love an answer. Find one you like and/or are knowledgeable on, and answer it! Worst case, you get to do some research and learn something in the midst of writing an answer.

As of now, you have 26 reputation, which is enough to post normal answers. You're off to an excellent start, and I look forward to seeing you blossom into a great member of this community. Welcome to Ask Ubuntu, and enjoy your stay!

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    +1 especially for "you get to do some research and learn something in the midst of writing an answer"
    – guntbert
    Commented Jul 5, 2017 at 18:53
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The question you are trying to answer has been protected by Kaz Wolfe. When a question has been protected new users cannot post answers. You can post answers on 99% of the questions in Ask Ubuntu which are not protected.

Then after your other answers are upvoted you gain enough reputation to post answers on protected questions too.

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  • I guess the problem was that the questions I am able to personally contribute to are all protected. I'd have to wait until another question was unprotected, and then go back to the original question. Who knows how long that would take and whether I'd remember. Anyways I was able to submit an answer thanks to the above commenter.
    – aidave
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 16:57
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    Questions don't get "unprotected". Every question starts off as normal and then after it gets lots of interests / answers posted people with enough rep points decide to "protect" it. You will find 100's of thousands of normal questions you can answer on. Start answering there, gain some rep points then go back to the original protected questions you want to answer on and post your answers again. Hope this clears the air for you.
    – WinEunuuchs2Unix
    Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 17:12
  • @WinEunuuchs2Unix Questions will get unprotected from time to time, as the site needs dictate. It is rare, however.
    – Kaz Wolfe
    Commented Jul 4, 2017 at 21:12
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You should be able to answer questions, but I'd read through the Tour and also take a moment to read the section on Answering in the Help Centre first.

The Privileges page will give you an idea of what level of reputation you require in order to contribute in different ways.

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