27
votes
Accepted
When do comments become answers?
There are few things more frustrating —from a site management point of view— than seeing somebody write an short answer as a comment, the OP say "Thanks that worked" and then everybody just walk away.
...
OliMod
- 288k
26
votes
I'm probably going to get skewered for this -- You can be rude and still provide a perfectly suitable answer to a question
I'm afraid this is something that simply isn't up for discussion. Yes, we want to build a resource of useful knowledge and technical help. However, just as importantly, we want t build a civil and ...
- 97.6k
22
votes
Accepted
Is it OK if I call on a high reputation user on part of my answer if it seems difficult from that point?
As pointed out by Mark Kirby, you can't effectively call on a particular user from a post they haven't yet commented on or edited, because an @user will not send them a notification. See this Meta ...
ZannaMod
- 68.9k
16
votes
Accepted
Can I get links to Comments?
If you hover over the timestamp of a comment it becomes a link. Share that URL.
- 56.9k
14
votes
How to give credit to someone else when writing an answer based on a comment?
Copy the link of the comment and add it to the question replacing the title of the comment by the user’s name. Something like this:
This comment from rinzwind helped me get there: How to give credit ...
- 291k
13
votes
Accepted
Is it ok to comment and see if it works before answer?
I'm a bit more relaxed about this than Jacob, mostly because I agree with the last sentence. Comment answers are a real pain because people trip over themselves in politeness to not transcribe it out ...
OliMod
- 288k
12
votes
Comments in the answer section from new users
Another solution - If you see an new user with a good question, upvote it. We, the community, can solve the problem very easily, no need to force users to read FAQ or change the way the site works, we ...
- 100k
11
votes
Is there any mechanism to block trolls from harassing you?
Is there any mechanism to block trolls from harassing you?
You report them. There is a option left of every comment where you can flag a comment. And you can flag an answer as "not an answer". Be ...
- 291k
10
votes
Is it ok to announce downvoting in a comment which requests clarification if the user comments instead of editing?
Yes, it is fine to comment before you downvote, even have a full conversation before you make up your mind.
I will often leave a comment suggesting fixes before casting a vote, it gives to OP chance ...
- 18.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Can I tag people in the comments of an unanswered question?
Unfortunately, you can't successfully notify people with @ in comments under a post unless they have interacted with the post in specific ways:
If they have ever commented on the post, you will be ...
ZannaMod
- 68.9k
10
votes
What should we do to code that is posted in comments of post?
First, have a look to see if the material from the comments has already been added to the post by an edit. If it has, you can flag the comments as no longer needed.
Small single line pieces of code ...
ZannaMod
- 68.9k
9
votes
What to do with answers that should be comments, but get deleted?
Only the very most valuable comments, when posted as answers, should be converted to comments rather than simply deleted. In particular, the threshold for converting an answer to a comment should not ...
- 116k
9
votes
Is it ok to comment and see if it works before answer?
If you are unsure if your answer works, often it is because the question lacks important information or isn't clear on all points. To clarify the question or request additional information, that would ...
- 82.1k
9
votes
Accepted
Why are so many answers posted as comments?
Most of times either they are half-hearted answers or they are written by questioner or there is lack of communication between questioner and commentator.
Talking about my personal experience there ...
- 17.3k
9
votes
Can we do away with, "We don't support EOL distributions" when it is tangential and completely and utterly unrelated to the question?
It does occasionally matter though... Even if it doesn't in this case.
The people initially involved in the question might not know or appreciate the finer details of what's going on. Networking ...
OliMod
- 288k
8
votes
Off Topic Questions: Comment Etiquette
I personally agree that we should try to help the users as much as we can rather than appear to give them the brush off. Utilizing Add data.SE style "magic links" to comments can make this ...
- 35.3k
8
votes
When do comments become answers?
We should develop a feature that able to move comments to answers. Provide them to moderators. Also a feature to vote for comment as an answer.
Then, everyone is happy.
- 229
8
votes
How to give credit to someone else when writing an answer based on a comment?
You can give credit to a comment (like "Dan's comment helped me"), but if someone has posted an answer in the comments, I will usually encourage them to post an answer, but after some time, I will ...
- 249
7
votes
Accepted
7
votes
When do comments become answers?
You should move the comments to an answer. Comments are considered second class on SE.
Once you post an answer, the comments may be deleted by both of you by moving additional information from OP ...
- 12.4k
7
votes
Accepted
How to properly add code in comment
In comments you are limited to just test test which is generated by the code:
`test test`
There is no way to get the larger code bar like in your example or in the line above this in a comment. ...
Thomas WardMod
- 71.8k
7
votes
Accepted
User with 1 Reputation is able to comment
If you are referring to the 1-rep user Donald Duck's 'comment' on that question, that was initially made as an answer. Moderators such as myself reserve the power to convert non-answer answers to ...
Thomas WardMod
- 71.8k
7
votes
Add a reply option for comments
This is the story of a time long ago, a time of myth and legend, when Jeff Atwood ruled Stack Exchange. He status-declined Add "Reply" link to comment that pre-populates comment box with @...
- 191k
7
votes
Were the "pre-canned" comments intended to be brusque and condescending? If so, why?
Yeah I don't know who composed that comment; it's not one provided by SE. I have seen it numerous times though and I strongly dislike it. Aside from the tone, it gives obviously incorrect information ...
ZannaMod
- 68.9k
6
votes
Off Topic Questions: Comment Etiquette
I would ask that users append their comments with a link to the correct site to ask on, as this is still useful information for people and leaves a good impression too.
Absolutely agree with that, ...
- 102k
6
votes
Accepted
Why can you not downvote comments?
See extensive discussion on Meta SE. Quoting the Jon Skeet:
If a comment is wrong, respond to it with another comment. That provides a lot more information than a downvote which could mean anything....
- 191k
6
votes
Accepted
Confused about flagging comments and removal
From this Meta.SE answer (thanks to Ravan for finding the post):
If a comment is flagged by three users, it will be auto-soft-deleted. There is no penalty for this. Flagged comments will be surfaced ...
- 35.3k
6
votes
I'm probably going to get skewered for this -- You can be rude and still provide a perfectly suitable answer to a question
I often get viewed as being curt, abrupt, or a touch to the rude side.
There's no reason to be obnoxious in an answer to a question or in comments though. So, if the answer or comment is just ...
- 29k
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