tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?)

Bill Johnson comments on "Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?" (12883)

2011-01-28T08:04:08-08:00

@WillieWong

Done. Thanks, Willie. Careless of me not to check the link.

WillieWong comments on "Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?" (12881)

2011-01-28T07:47:25-08:00

@Bill: the link in your post above is open. For some reason (probably MarkDown being silly) the trailing period is interpreted as part of the link. Can you insert a space between the link and the period?

Bill Johnson comments on "Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?" (12878)

2011-01-28T07:31:34-08:00

I just voted to close, Mark.

Mark Meckes comments on "Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?" (12874)

2011-01-28T06:18:41-08:00

Bill, I share your mixed feelings about what you should have done. But given that

you've had the opportunity to share your answer to the better question; and
the better question still only appears in comments, not in the post;

is there any good reason not to close at this point?

Bill Johnson comments on "Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?" (12870)

2011-01-28T00:05:40-08:00

For the latest example, see http://mathoverflow.net/questions/53465/about-schauder-basis .

The original question, except for failing to include the obviously necessary assumption that the group is metrizable, is a not unreasonable one (as contrasted to being a reasonable one) for someone who does not have the requisite background. Since I could answer without thought, I did.

The follow-up

"Suppose Γ is a comapct Lie Group， G is its dual， then I want to ask what can we say about G? "

"Of course Γ and G should be Abelian"

by the OP annoyed me as well as Yemon. Still, I gave an answer. Why? Because the thread is read by people who might like to know about the result of Szarek's and I was glad to have the opportunity to bring it to their attention.

Should I have instead

1. Ignored the question, or

2. Voted to close?

I have mixed feelings. I do not want to encourage poor questions on the one hand, but I like to take advantage of the opportunity to "educate".