tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (Why do people often answer a question as a comment?) 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/ Lussumo Vanilla & Feed Publisher VP comments on "Why do people often answer a question as a comment?" (8372) http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/discussion/608/why-do-people-often-answer-a-question-as-a-comment/?Focus=8372#Comment_8372 2010-08-16T12:19:33-07:00 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 VP http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/account/238/ There are some questions that I wouldn't want to encourage at MO (too easy or off-topic), but which admit a short answer. Since answering a question "legitimizes" it (and encourages further ... There are some questions that I wouldn't want to encourage at MO (too easy or off-topic), but which admit a short answer. Since answering a question "legitimizes" it (and encourages further answers), I would rather post a comment.

]]> Qiaochu Yuan comments on "Why do people often answer a question as a comment?" (8371) http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/discussion/608/why-do-people-often-answer-a-question-as-a-comment/?Focus=8371#Comment_8371 2010-08-16T12:11:41-07:00 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 Qiaochu Yuan http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/account/13/ The last time this was discussed, I mentioned that I post answers as comments when I'm unsure that my answer is correct, and others said that they do the same. Like Tyler Lawson says, mathematicians ... The last time this was discussed, I mentioned that I post answers as comments when I'm unsure that my answer is correct, and others said that they do the same. Like Tyler Lawson says, mathematicians can be cautious.

]]> Noah Snyder comments on "Why do people often answer a question as a comment?" (8369) http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/discussion/608/why-do-people-often-answer-a-question-as-a-comment/?Focus=8369#Comment_8369 2010-08-16T10:28:40-07:00 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 Noah Snyder http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/account/59/ Also, some people find that the limit on comment length is helpful in containing their MO habit to reasonable bounds. Furthermore, some people don't like the reputation system. Tyler Lawson comments on "Why do people often answer a question as a comment?" (8368) http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/discussion/608/why-do-people-often-answer-a-question-as-a-comment/?Focus=8368#Comment_8368 2010-08-16T09:44:32-07:00 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 Tyler Lawson http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/account/146/ I hesitate to interpret the motives of others. However, it seems to me that a number of people use comments when they are writing something as more of a "proof sketch" rather than ... outis comments on "Why do people often answer a question as a comment?" (8367) http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/discussion/608/why-do-people-often-answer-a-question-as-a-comment/?Focus=8367#Comment_8367 2010-08-16T08:44:41-07:00 2018-11-04T23:17:21-08:00 outis http://mathoverflow.tqft.net/account/342/ (I also have a relevant post about this in the feature request thread.) I don't understand why correct, relevant answers to questions are often posted as comments, instead of as answers. There are ... (1) The answer is registered as an answer, for archival purposes.
(2) The questioner can officially accept the answer.
(3) Readers can vote on whether the answer answers the question.
(4) Subsequent comments about the answer are indented beneath the answer, so there's no ambiguity about whether the subsequent comment refers to the answer.]]>