tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (Partial answer)

Scott Morrison comments on "Partial answer" (3317)

Scott Morrison — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:20:44 -0800

Yeah, I'm not sure why this would be any better than using comments. It doesn't really matter how the reputation is divvied up -- good answers get votes, and multiple good answers all get votes. The point of "accepting" an answer is just to provide a visual indication that the asker thinks there's a single satisfactory answer to the question, and perhaps a hint that you don't need to read anything else.

Anton Geraschenko comments on "Partial answer" (3295)

Anton Geraschenko — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:32:10 -0800

Based on the previous threads about accepting multiple answers, my feeling is that people should just use comments if they want to "partially accept" an answer. It doesn't award any points (except indirectly, since people will vote for the post based on your comment), but it really serves exactly the right function. A "partial accept" option would clutter the UI and I think people still wouldn't be happy with it.

Igor Pak comments on "Partial answer" (3294)

Igor Pak — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:56:11 -0800

After checking MO a bit, it is clear to me that the idea of an "accepted answer" is not well thought. Here is a quick proposal for a possibly slightly better version. Now, I am not sure how difficult is it to change the software, but anyway.
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Allow the possibility of a "partial answer". Give fewer, say, 5 reps for it to the answerer and give 2 reps for the questioner. Require the questioner to write between 100 and 300 letters comment why this is a partial answer - no reps otherwise. Allow maybe 3 partial answers per questions to the questioner and 3 for other MO crowd with over 1,000 reps, but in the latter case make them pay the "partial answer" bounty (extend the comment requirement to them as well). Make only slight color changes in the search for questions with partial answer, or none at all. Keep the "accepted answer" with its 15 reps (also, allow "partial answer" to be upgraded and pay the difference of 10 reps). Again, require a 100 -- 300 letter comment why this answer should be accepted, and give maybe 5 reps to the questioner. Finally, make all such comments "community wiki" so others with sufficiently high rep (say, greater than 400) can edit it.