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Etiquette: Why do people often answer a question as a comment?

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    • CommentAuthoroutis
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2010
     
    (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 several reasons to post an answer as an answer:
    (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.
  2.  
    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 something more comprehensive. This is unfortunate for the reasons you mention, but mathematicians can be somewhat cautious people. The software does not really allow one to distinguish between an answer and a post of tentative thoughts.
  3.  
    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.
  4.  

    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.

    • CommentAuthorVP
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2010
     

    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.

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