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Etiquette: Why do I answer poorly posed questions by anonymous users?

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

    1. you've had the opportunity to share your answer to the better question; and

    2. the better question still only appears in comments, not in the post;

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

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    I just voted to close, Mark.
    • CommentAuthorWillieWong
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2011
     

    @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?

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    @WillieWong

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

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