Conversation started Jan 28, 2017 at 21:33.
Simply Beautiful Art
Simply Beautiful Art
Jan 28, 2017 21:33
Well, this is how I currently see it.
1. Answering good questions often gives good answers. Likewise, bad questions should be avoided from answering unless you can provide an answer that outweighs the question.
2. We recommend you use English, as it is the language most users can read. If they can't read it, they can't like it.
amWhy
amWhy
@SimplyBeautifulArt whether the OP understands enough so that even if there's something they don't quite grasp in the answer, they can identify it and ask it. It's always good to give an answer that bridges the gap between an askers current understanding and where they may need to eventually be, by offering a challenge, or suggesting that, given the answer, they try to solve, prove the rest, but offering to answer follow up questions they may have (in comments.)
Simply Beautiful Art
Simply Beautiful Art
3. Refrain from making the fonts hard on the eyes. All caps, bold font, colored text, etc. should be avoided except for emphasis
4. Understand the question. The deeper you can understand what is being asked, the deeper you can provide an answer, and that is almost always a good thing.
5. Stay on topic and think your answer all the way through before posting. Hints, for example, that are only dead-end paths will not make your answer useful.
@amWhy does number 4 look good for that?
amWhy
amWhy
That's all great stuff... I do also advise that answerers answer with the same level of respect for the asker as would be given a good friend.
@SimplyBeautifulArt Very good, indeed!
Simply Beautiful Art
Simply Beautiful Art
6. Be courteous. Treat everyone on an equal playing field, regardless of whether or not you may think they should already understand something.
7. Watch the tags. Questions with tags you are familiar with are more likely to be answer-able by you, and it also helps cut down 'question searching time'.
8. Learn from the comments and read other answers. It is usually the case that you are not the only one answering, and by learning from others, you can return the knowledge to produce better answers in the future.
9. Ask Google. Google often knows the answer, or related answers. If MSE doesn't pop up, by all means take the internet and use it to the fullest.
10. We recommend pictures sometimes. While not necessary, it is like icing on a cake, and often times a picture is what was truly needed to answer the question. Personally crafted images and Googled images alike are good.
Vinokanth Velu
Vinokanth Velu
@SimplyBeautifulArt Hey man
Simply Beautiful Art
Simply Beautiful Art
Jan 28, 2017 21:47
Back to point 4.
If you don't understand something about the question, ask. A clearer understanding of the question saves misguided answers from happening
@StefanPerko @VinokanthVelu @quid Hello. I'm trying to provide a guide to making good answer.
11. If you think something out of context is needed in your answer, reference it. This helps avoids confusion to readers and clarifies between things that may be similar.
quid
quid
Interesting idea. I am not sure re 10. It could be misunderstood.
Specifically "Googled images" can be risky in that there might be licenses problems.
Simply Beautiful Art
Simply Beautiful Art
12. KIS. Keep it simple. Unnecessarily complicated answers are less likely to be understood or fundamentally impactive to the OP.
@quid Back to point 10. We recommend using pictures to convey messages sometimes, as they can often times be more explanatory than words and numbers alone.
13. Use MathJax. Answers that don't use MathJax or use it incorrectly are subject not only to downvotes, but often times an unhappy crowd.
 
Conversation ended Jan 28, 2017 at 21:54.