Shall I answer old Unanswered Questions?
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IIRC I asked this question here bunch of years ago. I see 100s of questions(on some topics .... particularly Reports related) without answers in Q/A section. I was away for long time so missed those at that time. In past I used to get my own answers from Q/A section whenever I search for solutions at work. That's the main reason for this question. Usually I browse Questions up to 2-3 months old to answer. Is it OK to answer 1 year old questions? Drafting some solutions to post as Tips/Tricks sooner or later.
thatraja
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IIRC I asked this question here bunch of years ago. I see 100s of questions(on some topics .... particularly Reports related) without answers in Q/A section. I was away for long time so missed those at that time. In past I used to get my own answers from Q/A section whenever I search for solutions at work. That's the main reason for this question. Usually I browse Questions up to 2-3 months old to answer. Is it OK to answer 1 year old questions? Drafting some solutions to post as Tips/Tricks sooner or later.
thatraja
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I wouldn't - it's mostly seen as "rep point farming" and the trigger happy amongst us will definitely see you as "Troll / abusive". I tend to warn newbies:
Quote:
While I applaud your urge to help people, it's a good idea to stick to new questions, rather than 8 year old ones. After that amount of time, it's unlikely that the original poster is at all interested in the problem any more! Answering old questions can be seen as rep-point hunting, which is a form of site abuse. The more trigger happy amongst us will start the process of banning you from the site if you aren't careful. Stick to new questions and you'll be fine.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt -
IIRC I asked this question here bunch of years ago. I see 100s of questions(on some topics .... particularly Reports related) without answers in Q/A section. I was away for long time so missed those at that time. In past I used to get my own answers from Q/A section whenever I search for solutions at work. That's the main reason for this question. Usually I browse Questions up to 2-3 months old to answer. Is it OK to answer 1 year old questions? Drafting some solutions to post as Tips/Tricks sooner or later.
thatraja
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I found this from Sean Ewington: Answering old questions[^] And these two from Chris Maunder: Bugs and Suggestions[^] Bugs and Suggestions[^]
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I wouldn't - it's mostly seen as "rep point farming" and the trigger happy amongst us will definitely see you as "Troll / abusive". I tend to warn newbies:
Quote:
While I applaud your urge to help people, it's a good idea to stick to new questions, rather than 8 year old ones. After that amount of time, it's unlikely that the original poster is at all interested in the problem any more! Answering old questions can be seen as rep-point hunting, which is a form of site abuse. The more trigger happy amongst us will start the process of banning you from the site if you aren't careful. Stick to new questions and you'll be fine.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
I had a plan on answering only few Niche topics because no answers found there mostly. Last year(2021) I got a notification on my answer Q/A section(Random person got a solution). That answer actually a decade old(at 2011 when I was new here). As I mentioned in main thread, I found my own solutions here many times when I was searching in web. Anyway now decided to do something in different format. Thanks Griff.
thatraja
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I found this from Sean Ewington: Answering old questions[^] And these two from Chris Maunder: Bugs and Suggestions[^] Bugs and Suggestions[^]
Even for my old question, IIRC I got same response from Chris/Sean. They're fine with that. But still wanted to confirm, that's why this thread now.
0x01AA wrote:
Bugs and Suggestions[^]
Agree with Griff there on one thing. If no need for answers anymore for old questions, there's no point showing those questions. Bunch of time OCD forced me to answer old unanswered questions. I remember someone pointed that I answered 2 year old question. But that question was part of only 3rd or 4th page of that topic in Q/A. Planning to do something on that in different format. Thanks
thatraja
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I wouldn't - it's mostly seen as "rep point farming" and the trigger happy amongst us will definitely see you as "Troll / abusive". I tend to warn newbies:
Quote:
While I applaud your urge to help people, it's a good idea to stick to new questions, rather than 8 year old ones. After that amount of time, it's unlikely that the original poster is at all interested in the problem any more! Answering old questions can be seen as rep-point hunting, which is a form of site abuse. The more trigger happy amongst us will start the process of banning you from the site if you aren't careful. Stick to new questions and you'll be fine.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
If the question has no answers, or the new answer adds something useful to the discussion, then I don't see a problem with adding a new answer. As I see it, there's only an issue when someone posts a new answer that just rehashes what the previous answers have said; or that doesn't actually answer the question; or, in the case of homework questions, if it's someone else's attempt at doing the homework assignment for the OP.
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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IIRC I asked this question here bunch of years ago. I see 100s of questions(on some topics .... particularly Reports related) without answers in Q/A section. I was away for long time so missed those at that time. In past I used to get my own answers from Q/A section whenever I search for solutions at work. That's the main reason for this question. Usually I browse Questions up to 2-3 months old to answer. Is it OK to answer 1 year old questions? Drafting some solutions to post as Tips/Tricks sooner or later.
thatraja
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With respect to the other answers, I would ask that any question that is 1. still relevant today 2. Of value to others who may also be searching for answers to that question 3. Is an actual, clear question likely to appear in search results Should be answered if you have the time and generosity to do so.
cheers Chris Maunder
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With respect to the other answers, I would ask that any question that is 1. still relevant today 2. Of value to others who may also be searching for answers to that question 3. Is an actual, clear question likely to appear in search results Should be answered if you have the time and generosity to do so.
cheers Chris Maunder
Thanks for the response Chris. Of course I would remember those questions myself before answering. I'll post things in different format(Tips or Article) in worst case.
thatraja
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IIRC I asked this question here bunch of years ago. I see 100s of questions(on some topics .... particularly Reports related) without answers in Q/A section. I was away for long time so missed those at that time. In past I used to get my own answers from Q/A section whenever I search for solutions at work. That's the main reason for this question. Usually I browse Questions up to 2-3 months old to answer. Is it OK to answer 1 year old questions? Drafting some solutions to post as Tips/Tricks sooner or later.
thatraja
Coming soon1 | Coming soon2 | Coming soon3New
If the old question is still an active topic along with the evolution of the technology stack on which it sits upon, you can consider providing an improved version of a solution over the ones already available elsewhere.
