Should my answer have been declined?

Question

In reply to a badly-worded question with little information (obviously from someone whose first language was not English)  I replied "Please ask again in different words and with more info."  

My answer was reported and the powers that be rejected it, taking points from my account. 

I believe my reply to be reasonable and polite, and several people will ask for clarification when questions are unclear. The effect of such deletion will be that people won't answer badly worded questions at all.

I'm doubly annoyed in that I spend some of my time on a content site advising non-English speakers on how to improve their work - I resent the report and the declining!

Anonym · Accepted Answer

Don't sweat it I get reported about 4 times a day when I use this thing. People are just way too sensitive.

brian 2010 · Answer

Your failure to properly answer another user's question caused your answer to be deleted as a result of the violation. The Community Guidelines stipulates there always must, and I emphasize must, be an attempt to answer a question being asked by another user. In this case, you failed to do so. Your answer also didn't supply the facts demanded by the asker. What you should have done was just skipped that question, even if written poorly, and moved onto another one that you can easily answer. That could have saved you a violation and a loss of 12 points in the process.

Even though the question was poorly written, you can either answer it or just don't do it at all. Advising them on their English was not the answer the other user asked for in their question-even if you have been intent on being polite and reasonable. You may find the violation doubly annoying on your count, but it is genuine and sufficient enough for your answer to be removed from this site. Please learn how to use this site properly and read up on the rules. Know what's expected of you here. It goes a long way to ensure you avoid getting those violations in the future.

Rev · Answer

If we are going by the rules, yes. While your answer was not overtly offensive or rude, you did fail to answer the question that was actually asked, which makes it a community guidelines violation for misuse of the question-and-answer format. Saying you don't understand what was asked and asking for an explanation is not considered a legitimate answer.

TheBansheeofBebop · Answer

Appeal if you want to. It's luck of the draw whether you win. But don't attribute too much importance to whatever happens. For all I know this site is moderated by non-English speakers in some third world country.

Anonym · Answer

Taking a look at all the majority of your answers provided in your profile history... atleast 80% of your answers should be rejected. Where as you type in their question on google and provide the very first link as the answer.

Or you provide just make suggestions not answers.

El cabrón · Answer

That's bloody ridiculous! o.o

Justin · Answer

I've had that happen before and I fought it and won.

Should my answer have been declined?

7 Antworten