Reading Questions Clearly?

[sft42]

I have asked this before and a recent posting has made me ask it again plus we have loads of new contributers to the site......

Why don't people read questions properly before they post an answer? Or is it that we just answer poorly? I am as guilty of this as the next person but as recent posting where someone gave me flak for no good reason at all has made me ask this again. Do we not digest the meaning (or indeed are questions not asked very well and many meanings can be construed) or is it that we want to get our own point across so much that we stray from the original topic?

Answers on a sealed down envelope please

[xyzzy@bok]

sft42, I have read your Q. VERY carefukky, and my answer is on a sealed down envelope - what now? :-)

[JohnPPotts]

Well, the lack of an edit facility doesn't help - I've occiassionally re-read the question after I've posted and realised it wasn't what was asked, but can't do anything about it - but as legions of teachers have told me, I should have read the question first!

[jenstar]

What was the question again?

[ChrisPBacon]

Real Madrid.

[Squirrel]

I am one of the worst for veering off the subject, but usually it's because it would seem silly to start a whole new topic to ask something so similar to the question before. I can see how this might waste valuable minutes for people who only have short lunch breaks.

[brawburd]

Sometimes questions are very poorly asked. A couple of words, no hints at nature of question. Sometimes we deviate off the main subject, which shows a degree of welcome lateral thinking. I think squirrel has hit the nail on the heid (just for you sft!) as it may be more appropriate to start a new topic when the deviation is beginning to extend!

[treaclefight]

because we just know it all and dont need to waste time with the questions. real madrid was correct but for a more precise answer you could have mentioned that it was in 1998 etc etc

[Gef]

I also find it very annoying but can accept readers referring to the original question and then sidetracking. What I really hate is questioners who never acknowledge any of the answers either by posting another answer or by rating the answers. I know it would be unethical but wouldn't it be good if Answerbank bombarded the email address of such persons with reminders.

[xyzzy@bok]

agree with Gef; current guilty party is a11ie.. sorry to single you out a11ie but y'gotta start somewhere and you posted a Q. today having not responded at all to your Q. of yesterday.

[wildwood]

Some of the answer is in your question; '(or indeed are questions not asked very well and many meanings can be construed)'. We all have a different style of grammar and can't all be a literary expert. Straying off the subject as a thread develops is, IMO anyway, what makes this site interesting, as long as it stays within the general spirit of the question. If an inquirer does not wish to pursue the subject any further they always have the option to stop any further answers. If every Q would get one factual answer this would be a very boring site indeed.
I've seen Qs where correct answer are ignored, but blatantly incorrect answers are star-rated. Some submitters only want agreeable answers to their question, which is often more of a statement, rather than a question. One can't please all of the people all of the time. What is acceptable to one may be rude to another. You could, for instance, accuse everyone in this thread of not reading your question properly (except xyzzy:-) because you asked for answers on a sealed envelope.
I wouldn't worry too much about getting flak from anyone; it is an unavoidable reaction in this type of forum. Everyone is guilty of lashing out at some time or another. Keep smiling.

[treaclefight]

after much consideration i have decided that posting a question here is like asking your grandmother a question, in as much as you will get 15 answers that miss the specific point, but there will be an adequate answer there somewhere

[Janetex]

I'm not perfect either, sorry.