Not An Answer

Stack exchange is a bit different than other sites. Most other sites are set up to be a forum, where people can have discussions with each other. Stack exchange isn't a forum, rather it's a method of sharing questions and answers with other people who visit the site.

When you post a response to a question, it is expected to be a direct answer to the question. There are comments and chatrooms that allow you to converse with other members, but both will require just a little bit of reputation in order to do so. Reputation is gained by having a question or an answer voted up by other members of the site.

If you find that yours, or someone else's, answer is a better fit as a comment, moderators have the ability to convert answers into comments, simply flag the answer as being "Not an Answer".

Similarly, if you've come across a question because you want to know the answer to it as well, it's best not to leave a comment as an answer saying so. The proper thing to do is wait for people to answer that question.

If you find that the answers do not help you, a bounty can be placed on the question to encourage more people to answer it (If you don't have the reputation to place a bounty on the question, it won't hurt to ask someone to place one for you).

_{I don't think [this is an answer](http://meta.pets.stackexchange.com/a/789/481\)}

Not An Answer / Is a Comment

Stack exchange is a bit different than other sites. Most other sites are set up to be a forum, where people can have discussions with each other. Stack exchange isn't a forum, rather it's a method of sharing questions and answers with other people who visit the site.

When you post a response to a question, it is expected to be a direct answer to the question. There are comments and chatrooms that allow you to converse with other members, but both will require just a little bit of reputation in order to do so. Reputation is gained by having a question or an answer voted up by other members of the site.

If you find that your answer (or someone else's) is a better fit as a comment, moderators have the ability to convert answers into comments; simply flag the answer as being "Not an Answer".

Similarly, if you've come across a question because you want to know the answer to it as well, it's best not to leave a comment as an answer saying so. The proper thing to do is wait for people to answer that question.

If you find that the answers do not help you, a bounty can be placed on the question to encourage more people to answer it (If you don't have the reputation to place a bounty on the question, it won't hurt to ask someone to place one for you).

_{I don't think [this is an answer](http://meta.pets.stackexchange.com/a/789/481\)}

Not An Answer

There are several reasons why an answer might not be considered an answer. The qualities of an answer are somewhat subjective. Here are a couple things to look for if someone mentions that they don't think your answer qualifies as an answer:

• Your answer directs the viewer to another site for an answer. See: One-Line Answers.

• Maybe you went on a tangent and your answer became too anecdotal. See: Anecdotal Answers.

Not An Answer

Stack exchange is a bit different than other sites. Most other sites are set up to be a forum, where people can have discussions with each other. Stack exchange isn't a forum, rather it's a method of sharing questions and answers with other people who visit the site.

When you post a response to a question, it is expected to be a direct answer to the question. There are comments and chatrooms that allow you to converse with other members, but both will require just a little bit of reputation in order to do so. Reputation is gained by having a question or an answer voted up by other members of the site.

If you find that yours, or someone else's, answer is a better fit as a comment, moderators have the ability to convert answers into comments, simply flag the answer as being "Not an Answer".

Similarly, if you've come across a question because you want to know the answer to it as well, it's best not to leave a comment as an answer saying so. The proper thing to do is wait for people to answer that question.

If you find that the answers do not help you, a bounty can be placed on the question to encourage more people to answer it (If you don't have the reputation to place a bounty on the question, it won't hurt to ask someone to place one for you).

_{I don't think [this is an answer](http://meta.pets.stackexchange.com/a/789/481\)}

Not An Answer

There are several reasons why an answer might not be considered an answer. The qualities of an answer are somewhat subjective. Here are a couple things to look for if someone mentions that they don't think your answer is an answer:

• Your answer directs the viewer to another site for an answer.

• Is your answer the same as someone who answered before you? While you both might be correct, multiple answers that say the same thing aren't seen as useful and may be downvoted.

• Maybe you went on a tangent and your answer became too anecdotal.

Not An Answer

There are several reasons why an answer might not be considered an answer. The qualities of an answer are somewhat subjective. Here are a couple things to look for if someone mentions that they don't think your answer qualifies as an answer:

• Your answer directs the viewer to another site for an answer. See: One-Line Answers.

• Maybe you went on a tangent and your answer became too anecdotal. See: Anecdotal Answers.