Comments could be answers & accepting answers

When I look through the "Unanswered" questions on the main Libraries site, I see many comments that are actually answers. I think that to follow the format of the Stack Exchange these should be turned into answers by the person/people who made the comment.

Also, on the Stack Exchange meta there was a discussion of people not accepting answers. I hadn't really realized this was important in the Stack Exchange process. Librarians are always open to more answers, but for this site to be successful and get out of Beta, I think we need more answers and more acceptance of good answers.

Jeni

• discussion

Comments

• jonsca: Jeni, I agree, but we can't force anyone to post an answer. If you really feel strongly about it, you can post them as an answer (and designate them Community Wiki if you don't feel like you should have the rep the person would have received). I don't think there's anything more we can do. There are many other discussions on MSO about it.
• Aarthi: @jonsca That's an answer, not a comment :P
• jonsca: Jeni, you may have seen it already, but also see this answer by Yannis on MSO, as it expands on what Ashley and I have said a bit.

Answer by Ashley Nunn

As Jonsca pointed out, we can't force people to post answers instead of comments, nor can we force people to accept answers. This is something that has been brought up on Meta.StackOverflow numerous times, and the general consensus is that it does get somewhat disheartening sometimes when people don't accept answers and the like, but there is not much that can be done.

If there are comments you feel very strongly about in terms of them being better as an answer, feel free to post them as Community Wiki answers.

Other than that, there isn't really anything we can do.

Comments