This question already has an answer here:

What is preferred and more valuable for the SO community when I find an answer to my own question?

Should I wait with my answer (even when I know it is 100% correct and to the point) to give others a chance to earn some reputation points, or should I just post an answer straight away?

My main concerns are:

  1. Not to give users a feeling that the question has been asked for 'autopromotion' purposes when author already knows the answer upfront.

  2. Find a balance between motiving / inviting others to collaborate with valuable answers and sharing the knowledge immediately.

share|improve this question
Related badge: Self-Learner –  hims056 Sep 20 '12 at 11:06
I don't consider this a duplicate because this question is only asking about whether to delay posting the self-answer, not whether to post the self-answer at all (or whether to delete the question, or whether it's okay to accept a self-answer, or any of the other questions previously asked about self-answers). –  Pops Sep 20 '12 at 14:27
add comment

marked as duplicate by gnat, Hugo Dozois, Lance Roberts, Martijn Pieters, Seth Oct 22 '13 at 3:35


3 Answers

Just post your answer. Stack Overflow is about finding those answers, and your answer can help others just as much.

If someone else posts a better answer later on, the community will vote accordingly anyway, and you will have gained a better solution.

share|improve this answer
add comment

This happened to me recently.

What I did and what happened :

  • I posted my answer, even while it wasn't 100% perfect
  • I didn't accept it, adding that I was waiting for other answers
  • 2 weeks later (it's a somewhat closed field), somebody else answered
  • After some time due to validation (and holidays...), I accepted this new answer
  • I let my answer which is still valid

I think this is the best outcome for everybody, especially for people having the same problem later.

share|improve this answer
totally agree with you ! –  Jean-Rémy Revy Sep 21 '12 at 7:10
add comment

Like Martjin, I think you sould not wait, especially if you have the intuition that you are no so far of the answer. I did that just this week : Is there a good way to represent file structure in a question/answer?

Obviously, 2 answers were more suitable than mine, but no matter. A least, you will know what is the best way to achieve want you wanted to.

share|improve this answer
I meant - when I sure that my anser is 100% correct and to the point. I will edit the question. –  Lukasz Sep 20 '12 at 11:35
hmmm it may be confusing, when you read the post a few time after, even if it's well edited. But, there's nothing more important than share knowledge on SO. Just write you question, and put your own answer. This may be useful for someone in the future. –  Jean-Rémy Revy Sep 20 '12 at 11:38
add comment

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .