Great Answer! But.....tell me more, please. March 3, 2009 1:53 PM   Subscribe

Newbie MeFi-etiquette: On AskMe, it is considered acceptable to ask for more information/detail about a particular answer on the original question's page?

There have been several posts on AskMe lately where I would like to know more about a particular interesting/helpful answer to the original question. What is the MeFi-socially acceptable way to getting this information? Is it to post my question on the OP page (referencing the particular user/responder and asking for more info) or, is it to MeFi-mail the user whose answer intrigues me?

For example, on this AskMe, I'd like to know more from Pater Aletheias about his great tip.

On the one hand, since one goal of AskMe is to get full answers to questions, it seems like the community would benefit from having requests for more detail made in the open. On the other hand, I can see where this might clutter up the page if things turn into a Q&A format to users who are offering answers.

What's the best practice?
posted by webhund to Etiquette/Policy at 1:53 PM (16 comments total)

You could send the user in question a MeMail, that's probably the best way, but I think that if you're asking for explication on something interesting in thread, that's probably not going to be frowned upon if you're still talking about on-topic issues and not trying to hijack the thread.
posted by Mister_A at 1:56 PM on March 3, 2009


On the one hand, since one goal of AskMe is to get full answers to questions, it seems like the community would benefit from having requests for more detail made in the open.

As someone who regularly contributes to and benefits from AskMe, I'd agree with this approach. More details make AskMe a better resource, overall.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:58 PM on March 3, 2009


If the conversation is still actively going on, by all means go right ahead and ask in the thread. If it seems conversation has faded, the person you're asking might not notice, so memail them (you can always ask them to post their answer publicly if the thread hasn't closed).
posted by ocherdraco at 1:59 PM on March 3, 2009


Yup, just come right out and ask in the thread - if you are interested in more information on an answer, odds are that the original asker could benefit from the extra information as well.
posted by dg at 2:02 PM on March 3, 2009


If it's relevant to the question and will help the OP, feel free to drop it in the thread. If you're trying to start up a discussion with someone (not the original poster) about something that is sort of tangential, dropping them a note is totally okay.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:02 PM on March 3, 2009


http:\\ElaborateMe.metafilter.com
posted by blue_beetle at 2:14 PM on March 3, 2009


I'd like to know more from Pater Aletheias about his great tip.

For a few months back in high school, during the high of adolescent testosterone overload, I had a very bad habit of treating almost anything that was said to me into some kind of crude, not-terribly funny sexual innuendo. Twenty years later, I think back at that time and cringe. But occasionally I have cause to discover that the bad-sexual-pun subroutine is still functioning in the background.

My life is an open book. Ask away. Here, there, memail, whatever.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:18 PM on March 3, 2009 [5 favorites]


treating almost anything that was said to me into some kind of crude, not-terribly funny sexual innuendo

IYKWIM
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:20 PM on March 3, 2009


cortexAdmin: "treating almost anything that was said to me into some kind of crude, not-terribly funny sexual innuendo

IYKWIM
"

He does.
posted by Science! at 2:22 PM on March 3, 2009


Yeah, I know what you mean. I'd also like to know Pater Aletheias's passwords.
posted by klangklangston at 2:31 PM on March 3, 2009


No, that's what you said she said.
posted by gman at 4:14 PM on March 3, 2009


Yeah, I know what you mean. I'd also like to know Pater Aletheias's passwords as the Bishop said to the actress.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:43 PM on March 3, 2009


Yo mamma!
posted by deborah at 5:54 PM on March 3, 2009


"Tell me about passwords" said Tom cryptically.
posted by tellurian at 8:31 PM on March 3, 2009


I don't always check up on AskMe threads after I've answered, so my vote is to ask in the thread and mail.
posted by leahwrenn at 4:24 AM on March 4, 2009


Solidarność
posted by Mister_A at 7:10 AM on March 4, 2009


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