Do you consider links (to other AB answers, to external pages, etc. - NOT Spam) as answers to questions? Example, if the answer is "See <link>", and it's to an AB answer page where it DOES answer the question, is it an answer or "just a link"?
by 
BigDaddyBS
ANSWERS: 16
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I do consider it a ligitimate answer to a question, BD.
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It depends on the question and the link..If someone asks about my mothers pimples as a child and they leave a link to their shopping site then yeah..spam, but if they ask about a subject covered in context then no..it isn't spam otherwise AB would ban all links which they don't.
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If it provides the information that is being sought then I consider that an answer. Propaganda that is only mildly related to the topic and that does not provide the sought after information is not an answer, in my opinion.
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Sometimes it can be an easier reference to a compelling question. Sometimes though I wonder if the AB'er does not want to re-answer that question for the umpteenth time or has the time to explain. Sometimes, it may be a way of advertising their answer or question. Sometimes, its away of recognizing that AB'er. Sometimes, it is spam. Sometimes...
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If you come across a question that seeks the same answer as another question already asked, is that not a duplicate question? But any case and for the sake of argument I will say a link that answers the question fully is an answer and should be treated as such.
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It's a legitimate answer, but I don't like them much. If I'm in a hurry I won't click on it and I won't leave points. On questions with alot of answers, I scroll and scan answers to see if I'm interested in the answer, I skip the ones with links while scanning. Also, I don't always like opening new windows because in general while I'm AB'ing I'm working on a number of things simeltaneously and I have too many open already. It slows my computer down and depending on what I'm doing can take too long. If I have too many open I might even risk having all the windows close simultaneously. I hate it when that happens. Why don't the people who do this just copy and paste the answer instead? I imagine it takes the same amount of time as it does to look up the link. At least I'd be more likely to read it that way. When I first started AB'ing, when I saw that someone was not willing to copy and paste it sometimes gave me the impression they didn't care enough just to put the answer on there.
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i think if it's just a link then it's not a real answer. IF, (this is what i do) it is a long answer some of which i do not fully understand and hence cannot reword, i will breifly explain and give the link explaining it may make thing clearer and more indepth
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It IS a legitimate answer. Why re-invent the wheel when one may have already gone throught the time and effort to post an answer before? ESPECIALLY for questions which are duplicates or very close to one you've already answered.
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If a question asks for a very straightforward answer, like who invented the airplane, then a link to that information is definitely an answer. If, on the other hand, a question asks for your opinion about some situation or trend, then a link to an article about it may just provide background information to help users understand the situation before discussing it.
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1) The major problem with links is that the linked page could disappear, be modified, or get another URL. So if there is an important information, I copy paste it in the answer *and* give the reference for further reading. However, this generally does not happen for another AB answer. 2) It is always better to write a small introductory text like: "Please read here my answer to a similar question". In the best case, that text could also contain a summary of the answer. 3) If it is an educational question, the asker and the other readers will generally follow the link to get the information. But they could ignore the answer for a conversational question. 4) In some particular cases, the answer could also be a list of links - also with a small introductory text - for instance if the question is asking for sources of information and not for a specific answer.
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Spam usually consists of either nonsensical posts or messages, usually something with two or three words, non capitalized, and dealing with some pathetic online lingo of some kind or another, or, advertising, usually porn, cellphones, or cellphone pictures of ass maggots-or porn; both found within active discussions but offering nothing of consistent value, productivity or relevance to the topic at hand. Such as; Hey, do you like Silent Hill? Ya dude. I'm selling goldickWOW!! Dude wtf. Zomgdz0rz! RAWX! Ya I liek to kill thingz. So a link to an already existing answer is not spam, although I do find it lazy, but there's nothing wrong with that, I mean why remake an answer when an existing one may be just as good? I myself am running out of ways to say what my scariest horror film was. Now then, I'm selling penis salad, who wants some? Also lulz pr0n.
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If the link is helpful, then yes. However, I prefer it when people at least include a sentence with the link. The only time I tend to give just a link is when it's some kid asking what a word means. Then I give them the link to the appropriate entry on dictionary.com. I figure just giving them the dictionary gets the point across better than anything I would say.
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And this is a problem, how? You have too much time on your hands and not enough to do with it.
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If it doesn't sell something or promote another website illegally or internally, it's not spam. Spam is selling and promotion, or great quantity of one thing. If someone gave a good explanation on how to fix a problem in a car for one situation and it would work for another, it could be linked or copy/paste, either one. If the answer is on another website, again, they could copy/paste and say where they got it or just sum up what it's about and paste a link, neither is spam if they aren't promoting it for themselves or someone else like a commercial.
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AB rules say the answer should not *just* be a link to another site. The internet is not static, if the link dies the answer is uselss. But, I occasionally put in a link to an AB answer: what happens is that the question is really a duplicate. I mark the question as duplicate and give the person who asked it a link because it takes a long time for the moderators to deal with duplicate questions, so in the meantime the questionner can get an answer.
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Yes, links can answer questions.
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