Is it bad etiquette to post an answer to your own question? Sometimes I ask a Q with an A in mind!

I don't see it as a problem, either. But I get weary of a person if they ALWAYS do it because it is a way of point mining. That gets old real quick.

1) It depends on the way you are doing this.

It would be bad etiquette if:
- it is obviously just a way to push your question at the top of the question list. Especially by repeated answers.
- you present your answer as the only valid one after you have received answers from other users. This could only be accepted for some riddles. It is better to give your answer immediately after the question, and to indicate this in your question, like this: "I give my own answer".


2) On the other hand, there are plenty of reasons why you could give an answer to your own question.

In some cases, it will be possible to give your answer inside the question, like:
"What is your favorite color? Mine is green."

Some people think that it is and there has been, during various times in AB's past, quite the ruckus about it.

However, I sometimes answer my own questions anyway. I am not a big asker and most of my questions are things that I ask because they are questions that I have wanted to answer for some time.

I also answer to provide more details than can fit in the question box.

Some people have issues with this but I think most do not. If a question is just asking for an opinion or 'what color is your hair' or something, then there's no problem. I don't see why you'd ask something like 'how does a catalytic converter work' and then post the answer yourself though.

If it's a fact based question I'd have a problem with it. But otherwise, probably not.

Yes it is, unless your answer is to clarify a misunderstanding in the question. It just smacks of point-grubbing to me.

IMO, that's good Socratic methodology...

"The Socratic Method (or Method of Elenchus or Socratic Debate), named after the Classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is a form of philosophical inquiry in which the questioner explores the implications of others' positions, to stimulate rational thinking and illuminate ideas. This dialectical method often involves an oppositional discussion in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against another; one participant may lead another to contradict himself in some way, strengthening the inquirer's own point."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method


...unless it's "over the top", harsh, or manipulative - like the Law School examples cited in the embedded video.