Sometimes we are working on particular problem and we feel that we are close to the solution but somehow we can't break through this thin edge which separates us from the goal. So we ask question on MSE. And it happens that some commentator gives us not detailed solution but no more that a hint which makes however passage to the solution possible and shortens us a great deal of work and trials. How can we express our gratitude to this good commentator? It is appropriate to leave in comments some more personal remarks?
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6$\begingroup$ I'd guess that one possibility is upvoting a useful comment. (This might also be useful for other readers of the same post, since if a comment is upvoted, they are more likely to notice it.) $\endgroup$– Martin SleziakCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 8:36
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$\begingroup$ @Martin Up-voted comments are always sorted to the top? $\endgroup$– WidawensenCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 8:38
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1$\begingroup$ @Widawenses You can learn more about how comments are displayed here. $\endgroup$– Martin SleziakCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 8:42
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$\begingroup$ @Martin I'm interested also whether comments have influence on this list of newest or active ones. Probably not but i haven't found this information. I hope that users have more freedom in creating and deleting comments than in questions and answers. $\endgroup$– WidawensenCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 12:28
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$\begingroup$ I am not sure what you mean by "active ones", but I guess that you could mean active questions. Comments do not bump question, as you can read here. (There is also link to some further details about bumping.) $\endgroup$– Martin SleziakCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 12:56
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$\begingroup$ @ Yes, it is all about this bumping process and what has influence on it.. $\endgroup$– WidawensenCommented Jun 9, 2016 at 12:58
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1 Answer
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You should tell them to convert their comments into an answer (preferably a full answer). Then you can upvote that answer, accept it... Comments are not meant for hints or answers; they're meant for asking clarification or adding information. A question that only receives answers in the comments will stay in the unanswered list, people will have to sift through many comments to find the actual answer, comments can easily and irremediably be deleted, they will be hidden by default if there are many comments and they don't get upvoted much, etc.
If they don't, and you managed to solve the problem yourself, feel free to post an answer yourself using their comment as a basis – you can thank them in the answer. If you want other people to edit that answer more easily, you can post it as "community wiki" (which has the side effect that you won't gain any reputation from it).
answered Jun 9, 2016 at 9:05
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$\begingroup$ Answer is in even broader sense that I expected. I'm still learning rules of MSE. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 9, 2016 at 12:28
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9$\begingroup$ I'm glad you said that. When I have an utterly trivial and very short answer I've tended to post it as a comment, feeling that posting something so insignificant as an answer would make me a rep whore. But you point out good reasons why even trivial answers are better given as answers. Huh. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2016 at 18:51
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$\begingroup$ But I experienced that posting a "simple" (trivial ?) answer, was "automatically" (by someone ?) CONVERTED to comment $\endgroup$– G CabCommented Jun 18, 2016 at 10:35
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$\begingroup$ @GCab The conversion is automatic. Your answer has to be very short for this to happen, and contain a link to another question. Include a bit more details and you should be good. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 18, 2016 at 11:50
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1$\begingroup$ This is always what I do. "Hey, that solved it for me. If you make it an answer I'll upvote and accept it so you can get the rep. :)" $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 22:42