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Would it be ethical (or acceptable) to dislike an answer to a low quality question for encouraging poor quality question, or would it be better to comment under the answer? What about flagging it for moderator intervention?

I am not sure if this question has been asked before, if it has been then feel free to point it out and flag this question for closure.

Regards.

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    $\begingroup$ If you aren't interested in the question then simply move on to one you find of interest. Others may find the question highly interesting and contribute answers that greatly enrich the site. Don't lose sight of the fact that the value of the site is in the answers, not the questions. The questions are merely sparks to motivate anwerers. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 2:18
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    $\begingroup$ @BillDubuque No, don't get me wrong. I am not saying the question is uninteresting. I am saying the question is just lazy. That is, it is of the form: a car with velocity x travels y meter, what is the total time of travel. That is it, there is nothing more to it, Directly copied from a textbook without any work shown. This sort of question, if I recall, is against math SE policy, right? $\endgroup$
    – Bertrand Wittgenstein's Ghost
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 2:25
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    $\begingroup$ Then it is likely an (abstract) duplicate so search for a good dupe target and help to organize the site. This is one of the best ways to handle FAQs and routine exercises that appear every year / term in minor variants ("eternal September"). $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 2:28
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    $\begingroup$ @BillDubuque 'Don't lose sight of the fact that the value of the site is in the answers, not the questions.' I strongly disagree with you on this. Good questions are equally important. Even the 'Electorate' gold badge encourage us to vote more on questions $\endgroup$
    – YuiTo Cheng
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 2:49
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    $\begingroup$ @YuiToCheng The value of the site lies almost entirely in the answers. The questions could be written by a bot. The answers cannot. Readers don't come here to learn how to write questions. They come here for answers. Never lose sight of that. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 2:57
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    $\begingroup$ @BillDubuque Please do not lose sight of the fact that it is your personal opinion that the value of the site lies "almost entirely" in the answers, not the questions. Others strongly disagree, and are of the opinion that the value of the site lies in the association between good questions and answers. Good answers are hard to find when they are attached to poor questions which are not easily searchable. $\endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson Mod
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:02
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    $\begingroup$ @XanderHenderson Spot on! $\endgroup$
    – Bertrand Wittgenstein's Ghost
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:05
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    $\begingroup$ @YuiToCheng Spot on! $\endgroup$
    – Bertrand Wittgenstein's Ghost
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:06
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    $\begingroup$ @BillDubuque By "good questions" I mean questions that are good in content, i.e. interesting and inspirational. You seem to refer to questions with context and mathjax formatting. $\endgroup$
    – YuiTo Cheng
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:17
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    $\begingroup$ The question has certainly been discussed here before. See, e.g., math.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/16341/…? and some of the questions linked there. $\endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:53
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    $\begingroup$ @GerryMyerson Perfect, thank you. Regards $\endgroup$
    – Bertrand Wittgenstein's Ghost
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 4:57
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    $\begingroup$ @XanderHenderson And everything you wrote above is your personal opinion. And this site is so large and diverse that it goes without saying that for most opinions there will be others who disagree. What's the point of stating the obvious? $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 12:31
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    $\begingroup$ @XanderHenderson In order to better understand your fuzzy claims I looked at the 4 latest questions that you answered here and here and here and here. These don't support your claims. They appear to be what you call "PSQs" - which you normally close & delete in CRUDE. So I find your claims unfounded (and hypocritical). $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 31, 2019 at 23:07
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    $\begingroup$ Sigh @BillDubuque Is it possible for you to comment without being so very condescending? I am quite tired of your continued incivility. I've explained exactly why I answered each of those questions. I am attempting to engage with you in good faith. In return, you offer insults, but no concrete arguments. I'm done. Good day. $\endgroup$
    – Xander Henderson Mod
    Commented Mar 31, 2019 at 23:53
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    $\begingroup$ @YuiToCheng But those are suppossd to closed (& deleted) according to your standards, not mine (as you argue above). So why are you advising me to close them. Post them in the CRUDE room if you wish to demonstrate that you apply the same standards to yourself as you do to others. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Commented Mar 31, 2019 at 23:59

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