Why, if a question is removed, is it still available to be answered?

I sympathise.

That can be very annoying.

I suppose it is due to a time lag,

or removed by the student asking for homework help without any attempt, (feeling guilty),

or perhaps the question was of too basic a standard and considered against policy.

However, after preparing an answer that might enlighten the student

or reveal an alternative method or short cut

or an answer that just patiently explains a principle the student finds confusing,

it can be disappointing to find the question removed when you go to post it.

Perhaps a third option could be considered by those in charge.

Replies to removed questions could be posted to a 3 day delay location.

That would remove the objection to the suspicion that homework might be

copied and pasted unread, yet allow the students who really want to understand

to refer to a model solution when revising or when wondering how they could

approach a solution to a similar question in future.

On the whole I trust the (often older) people who are kind enough to try to provide

enlightening answers, so I feel that the policy of removing questions before

replies are in, could sometimes block the access to knowledge, which is worse than the

cut and paste risk.

I am sure you are doing great work. Keep it up.

Regards - Ian

I have raised this issue with YA months ago. I have spent hours writing concise and informative answers, always under community guidelines, only to be told that the question does not exist.

One of the other answerers said, ' at least you are practising your Maths! ' Well, i am sure neither you or i need extra practise, just appreciation for our time , input and effort.

Q. If Roger Federer gets to the Wimbledon final and his opponent doesn't show does he play against one of the crowd ' just for practise ' ?? I think not!!

The most valuable commodity is TIME....let us all reflect!

:)>

It was removed while you were in the process of answering it. I think a lot of people tend to do that with homework questions.... ask, then once they get an answer they delete it so (they think) it erases all evidence.

Well, look on the bright side, you got some practice doing math.

It's because you clicked on it and began answering before it was removed. It wasn't on the system that it had been deleted yet.

Happens to me too, and too often. Presumably the asker deleted the question while you were composing your reply. I don't think you'd spend that amount of time on answering reportable abuse.