<p>We get quite a number of self-study questions, and <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/2486/1352">one common comment</a> says that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>We'll provide hints to help you get unstuck.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So... how <em>specifically</em> should we provide these hints? Should we write comments to the question? If the OP answers in comments, we can comment again, and finally post a full answer as a summary. This has the advantage that the train of thought is there for later generations to follow. The disadvantage is that comments are ephemeral and may be deleted sooner or later.</p>

<p>(The other disadvantage is that someone may barge in with an answer in the middle of our pedagogical back-and-forth, but than can also happen with the alternative below.)</p>

<p>Or should we post hints as an answer, wait for the OP to comment, then update the answer and iterate? Or post hints as an answer, then do a socratic Q&amp;A in comments, <em>finally</em> update the answer? Or even only leave the original answer-hint and the comment conversation below, so later generations don't get an immediate answer as a spoiler?</p>

<p>Thoughts, anyone?</p>
