<p>I'm not of the mind that getting someone who is clearly stuck out of the weeds is a bad thing. While I think it's fine, and indeed a good idea to ask them to clarify or see if they can push their question a bit further, I don't think there's any use in requiring some arbitrary and undefined amount of work until the poster hits "enough".</p>

<p>If you the answerer think they're stuck, and further work is only going to end in confused flailing and frustration (or worse, in my mind, failing to get one's question answered, never to return), then I see no reason why you shouldn't at least try a gentle nudge in the right direction.</p>
