What is Rediff Q&A?
Rediff Q&A is a platform designed to address a need. Every day, our mailboxes are filled with reader queries on all manner of subjects; clearly there is a demand for information. Rediff Q&A provides a platform where you can ask the questions you need answers to, get answers from your peers, and also provide answers to others who may be in need of help.

Everything you do – asking questions, answering questions, commenting on others’ answers, even logging in to the service – earns you points; each point you earn is one step further towards a place in the Rediff Hall of Fame.

How do I join for Rediff Q&A?
You can join Rediff Q&A by visiting http://qna.rediff.com and clicking “Sign Up” link available on the top of the page. If you already have a Rediffmail username and password, you will be able to login and use the service right away. In case, you don’t posses a Rediffmail username and password, the sign up process will allow you to create one in a few easy steps.

Why do I need to sign up?
You can ask questions without signing up – but once you log in, a page is automatically generated for you that allows you to keep track of the questions you ask, the answers you give, the points you win and your current standing in the Rediff Q&A community.
Further, we are planning enhancements to the service that provide even more benefits to signed-in users, so it makes sense for you to get in early.

How do I ask a question?
On the Rediff Q&A home page, you will find an “Ask a Question” box, click on that box. Type in your question, select a category and post your question.

How do I know if my question has been answered?
You can do this in one of two ways. You can go to the Q&A home page and browse through the questions till you find yours, and check there for answers.

A simpler way is, you can at the time of asking the question submit your email ID. Automatic alerts will be sent to you each time an answer is posted to the question you asked.

What is a category for a question?
Category for the question is like a subject or a topic which is best described by your question. For example, a question like “How do I get rid of dark circle under eyes” will fit into “Health & Beauty” category. Thus when you click on any category anywhere on Rediff Q&A, you will see all the questions asked and answered under that specific category.

What are the tags?
A tag is a word or phrase that is key to your question – sort of like a label. Tags help keep track of information, and help you find information relating to a question you may have.

For instance, the question ‘How do I get rid of dark circles under eyes’ may have tags like ‘dark circles’, ‘eyes’, ‘beauty’, etc. If you click on each of these tags, you will find further information on those subjects; tags thus make it easier for you to broaden your knowledge base on any topic.

How do I answer a question?
Click on a question that interests you, and you will be taken to a page where you can see all existing answers. You will also find a button labeled ‘Answer this question’. Click, and you will get a form in which you can submit your response.

What are the benefits of answering a question?
Firstly, you get to share the knowledge you have accumulated, with the people who are most in need of it.

At a more practical level, when you answer a question we award you 10 points (12, if you are in the Fast Track program).

The points you earn helps you progress through the various levels. At each level, you get additional privileges and points, all of which helps you progress to the point where you enter the Rediff Hall of Fame.

What is the best answer?
The answer which the original asker selects as the best, is treated and shown as the best answer.

What are comments, and how do I use them?
As you go through the answers others have given to various questions, a comment or suggestion or even additional information might occur to you.
You can post all such material by clicking on the comment icon (JPEG); a box will open where you can type in your thoughts and attach them to the answer in question.
Besides enhancing the information provided by adding your comments, you also earn points for each comment you make, so there is another good reason.

Once I submit my answer, can I still edit or delete it?
No, your answer once submitted is final. Please review your answer before you submit it – remember, good answers earn you votes and additional points.

Can I change my vote once I have cast it?
No, sorry. Think before you vote is a good axiom, on Rediff Q&A as it is in our general elections.

Can I rate more than one answer to a question?
No, you cannot rate more than once.

What should I do if I find objectionable content?
You can report the content by clicking on the ‘report abuse’ button.

What types of content qualify as ‘abuse’?
The ‘report abuse’ button can be used if, in any post, you find content that is objectionable, abusive, hateful, or is a personal attack on other Rediff users or the larger community. You can ‘report abuse’ if the post in question is exploitative, or otherwise harmful to, minors. You can also use it in case the post contains pornographic content, or qualifies as Spam.

What happens to posts that are reported for abuse?
Any post reported for abuse goes to the moderator, who will decide whether the question/answer is permissible. The moderator’s decision is final and binding. If you have reported a post for abuse and you think the moderator has missed it, you can email feedback with a link to the content you find abusive.

Why was my question/comment/answer deleted from the site?
When somebody uses the ‘report abuse’ button for a question/answer/comment, and if the moderator decides the complaint is valid, the post in question is automatically deleted from the site.

How does the scoring system work?
The scoring system is based on points you earn, and the goal is to help you move up the various levels, until you take your place in the Hall of Fame.
Everything you do on Rediff Q&A entitles you to points – from logging on to asking and answering questions, posting comments, and even voting on the answers given by others.
For a complete list of activities you can do and the points you earn with each, click here

What are the do's and don'ts on Rediff Q & A ?
To know more about do's and don'ts on Rediff Q&A , please read the Q&A Guidelines in detail.

What are the terms and conditions of using Rediff Q & A?
The terms and conditions for using Rediff Q&A are set out in detail here.

What should I do if I find objectionable content?
You can report the content by clicking on the ‘report abuse’ button.

When do I use the Report Abuse feature?
You must ‘report abuse’ in these cases – objectionable content, abusive language, hateful messages, personal attack, pornographic content , Spam and various other cases that you think not suitable to the site.