Don't Ask To Ask

You're already asking a question, then you're gonna wait for someone to reply yes, then you'll ask your real question. So, instead of just asking the question you want you're wasting time.

Or what if by the time someone replies to you, you're gone? Are they supposed to sit and wait for the next time you're online, and when you'll ask your real question? You're asking someone to wait for you and schedule their time around you.

On top of that, when you ask someone to first reply to you, saying "yes, I can help you", you're not giving them an idea of your problem or how much time helping you will take. So when they say yes, they are saying they will help you. But what if they have to go or don't have time? You're asking them commit to helping you at expense of themselves.

Even worse, imagine someone tells you "yes, I can help", when you haven't asked the question, or given the problem, and they can't help, don't know the answer. How do they look? They look incompetent. You're asking people to put their reputation and confidence on the line.

But, it doesn't affect only their reputation, but yours too. What does it say about you when you say "can someone help me", but don't tell what's the problem, you're waiting for someone to come, and ask you what the problem is, and figure out the problem for you. You're being lazy, and putting even the responsibility of formulating the question on someone else.