Sometimes I leave a comment like "Stack Overflow is not your personal research assistant," but am accused of being rude.  How can I craft a comment that is seen as civil to the community and instructive to the OP?


What tone should I strike in comments?
What are some examples of bad comments and their better replacements?



Question: Advice on an inexpensive but very hardy/tough point-and-shoot camera
Answer: All of the major brands make a rugged camera, but since I'm a Pentax shooter, I might suggest the Pentax Optio W90. A quick Google search on it will turn up a number of reviews, but spec wise it's pretty good and it's designed to take abuse.