[ruraljuror]

Not sure I understand what you mean "zero ability to add an answer." Why can't you answer the question that does not already have an answer? Or ask the question yourself and then answer it yourself?

[wvenable]

I don't have enough "karma" to do anything useful on Stackoverflow. Apparently I have to do, as I said, a bunch of piddly bullshit things to earn enough to actually add useful content to the site.

I understand why, it's a spam prevention method, but it also keeps me from contributing.

[reitanqild]

You somewhat ironically IMO need more rep to answer a question than to ask one.

[ruraljuror]

I just don't understand why you and the op think this. Here is a link to what you get with your first point of rep.

http://stackoverflow.com/help/privileges/create-posts

Checking now, it seems you can answer without even logging in.

[reitanqild]

Ok, I'm sorry, I was wrong.

Now I am confused as well.