My personal "formula" for answering a question is to first read the question in full, then evaluate my own frame of mind before answering. More often than not, I'm in an ironic mood. At such times, I have to weigh the right amount of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, seriousness, and personal oddity into my verbal response before providing what I think is the right kind of answer. It's not always easy to do. Sometimes it's impossible. Sometimes I don't even try to get the balance right.
There are other times when I know I just shouldn't respond to certain questions. At such times, I don't bother trying to formulate a response, because I know the original poster will probably not appreciate my response any more than I do myself.