9
votes
Should the motivation of a question and not the activity determine whether it's on topic or not?
I would say that we should keep it open, but with a few edits. There are a few good examples of whistles/compass being tied using knots. I'm not sure how to edit the question without losing the ...
- 7,825
6
votes
Accepted
How should we consistently handle very similar questions from people who want to learn something for the first time?
It is a mistake to worry too much about consistency over a long period of time. In the life of this site, four years is a long time; standards were lower four years ago. Four years from now, ...
- 24.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Should I reevaluate my mental model for closing broad questions?
I wasn't really involved in this particular case, as I tend to stay clear of discussions about topics I don't care about/don't have any expertise. I don't want to make my answer about whether it ...
- 21.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Why is there no close reason for 'off topic'?
In the close reasons, select Off-Topic, and then fill in the specific reason in the field.
It looks like that is what you did - I have completed the close, and deleted the post.
Rory AlsopMod
- 25.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Should we have a 'blatantly off-topic' close reason?
I think you are right - we currently haven't developed our Close reasons, mostly because it hasn't really been a big issue up till now. Normally by this age of a site it would have already been done, ...
Rory AlsopMod
- 25.1k
4
votes
Is the off site resource close reason valid on this site?
TGO is not StackOverflow....
One of the biggest differences (IMHO) is that they have a vampire problem and we don't.
Even then, if the SE site does not have the question it should
This is not a ...
- 30.5k
4
votes
How can we best customize our "price-shopping" close reason, and clarify how to use it?
My suggestion.
Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.
Questions asking about the price of an item are also off topic ...
- 69.4k
4
votes
Is this baby squirrel question on-topic?
I think you did the right thing. Identification is happily on topic here or biology (or maybe pets) but caring for a baby wild animal is far more likely to get useful responses on pets or biology.
As ...
Rory AlsopMod
- 25.1k
3
votes
Should we have a 'blatantly off-topic' close reason?
I absolutely would not use the word "blatantly". It is too off-putting to new users who usually need guidance, not exasperation.
Rory aptly referred to The Exodus, which is all the more ...
- 24.3k
3
votes
Should I reevaluate my mental model for closing broad questions?
I agree that the question needed clarification. Two days ago, Sue listed information that the OP could have responded to, but has not. However, I think someone who knew the town they asked about ...
- 24.3k
2
votes
What is a shopping question part 5 (How can I solve problem Y? Answer: You should buy X)
The questions are on topic, the answers not so much. We should leave these open and write answers that suggest categories and not specific products
i.e. recommending down sleeping bags instead of a ...
- 69.4k
2
votes
What is a shopping question part 4 (What features should I look for in X?)
As phrased, shopping questions like this are asking for opinions. The features that you want to look for are potentially very different than the features that I want to look for. That said, with a ...
- 10.7k
2
votes
Should the motivation of a question and not the activity determine whether it's on topic or not?
I found it easy to vote to leave the Q open, because the OP provided a fig leaf in his next-to-last sentence. That fig leaf is now gone because the question has been edited, but this is what it said:
...
- 24.3k
2
votes
Should the motivation of a question and not the activity determine whether it's on topic or not?
If you read the guidelines yes it seems out of scope.
This site in general seems to allow a lot. If it can be used in the outdoors then it is in scope.
I did not vote to close and OP got a good ...
- 7,184
2
votes
What is a shopping question part 1 (Where can I buy X?)
I think these type of "shopping" questions have a lot of edge conditions that make having a simple rule that can handle all of them difficult. Basically, to me it depends on how big of an area "where" ...
- 10.7k
2
votes
What exactly is a "shopping" question?
I think "shopping" questions have a lot of edge conditions that make having a rule that can handle all of them is difficult.
Where can I buy X?
I think it depends on how big of an area "where" is ...
- 10.7k
2
votes
Can we delete the closed questions that were "closed as cross-site posts?"
I have removed the poison sumac one straight off - only one answer, and it has no upvotes. The cross post on Gardening is a much better placed post.
Similarly with the Physics post.
The other one is ...
Rory AlsopMod
- 25.1k
2
votes
Should/can we make it more obvious to new users that we don't want shopping questions or certain types of travel questions?
People who are new at anything need to be educated or trained. Giving them something to read is merely a start, and a not very effective start if it is boring, as the user guides on SE are. (Has ...
- 24.3k
1
vote
Is this baby squirrel question on-topic?
I just voted to reopen the infant squirrel question, right after I found that it had been closed on Pets.
Now that it has been closed on Pets, no one will be able to learn how to care for this wild ...
- 24.3k
1
vote
Can we delete the closed questions that were "closed as cross-site posts?"
Unless a single user cross posted the same question (different discussion) there is no such thing a cross site duplicate. They are either in scope or out of scope, if they are inscope they should be ...
- 30.5k
1
vote
How can we best customize our "price-shopping" close reason, and clarify how to use it?
To me price-shopping is just a subset of shopping. I would rather just call it shopping.
If you click he link in the reason to close the guidelines are pretty clear to me. Shopping is a better ...
- 7,184
1
vote
What is Unclear about the semi-permanent campsite question?
Question is overly broad. What does semi permanent mean?
From the tour.
Ask about...
Question about outdoor activities
It is about out door activity
Actual problem
I would call a real ...
- 7,184
1
vote
Should I reevaluate my mental model for closing broad questions?
I would say that the question is too broad because of how broad the possible answers would be.
For instance if you plug the question into Google you will get results like this,
Things-To-Do-In-...
- 69.4k
1
vote
What is a shopping question part 4 (What features should I look for in X?)
These are completely on topic, knowing which features are valuable and what the advantages of one over the other is useful to know regardless of which specific piece of gear one ends up buying.
...
- 69.4k
1
vote
What is a shopping question part 3 (What X should I buy?)
I don't see why #3 was closed as asking for price assistance. Price was not mentioned in the Q. The OP wanted a multi-purpose thingy and the Q might have been better phrased, for example setting ...
- 24.3k
1
vote
What is a shopping question part 3 (What X should I buy?)
Any questions that ask which specific X they should buy are off topic,
To quote Kevin,
The reasons that shopping recommendations (note, recommendations, not everything to do with shopping) were ...
- 69.4k
1
vote
What is a shopping question part 2 (Does X exist?)
I think these questions are OK. Like most questions on SE, if the OP did sufficient research, he could answer them himself. If everybody did good research, goodbye SE!
#17 was closed for the wrong ...
- 24.3k
1
vote
What is a shopping question part 1 (Where can I buy X?)
I think 7 and 8 should have remained open. #8 didn't ask for price assistance, just assistance in figuring out how to do it himself. Every Q that says cheaper or cheap is not necessarily asking for ...
- 24.3k
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