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"They're absolutely essential to the software dev community" Posting a question there has been pointless for years. I also dont think I've seen any answers th

"They're absolutely essential to the software dev community" Posting a question there has been pointless for years. I also dont think I've seen any answers there via duckduckgo useful to me in a long time. I dont think I'd even notice if it disappeared tomorrow. (I am not a web dev btw)

jasonhansel 7y ago
I think it's more useful for new devs than for experienced ones. I've also found it a useful source for snippets of code that I have trouble remembering on my own.
lordnacho 7y ago
> Posting a question there has been pointless for years. Isn't that mainly because it's already been answered? (Apart from new tags) I've got dozens of questions on my SO account, but it's been quite a while since I wrote one now.
- everyone 7y ago
  No, The trend I noticed starting years ago, which according to various articles Ive seen is now complete and institutionalized there, is that: High ranked mod/troll types, who seem to spend all day there trying to get more karma for some reason, constantly cruise for new questions. They dont know much about programming in general, and have zero knowledge of my specialist field for example. If they see a question that superficialy resembles or shares certain keywords with another one they will close it as being answered already (pretty much acting like particularly dumb bots) even if it has nothing to do with the existing question, or if the existing question is massively out of date and irrelevant because of updates to the software in question.
  - lordnacho 7y ago
    You may have a point there. It happens quite often that I google for something, and the article containing the answer is marked closed or off-topic.
    - patrick5415 7y ago
      Yes. Some of the best, most valuable questions and answers are closed for pedantic reasons.
      - chessturk 7y ago
        I upvoted you and the gp, but I also would like to point out that the useful answer often still arrives before the pendatic closure. Some of my own questions followed that route, without being dupe questions and while being a code-based success or fail state. The closure of tickets is detrimental to the site, but somehow, it's still worth asking a question.
Nextgrid 7y ago
It could also be survivor bias. You don’t rely on it as much because you’re experienced. I do the same for the programming language I’ve now got 7 years worth or experience. The picture was much different when I started out, and I feel like StackOverflow is still an invaluable resource for juniors/mid-levels or for those transitioning to an unfamiliar technology.

jasonhansel 7y ago

I think it's more useful for new devs than for experienced ones. I've also found it a useful source for snippets of code that I have trouble remembering on my own.

lordnacho 7y ago

> Posting a question there has been pointless for years. Isn't that mainly because it's already been answered? (Apart from new tags) I've got dozens of questions on my SO account, but it's been quite a while since I wrote one now.

everyone 7y ago
No, The trend I noticed starting years ago, which according to various articles Ive seen is now complete and institutionalized there, is that: High ranked mod/troll types, who seem to spend all day there trying to get more karma for some reason, constantly cruise for new questions. They dont know much about programming in general, and have zero knowledge of my specialist field for example. If they see a question that superficialy resembles or shares certain keywords with another one they will close it as being answered already (pretty much acting like particularly dumb bots) even if it has nothing to do with the existing question, or if the existing question is massively out of date and irrelevant because of updates to the software in question.
- lordnacho 7y ago
  You may have a point there. It happens quite often that I google for something, and the article containing the answer is marked closed or off-topic.
  - patrick5415 7y ago
    Yes. Some of the best, most valuable questions and answers are closed for pedantic reasons.
    - chessturk 7y ago
      I upvoted you and the gp, but I also would like to point out that the useful answer often still arrives before the pendatic closure. Some of my own questions followed that route, without being dupe questions and while being a code-based success or fail state. The closure of tickets is detrimental to the site, but somehow, it's still worth asking a question.

Nextgrid 7y ago

It could also be survivor bias. You don’t rely on it as much because you’re experienced. I do the same for the programming language I’ve now got 7 years worth or experience. The picture was much different when I started out, and I feel like StackOverflow is still an invaluable resource for juniors/mid-levels or for those transitioning to an unfamiliar technology.