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I'm not sure why SO feels the need to delete posts like this. I get that the "question" isn't keeping with their stated objectives, but I find the answers to be

by dos1 14y ago

I'm not sure why SO feels the need to delete posts like this. I get that the "question" isn't keeping with their stated objectives, but I find the answers to be enlightening in some respects. I've learned about many new technologies and frameworks from the "What is the best X to use for Y" questions that get posted frequently. I don't see those as detrimental to the community like the SO mods apparently do.

codinghorror 14y ago
see http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/09/good-subjective-bad-subjective/ http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/09/good-subjective-bad-su... It's possible, provided you're careful about how you do it and thoughtful in your approach. Basically, if a question can have (and will eventually accrete) infinite answers, that's a problem for a Q&A system, unless it is Q&A in name only.
cloverich 14y ago
Pedantry is inevitable when programmers are in charge ^^ Seriously though, there's not a good argument for deleting it. There are plenty of terrible, off-topic, garbage questions on there to be closed. Why focus the few that, while probably off-format, result in entertaining (and sometimes) enlightening results? Sure, if the site was flooded with posts like that, then maybe. Maybe. But its not. Its just one group deciding to be pedantic. Nothing more.
- codinghorror 14y ago
  Two reasons. 1) broken windows and 2) opportunity cost. It's like Kudzu: the more you allow, the more there will be, because it grows like a weed and it is insanely popular.
joshuahedlund 14y ago
Clearly there is high demand for these kinds of questions. I've noticed a lot of the more general/meta but serious programming questions are flourishing on the Programmers SE site[1]. Is there one for fun programming questions yet? I'm kinda surprised there's not when clearly the community wants to engage in one. [1]http://programmers.stackexchange.com/?tab=month http://programmers.stackexchange.com/?tab=month
- m_myers 14y ago
  There was one. It was Programmers (actually proposed as "Not Programming Related"). It was a mess. It took some straightening out and now it's a decent place. http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/12/introducing-programmers-stackexchange-com/ http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/12/introducing-programmer...

by dos1 14y ago

codinghorror 14y ago

see http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/09/good-subjective-bad-subjective/ http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/09/good-subjective-bad-su... It's possible, provided you're careful about how you do it and thoughtful in your approach. Basically, if a question can have (and will eventually accrete) infinite answers, that's a problem for a Q&A system, unless it is Q&A in name only.

cloverich 14y ago

Pedantry is inevitable when programmers are in charge ^^ Seriously though, there's not a good argument for deleting it. There are plenty of terrible, off-topic, garbage questions on there to be closed. Why focus the few that, while probably off-format, result in entertaining (and sometimes) enlightening results? Sure, if the site was flooded with posts like that, then maybe. Maybe. But its not. Its just one group deciding to be pedantic. Nothing more.

codinghorror 14y ago
Two reasons. 1) broken windows and 2) opportunity cost. It's like Kudzu: the more you allow, the more there will be, because it grows like a weed and it is insanely popular.

joshuahedlund 14y ago

Clearly there is high demand for these kinds of questions. I've noticed a lot of the more general/meta but serious programming questions are flourishing on the Programmers SE site[1]. Is there one for fun programming questions yet? I'm kinda surprised there's not when clearly the community wants to engage in one. [1]http://programmers.stackexchange.com/?tab=month http://programmers.stackexchange.com/?tab=month

m_myers 14y ago
There was one. It was Programmers (actually proposed as "Not Programming Related"). It was a mess. It took some straightening out and now it's a decent place. http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/12/introducing-programmers-stackexchange-com/ http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/12/introducing-programmer...