Timeline for Are questions about algorithms on topic?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
11 events
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| Aug 19, 2011 at 21:32 | comment | added | Pollyanna | @Gareth I'm sorry to hear that you don't feel you would fit in due to the site's exclusive nature. Looking over your answers, you obviously have a great deal of expertise in this area, and I would be sad to see you leave. Keep in mind that you have the power to vote to reopen such questions, and you did get a number of upvotes on this suggestion, and so far no downvotes. It's an issue worth fighting for, and it's not written in stone. It's similar to a line that always moving, or an undefined gray area. I'm certain we could benefit from you tugging in the other direction. | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 21:20 | comment | added | Pollyanna | @Gareht But I have approached this question many, many times in the past. Consider reading through some of these very similar questions: meta.stackoverflow.com/search?q=laser+sharp+focus+user%3A2915 | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 21:18 | comment | added | Pollyanna | @Gareth The best answer I have given previously is, "Yes, someone here might be able to help you, but you'll find that other forums more focused on your topic can give you a much better answer than a bunch of programmers. It's likely that your question will be downvoted, closed, and in some cases marked "offensive." It's not that we hate you, it's just that we're programmers and we like to keep our corn pops separate from our cocoa puffs." | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 21:13 | comment | added | Gareth Rees | I certainly don't understand. If it's not an issue about whether people understand, then what's the problem? If everyone understands that the question is asking "How can I determine if two triangles intersect (so that I can program it on a digital computer)?" then why close the question as off-topic? | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 21:06 | history | edited | Pollyanna | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Aug 19, 2011 at 20:59 | comment | added | Pollyanna | @Gareth I don't think you understand. It's not an issue of whether they are capably of understanding, or crossing disciplines. Further, you can always edit closed questions. Closing isn't the end of the question - it's a two day grace period (generally) to allow the original poster to repair the problems. Everyone can suggest an edit, 2k users can make an edit without approval. | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 20:57 | comment | added | Michael Petrotta | @Gareth: closed questions can be edited. You've attracted enough attention to that question here that, with the proper edits, it might be reopened. Or migrated even - a moderator flag would help with that. | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 20:53 | comment | added | Gareth Rees | "When you feel strongly about such a question, edit it so it specifically relates to programming" — how can I do this when the question has been closed? | |
| Aug 19, 2011 at 20:52 | comment | added | Gareth Rees | "The question is written as a math problem, not in terms of programming" — You seem to be suggesting that computer programmers (or at least, Stack Overflow users) can't figure out that a question has algorithmic content unless it leads them by the hand to that conclusion. Are people really so clueless? | |
| S Aug 19, 2011 at 20:46 | history | answered | Pollyanna | CC BY-SA 3.0 | |
| S Aug 19, 2011 at 20:46 | history | made wiki | Post Made Community Wiki by Pollyanna |