Skip to main content
Meta Stack Exchange

Return to Question

replaced http://stackoverflow.com/ with https://stackoverflow.com/
Source Link
Community Bot
Community Bot
  • 1

I recently happened across this question:

How do I hide a file?How do I hide a file?

The OP asks about writing code in C/C++ to make a file "hidden or undeletable." Rather than close or downvote the question for its (rather obvious) flaws, the majority of the community jumped on the OP for "reek[ing] of viral intentions."

To me, that question doesn't necessarily only have applications in the malware market. But even if it does, is it within the purview of the community to close it for such? It's still a valid programming question, is it not? It just struck me as a bit much that three different commenters asked about possible legitimate uses for such code, with one going so far as to warn the OP that IPs are logged at SO.

I recently happened across this question:

How do I hide a file?

The OP asks about writing code in C/C++ to make a file "hidden or undeletable." Rather than close or downvote the question for its (rather obvious) flaws, the majority of the community jumped on the OP for "reek[ing] of viral intentions."

To me, that question doesn't necessarily only have applications in the malware market. But even if it does, is it within the purview of the community to close it for such? It's still a valid programming question, is it not? It just struck me as a bit much that three different commenters asked about possible legitimate uses for such code, with one going so far as to warn the OP that IPs are logged at SO.

I recently happened across this question:

How do I hide a file?

The OP asks about writing code in C/C++ to make a file "hidden or undeletable." Rather than close or downvote the question for its (rather obvious) flaws, the majority of the community jumped on the OP for "reek[ing] of viral intentions."

To me, that question doesn't necessarily only have applications in the malware market. But even if it does, is it within the purview of the community to close it for such? It's still a valid programming question, is it not? It just struck me as a bit much that three different commenters asked about possible legitimate uses for such code, with one going so far as to warn the OP that IPs are logged at SO.

Source Link
Tim
Tim
  • 301
  • 1
  • 5

How far should we go in judging question ethics?

I recently happened across this question:

How do I hide a file?

The OP asks about writing code in C/C++ to make a file "hidden or undeletable." Rather than close or downvote the question for its (rather obvious) flaws, the majority of the community jumped on the OP for "reek[ing] of viral intentions."

To me, that question doesn't necessarily only have applications in the malware market. But even if it does, is it within the purview of the community to close it for such? It's still a valid programming question, is it not? It just struck me as a bit much that three different commenters asked about possible legitimate uses for such code, with one going so far as to warn the OP that IPs are logged at SO.