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I tried editing a question to have a more fitting title. The questions is about how to implement a password reset function by having a "security question" in a certain security framework. The title as it is now is not very useful, as it really doesn't describe the problem. I tried to change it to something along the lines of "How to reset password with security question in <security framework>?"

But I can't, I'm not allowed to use the word "question"!

I read this answer for why it's not allowed:

Answer: Because it would be redundant and pointless.

But this doesn't apply here. The problem is about security questions, and I'm unable to add a descriptive title. I'd call that a bug.

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  • 3
    "Security inquiry" :)
    – Adam Lear StaffMod
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:19
  • 2
    "security reminder"
    – Oded
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:19
  • 2
    "Security query." Also, what question?
    – Bill the Lizard
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:20
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    Wow, three diamonds in a row. Honestly, while changing the verbiage slightly does work, these things are most commonly referred to as "security questions" AFAIK. Calling them something else in the title makes searching for these types of questions difficult.
    – Geobits
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:24
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    Not for nothing, but why should we change the wording if that is the actual "inquiry" being "proffered?" Worse, why is there such stubborn resistance to allowing a moderator (or even a high-rep user) to override the word ban if that is appropriate? And no, questi0n is not a satisfactory workaround; it is a joke.
    – user102937
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:28
  • @BilltheLizard I closed and gave up on the question, but I found it again: stackoverflow.com/questions/19508871/… As GenericHolidayName says, this is a common name, having to refer to it by something else is problematic.
    – Matsemann
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:29
  • @GenericHolidayName The word "question" doesn't need to be in the title to show up in searches.
    – Bill the Lizard
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:34
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    @TheGrinch I'm strongly in favor of letting mods/high-rep users override the word ban in the 1% of cases where it doesn't make sense.
    – Bill the Lizard
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:35
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    @BilltheLizard: It's probably not implemented because it breaks editing; if someone else comes along and edits the question, their edit will be blocked because it has a stop word in it, so ordinary editors would just have to remove the word again.
    – user102937
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:38
  • @Matsemann That question has a lot more problems than just lacking the work "question" in the title. It seems to be ripe for closing as "Questions asking for code must demonstrate a minimal understanding of the problem being solved" at worst, and "Questions asking us to recommend or find a tool, library or favorite off-site resource are off-topic for Stack Overflow..." at best.
    – Bill the Lizard
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:39
  • @TheGrinch Gah! You're right, that would be annoying.
    – Bill the Lizard
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:40
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    @TheGrinch - But the same thing already happens with images without problems. Low rep users can't add them but they seem to be able to edit their questions fine if someone else inlines their link.
    – Martin Smith
    Dec 11, 2013 at 18:45
  • did there use to be an problem with too many users putting the word "question" in their titles?
    – Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
    Dec 11, 2013 at 20:35

1 Answer 1

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This is not a bug. The question you linked to explains why the ban is in place. You've just stumbled across one of the very few questions that legitimately demand that word be in the title.

Bear in mind that people come across questions only partly due to the title. Google (and presumably the SE search algorithms) will search the entirety of the page. So provided the title is something sensible like "security challenge" and there are lots of references to "security question" in the body of the post, it should be fine.

I think this feature provides more benefits than downsides. But there will always be exceptions where the rule doesn't appear to fit. Such is life.

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