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As student, I recently asked myself - and other mates did - why Stack Overflow had no special diet adapted to students, more indulgent than with developers. Indeed, we noticed that our questions were frequently downvoted or did not receive enough attention. I don't find it normal that a beginner does not really have the same chance than an experimented developer, as its reputation tends to stay low

Thus, although I perfectly understand that Stack should remain something for "professional developers" and not a MOOC-provider, I think that it should be fine to give a special status to students to avoid them being discouraged to ask questions that could seem obvious.

So I would suggest a scholarship proof from the university or school to avoid derives. It would witness of open-mindness

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    There's nothing saying students can't ask questions- It's just that students need to read and follow site rules the same as anyone else. What makes you think, aside from downvoted questions, that you and your friends can't ask questions?
    – Kendra
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:05
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    You don't need to be a professional to learn to ask good questions, or learn to reseach for yourself. One of the most useful classes I ever had basically went "Ok, this is how you find stuff for yourself. Downvotes are also a teaching experience combined with good advice.
    – Journeyman Geek
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:06
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    The issue with these questions is, people just dump their homework on a site and expect people to do it for them, no effort, no reasearch, we should not allow that, it is counter productive for a student to be spoon fed solutions. Of course, if you ask a well written, well reaserched question, that is fine but "PLZ HELP, I AM STUDENT AND DON'T KNOW ANSWER" followed by a text dump, sould be downvoted and closed for the same reasons as any other bad or lazy question.
    – Mark Kirby
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:10
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    "I don't find it normal that a beginner does not really have the same chance than an experimented developer, as its reputation tends to stay low" I started on Stack Overflow with zero programming experience. And trust me, the site and policies have not changed much since then. Do you have anything to help show us that beginners don't have the same chances? (Not to mention that reputation just unlocks extra features.)
    – Kendra
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:10
  • I'm a student and I've asked a lot of good questions on Stack Overflow.
    – Donald Duck
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:33
  • @DonaldDuck Congrats ! I'm so glad for you
    – MysteryGuy
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:34
  • Stack Overflow is a question and answer site for professional and enthusiast programmers, which includes student programmers.
    – no ai please
    Commented Aug 22, 2021 at 4:38

1 Answer 1

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Quality is quality, and I don't think students should be insulted by lowering the bar for questions. Besides, anyone can ask terrible questions, and meritocracy is implicitly part of the SE model.

Not everyone can be a Jon Skeet - but if you aren't learning to search for things, cite what you've found, and work towards clearly articulate your issues, you aren't learning to feed yourself the knowledge you know.

While the various SE sites aren't just for professionals, the higher bar is what keeps it useful and relevant.

I'd also suggest as a student - perhaps being able to find and synthesise knowledge, is just as important as being given an answer. Asking good questions also helps you think. Spoonfeeding's going to stunt your acedemic growth.

Finally If I understand you correctly

So I would suggest a scholarship proof from the university or school to avoid derives.

Adds an administrative burden to SE... and I'm sure I could fake admission to an educational institution in about 10 minutes in photoshop.

I've heard a few suggestions that we should start a "learners" version of SO, but you're unlikely to have the best folk answering.

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    A proof of scholarship doesn't make the content you post all of a sudden 10% better.
    – rene Mod
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:16
  • hah. I didn't have a degree when I was a new SE user. Eventually got one. I don't think I'm any smarter ;p
    – Journeyman Geek
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:18
  • @rene I was seeing the proof of scholarship as a "studentship guarantee" rather than a "quality guarantee"
    – MysteryGuy
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:20
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    @MysteryGuy the quality guarantee is all that matter to us. That you're lost and forgotten in an elderly home is of no importance, as long as the content you post is up to par (and don't drool on the keyboard) ....
    – rene Mod
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:23
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    drool on the keyboard is between you and the keyboard ;p
    – Journeyman Geek
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 14:24
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    Well, there is the English Language Learners site in addition to English Language and Usage, so there is a demand, at least in some areas.
    – Mr Lister
    Commented Jan 31, 2018 at 16:13

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