Questions tagged [help]
THIS IS NOT A GENERAL TAG FOR ASKING FOR HELP! Use this tag for questions about how help and information is provided to users.
114
questions
6
votes
0answers
84 views
Is there inaccurate information in the SO help page on deleted questions?
The help page on deleted questions on (English) stackoverflow states:
Questions that have been closed within the past 48 hours cannot be deleted, so as to allow for editing and possible reopening.
[...
84
votes
0answers
487 views
Remove the suggestion to post a new question from the closed questions post notices
Some user posted a question on IPS twice the past 2 days, and then was rude about the closure of both and the request to edit instead of reposting a slightly recomposed version with the same ...
9
votes
1answer
99 views
Can we get the MathJax reference link fixed?
The MathJax reference that is linked in the help box below a new answer is broken.
How can that be fixed?
Should electronics meta have a tutorial like the math meta tutorial or perhaps link there ...
-8
votes
1answer
72 views
Help on viewing a seemingly deleted answer on a marked off-topic post? [closed]
I asked a question in the physics stackexchange about the fastest ramp ending velocity for science project and it got one answer before it was marked off-topic for being too similar to a homework ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Inconsistency with the Images section in formatting help page
There is some inconsistency with Images section in the formatting help page over Stack Exchange sites.
In Stack Overflow help page, there is an old image icon is displaying
in the Images section.
...
-12
votes
1answer
173 views
Why should the Help Page provide information on the website only?
The Help Center of Buddhism SE is very resourceful for including a list of resources, which in my experience the only site that make use of this section.
Some arguments:
Putting content about the ...
12
votes
3answers
345 views
How to inform people to be considerate because OP has mental health disorders
I have been having a lot of trouble on SO lately because I suffer from an array of mental health conditions. I am open about my conditions and don't mind telling people. But I can imagine the backlash ...
6
votes
2answers
163 views
How can I start being a useful member of this community? [duplicate]
I understand that the rules are very strict, and should be as such, so how can I start off successfully and become a useful member of the community?
The advice of experienced members would be welcome....
2
votes
2answers
184 views
If I enter the Stack Overflow site as a new person and I search for “How do I ask a question” that yields no real help in doing so
It might seem obvious to a new person to the Stack Overflow site to simply search for "How do I ask a question?" or "How do I ask a great question?" or "How do I use this site?" yet none of those ...
2
votes
0answers
29 views
Add method of adding paragraphs to formatting page [duplicate]
I just found another post where a user is using single line break to create separate lines / paragraphs. This of course won't do anything in Markdown; two line breaks or a <p> tag are required. ...
-14
votes
2answers
87 views
Where do you go to get an answer about why exactly a question was closed as off-topic? [duplicate]
My question was closed on the English Language & Usage site.
Where do I go to argue why it should not have been closed? I heard there is a meta for that. Yet, I could not find it.
5
votes
0answers
134 views
Collapse/show more does not work in chat faq when linked to a specific section
If I go to this page: https://chat.stackexchange.com/faq I can see show more under each section. After expanding I can then also choose to collapse the section back.
For example, if I look at "...
1
vote
1answer
151 views
MathJax website is Shutting Down? From where we now getting support? [duplicate]
SE network mandates a programing language called MathJax, to format chemistry or math equations.
The left click on MathJax processed text shows the following icons:
.
Fig 1. MathJax processed text ...
4
votes
2answers
147 views
Should “Asking help” (in the guidance box on the question form page) be phrased better?
"Asking help" (the phrasing for the link at the bottom of the guidance box that comes up when one is typing a question title on any SE site) is poorly phrased. Better would be:
help with asking
I ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
More emphasis on scope for new users
I've noticed that many new users post questions that fall out of the scope of a particular site and get closed. Often these are very common (such as idea generation on Worldbuilding SE or homework ...
-7
votes
2answers
221 views
Looking for a place with all the rules and community guidelines
There doesn't seem to be a place within the stack exchange network for general questions, website support, or an FAQ, and the "rules" (the tour) are extremely vague and unhelpful.
Users and mods can ...
-20
votes
3answers
149 views
Replace obscure word “overt” in help page
This help page uses the word "overt" in the last section title and description. Personally, I have never even heard that word before, and I don't think many of the users did, as it's clearly not that ...
-13
votes
1answer
671 views
Why/how did I get banned from asking questions on softwareengineering.stackexchange.com? [duplicate]
I am so confused, I have asked like 5 questions on programmers.stackexchange.com / softwareengineering.stackexchange.com, and all of them have upvotes. Yet, I logged in a week ago, and now I can't ask ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Why not explain the reasons for daily reputation limit on the help page?
In What is reputation? How do I earn (and lose) it? is explained as the reputation limit works, but is not explained what is the reason for this daily limit score to exist.
My suggestion: I believe ...
7
votes
0answers
41 views
Add a “before you ask” section to tag wikis
Quite often, I'd like to comment on a question with some "before asking a question about tag you should..." direct link.
For example, to point out that the OP should try to use a debugger first.
...
143
votes
3answers
8k views
A guide to moderating chat
Chat is an offshoot of the main site, and using it is a privilege users earn early on during their time here. Chat is our place for:
Real-time collaboration
Meeting fellow members of the ...
322
votes
36answers
13k views
Toward a philosophy of Chat
TL;DR: The Problem
This keeps happening in chat:
Surprise at flags on vulgar messages. Language that would invariably get your comments deleted on the main site occasionally gets flagged and deleted ...
10
votes
0answers
61 views
When in a specific SE site, could there be an easy way to see that site's manifesto?
A significant part of traffic on any SE site consists of people (often newbies) asking questions which are outside the scope of the site, which are then closed for being "off-topic". Unfortunately, it ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
How to delete Area 51 account? [duplicate]
I logged into Area 51, and now I can't find any way to delete my account. Is it only me, or does this happen with everyone?
21
votes
3answers
199 views
Make āhow to tagā actually helpful for new users
When you ask a new question (or edit one whithout having the edit privilege) and edit the tag field, a help box with the following appears on the right:
How to Tag
A tag is a keyword or label that ...
-28
votes
3answers
282 views
Why is SE so disingenuous about its purpose?
The comment to an ELU meta-question states
the aim of StackExchange is not just to offer help to the person asking the immediate question, but to build a high quality repository of good questions and ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Is a suggested edit thrown out of the Queue when it is ignored/skipped? [duplicate]
What happens when a suggested edit is ignored/skipped?
Is it thrown out of the queue and how much time does it take to get out of the suggested edit Queue?
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Is the 'how should I format' sidebar guidance as relevant as it could be?
This is the current how to format sidebar:
Could this be updated in any way? For example, I think the html link suggestion should go.
4
votes
2answers
103 views
Portuguese Stack Overflow help page had mixed English and Portuguese
I went to the Portuguese Stack Overflow help page, and saw this:
There are various pieces of English that should be translated into Portuguese.
I don't speak Portuguese, so I don't know what it ...
17
votes
0answers
82 views
Correcting editing-help#code
Here, in the Preformatted Text section, the sentence :
Indent four spaces to create an block of preformatted text
Should be
Indent four spaces to create a block of preformatted text
6
votes
0answers
33 views
Update the syntax highlighting help with current meta links
The syntax highlighting help links to Changes to syntax highlighting, a locked thread focused on presenting a new feature and not of general interest today. It also links āone of the supported ...
asked Dec 20 '14 at 21:37
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
103k25 gold badges204 silver badges452 bronze badges
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Numbered userid - How to find my Stack Exchange account
I've been using the Stack Exchange Android app to ask and answer questions since I got my new mobile phone. The app created a profile for me named "user2021", as you can see. I have no idea how to log ...
10
votes
1answer
109 views
Provide more in-line guidance to suggested edit reviewers
In relation with What guidance should be given when edits are rejected?, it occurs to me that we aren't providing much guidance to reviewers regarding when they should approve edits.
āApprove edits ...
asked Aug 21 '14 at 9:48
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
103k25 gold badges204 silver badges452 bronze badges
11
votes
1answer
64 views
Documenting the “search by asking”
In mSO it was recently pointed out that the suggested duplicates and related sometimes provide way better results than the normal search. It was previously discussed in meta, too, but there were no ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
iOS app should direct users to helpful status when the site is totally down
There is already a request to have read-only mode shown to users of the iOS app when the site is read-only. I'd like to also request that the app actually direct users to the canonical / official ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
SEDE FAQ - small discrepancy - update day
According to this http://data.stackexchange.com/help, SEDE is updated every Monday morning around 3:00 UTC. However, it is showing that it was last updated around Sunday morning around 3:00 UTC. And I ...
-9
votes
1answer
155 views
Better way for new users to contact moderators
Well, the previous question on a better way to contact moderators, An @Moderators ping got a big vote of no confidence. But we've been trying to address the perception among new users that our site (...
asked Apr 26 '14 at 16:47
mxyzplk - SE stop being evil
5,1861 gold badge19 silver badges28 bronze badges
2
votes
0answers
42 views
What can we do to increase awareness of Community Wiki mode?
I don't think I'm atypical of newer SE users in that, while I have seen incidental mention of "Community Wiki", I had to come here to find out what it actually meant (beyond the basic concept of wiki, ...
13
votes
1answer
73 views
Search is broken in the “How to Ask”
If you happen to get to the "How to Ask" page (not to be confused with help/how-to-ask), you'll notice a search box. If you try a search, nothing much happens:
This happens even when you search for ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
How to go to question list from a question on unsaved StackExchange site? [duplicate]
I typically like to browse through various Stack Exhange sites in which I'm not registered yet. And at times I want to see list of questions after I read one question on that site. Tapping on the site ...
5
votes
0answers
35 views
Consistency in the help menu
In the main sites, the help menu looks like this:
However, when we get to Meta, the menu turns into this:
The "Back to (Main Site)" link is on the top, and we have four menu items now.
My first ...
11
votes
0answers
73 views
Hyperlink to not-so-relevant Microsoft KB article in SO How to Ask section needs to be removed [closed]
In the How to Ask section of SO, under the heading Related on the right sidebar, there is a link to a not-so-relevant Microsoft KB article.
Link in question: How to ask a question
This article does ...
10
votes
1answer
67 views
Note on “What should I do when someone answers my question?” page that upvoting requires 15 reputation
The help page What should I do when someone answers my question? says:
The first thing you should do when someone answers your question is vote on it, like any other user does.
However, new users (...
1
vote
0answers
48 views
Reputation limit for user name change? [duplicate]
Do you have to have a certain amount of reputation points to change your user name? I have checked all of the questions on changing my user name and the answers that are given say to click the edit ...
8
votes
1answer
130 views
Getting a vote up by someone on the same network considered “a sock puppet”?
I am an intern at a company where a colleague knows my Stack Overflow account and he just upvoted a question of mine. I was wondering whether this is considered a "sock puppet". I told him not to ...
2
votes
0answers
67 views
Small discrepancy in Advanced Search help in Firefox
In Firefox (currently running 25.0.1), When you click on the Advanced Search Tips on the right-hand side of the display after you have searched for something, you get the following for the url search ...
-1
votes
1answer
77 views
Add explanation of the editing tool buttons to the help center
Markdown editing help is a big help for anyone who is at least a little acquainted with computer use. Using editing interface is pretty obvious for people like us. On Stack Overflow and other computer-...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Rewarding a positive user experience
In my place of employment, if someone goes above and beyond to help you, you can nominate them for an award. That award comes with a plaque, as well as a bonus check. It really promotes a positive ...
7
votes
0answers
38 views
Top bar privileges link?
I think that a link for privileges should be put into the new top bar. It's really useful for new people. Maybe under 'help' would be a good place for it.
1
vote
0answers
22 views
Should the Help Center include a definition of a “question”
The Help Center includes definitions on what type of questions should be posted and what makes a good question. However, there is no definition on how a proper question is formulated. I'm referring ...
