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Used the official name of the site (ref. <http://stackoverflow.com/legal/trademark-guidance> (the last section)).
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Peter Mortensen
Peter Mortensen
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Are some questions too easy for SuperuserSuper User?

To put it another way: canCan we assume that someone who asks a question on SuperuserSuper User has tried to find the answer elsewhere first? ForFor many (most?) people, the first step in finding an answer to just about any question is Googleto google. IfIf an answer can be found easily on Google, does that make it too easy for SuperuserSuper User?

Do we want SuperuserSuper User to become the first place people go for answers to questions related to computer use? Does SUDoes Super User 'compete' with Google in that sense?

Certainly, the quality of the answers on SUSuper User often exceeds what can be found elsewhere, and the idea of SUSuper User being more relevant than Google for finding answers in itself sounds appealing. ButBut in practice, if SUSuper User becomes everyone's first stop for solving computer use problems, we're going to see a lot of questions that are incredibly basic. IsIs that a problem? PerhapsPerhaps not.

So my question comes down to this: are there questions that are too easy for SuperuserSuper User? IfIf so, how should such questions be handled? IfIf not, then it should be interesting to see what happens to the quality of SUSuper User questions as the site becomes more popular. IfIf the SUSuper User moderators spend all their time reframing Google search results in easy-to-consume packages, the task might grow wearisome.

Are some questions too easy for Superuser?

To put it another way: can we assume that someone who asks a question on Superuser has tried to find the answer elsewhere first? For many (most?) people, the first step in finding an answer to just about any question is Google. If an answer can be found easily on Google, does that make it too easy for Superuser?

Do we want Superuser to become the first place people go for answers to questions related to computer use? Does SU 'compete' with Google in that sense?

Certainly, the quality of the answers on SU often exceeds what can be found elsewhere, and the idea of SU being more relevant than Google for finding answers in itself sounds appealing. But in practice, if SU becomes everyone's first stop for solving computer use problems, we're going to see a lot of questions that are incredibly basic. Is that a problem? Perhaps not.

So my question comes down to this: are there questions that are too easy for Superuser? If so, how should such questions be handled? If not, then it should be interesting to see what happens to the quality of SU questions as the site becomes more popular. If the SU moderators spend all their time reframing Google search results in easy-to-consume packages, the task might grow wearisome.

Are some questions too easy for Super User?

To put it another way: Can we assume that someone who asks a question on Super User has tried to find the answer elsewhere first? For many (most?) people, the first step in finding an answer to just about any question is to google. If an answer can be found easily on Google, does that make it too easy for Super User?

Do we want Super User to become the first place people go for answers to questions related to computer use? Does Super User 'compete' with Google in that sense?

Certainly, the quality of the answers on Super User often exceeds what can be found elsewhere, and the idea of Super User being more relevant than Google for finding answers in itself sounds appealing. But in practice, if Super User becomes everyone's first stop for solving computer use problems, we're going to see a lot of questions that are incredibly basic. Is that a problem? Perhaps not.

So my question comes down to this: are there questions that are too easy for Super User? If so, how should such questions be handled? If not, then it should be interesting to see what happens to the quality of Super User questions as the site becomes more popular. If the Super User moderators spend all their time reframing Google search results in easy-to-consume packages, the task might grow wearisome.

added 18 characters in body; deleted 18 characters in body
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boot13
boot13
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Source Link
boot13
boot13
  • 5.9k
  • 14
  • 8

Are some questions too easy for Superuser?

To put it another way: can we assume that someone who asks a question on Superuser has tried to find the answer elsewhere first? For many (most?) people, the first step in finding an answer to just about any question is Google. If an answer can be found easily on Google, does that make it too easy for Superuser?

Do we want Superuser to become the first place people go for answers to questions related to computer use? Does SU 'compete' with Google in that sense?

Certainly, the quality of the answers on SU often exceeds what can be found elsewhere, and the idea of SU being more relevant than Google for finding answers in itself sounds appealing. But in practice, if SU becomes everyone's first stop for solving computer use problems, we're going to see a lot of questions that are incredibly basic. Is that a problem? Perhaps not.

So my question comes down to this: are there questions that are too easy for Superuser? If so, how should such questions be handled? If not, then it should be interesting to see what happens to the quality of SU questions as the site becomes more popular. If the SU moderators spend all their time reframing Google search results in easy-to-consume packages, the task might grow wearisome.