Return to Answer

Other times, specific information in a question is essential to get good answers. An obviously completely non-applicable answer got eight up votes (now at +8/-3) before an answer that actually addressed the user's situation was posted. Now, imagine this question wouldn't have been tagged osx, but e.g. unix. Broadening the scope is only useful if the user's problem is still being addressed. In this particular case, it's doubtful, due to the relative popularity of Linux and OS X on this site.

If the topic is important enough, create a community wiki FAQ question like @slhck did with this one and close everything else as duplicates, although we're still debating how to handle some of these topics.

Other times, specific information in a question is essential to get good answers. An obviously completely non-applicable answer got eight up votes (now at +8/-3) before an answer that actually addressed the user's situation was posted. Now, imagine this question wouldn't have been tagged osx, but e.g. unix. Broadening the scope is only useful if the user's problem is still being addressed. In this particular case, it's doubtful, due to the relative popularity of Linux and OS X on this site.

If the topic is important enough, create a community wiki FAQ question like @slhck did with this one and close everything else as duplicates, although we're still debating how to handle some of these topics.

If the topic is important enough, create a community wiki FAQ question like @slhck did with this one and close everything else as duplicates, although we're still debating how to handle some of these topics.

Your specific example suffers from being a software recommendation question which is generally considered off topic on this site, although the FAQ doesn't state it at all. So instead of three copies of this question (one per popular OS), or one question (the unified all-encompassing), we'd probably prefer 0.

If the topic is important enough, create a community wiki FAQ question like @slhck did with this one and close everything else as duplicates, although we're still debating how to handle some of these topics.

Your specific example suffers from being a software recommendation question which is generally considered off topic on this site, although the FAQ doesn't state it at all. So instead of three copies of this question (one per popular OS), or one question (the unified all-encompassing), we'd probably prefer 0.

Another issue is that, if the only possible answer is negative, e.g. It's not possible or This doesn't exist (yet), it just won't be posted. Users will posting answers that don't interest the user, and he'll never get the information that it's not possible in his particular, situation.

Another issue is that, if the only possible answer is negative, e.g. It's not possible or This doesn't exist (yet), it just won't be posted. Users will post answers that don't interest the OP, and he'll never get the information that it's not possible in his particular situation.