Questions tagged [off-topic]

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142 votes
3 answers
8k views

Is discussion of techniques for removing DRM permitted?

I just asked a question about how to remove DRM from Kindle books that I had purchased and it was promptly closed by the moderator studiohack with the following comment: We don't encourage this ...
Jeremy's user avatar
  • 1
22 votes
2 answers
546 views

Update the FAQ to disallow any product recommendation questions

Foreword added at +2/-1: To make this clear: As far as I can tell (and I quote a diamond moderator below), this is already official moderation policy on this site. I just want to have this added ...
Daniel Beck's user avatar
  • 110k
21 votes
5 answers
1k views

Are purely non-technical answers to technical problems on-topic?

I edited this question yesterday as part of a cleanup spree. It had already gotten a fair bit of activity, but someone tweeted a link to it after I edited it, and things really took off. The topic of ...
Pops's user avatar
  • 8,473
19 votes
3 answers
674 views

Are Hackintosh questions off topic because of community consensus or just moderation policy?

I was having a discussion with @Gilles lately, whether to allow questions about OS X being virtualized. In essence, the Apple license forbids virtualizing certain products, but the majority of votes ...
slhck's user avatar
  • 228k
18 votes
1 answer
365 views

Can we educate users to stop adding "Belongs on xyz.SE!" comments without further explanation?

Similarly to people telling the OP to ask their question on Apple.SE, even if it's on topic here on SU, I think that there's a general problem with comments like the following: This should be on ...
slhck's user avatar
  • 228k
16 votes
3 answers
422 views

Apple.SE as off-topic migration path

Update (2013-09) Given that this seems to come up every other month or so, here's an update. Current migration stats (2013-09-08), not counting rejected migrations, are as follows: Web Apps (68) * ...
Daniel Beck's user avatar
  • 110k
16 votes
2 answers
307 views

Which UPS related questions are on-topic?

My recent question about an APC UPS was closed as off-topic ("This question is not about computer hardware or software, within the scope defined in the help center.") I flagged another UPS-related ...
palacsint's user avatar
  • 627
14 votes
4 answers
501 views

Closure of questions regarding pre-release/beta software

Five years ago, the issue was raised as to whether questions related to problems with beta software are on-topic. The gist of the logic for why they are not is in suggested wording for a custom close ...
fixer1234's user avatar
  • 27.5k
12 votes
3 answers
596 views

Is there a valid Stackexchange for my home networking question, or should I just use the DD-WRT Forum?

I asked a question at serverfault, it was migrated to superuser, and promptly closed as off-topic. Here is the question: Is it possible to throw DD-WRT on a F5D8235-4 v2? Now is there a valid ...
leeand00's user avatar
  • 22.4k
12 votes
1 answer
517 views

Questions about WordPress on Super User

I was updating my blog by installing wordpress on a server of mine, and I had a particular question. As it seems, it is not allowed to ask any questions about WordPress the software, since the ...
user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
276 views

Should we split up the off-topic "shopping" closing reason?

One of our current off-topic reasons reads like this: Questions seeking product, service, or learning material recommendations are off-topic because they tend to become obsolete quickly. Instead, ...
slhck's user avatar
  • 228k
11 votes
1 answer
232 views

Question about Microsoft Outlook behaviour closed on assumption that I should contact Microsoft

I asked this question about an issue I am experiencing with software (Microsoft Outlook). The question was mod-closed under the assumption/reason that I should report the issue to Microsoft or more ...
Neo's user avatar
  • 339
11 votes
1 answer
123 views

Off topic close reasons ā€“ do we need specific points for Stack Overflow or Web Apps?

It's been a couple of days since we're using the new off-topic close reasons, including: Questions seeking product, service, or learning material recommendations are off-topic because they tend ...
slhck's user avatar
  • 228k
10 votes
5 answers
540 views

Why was I accused of spreading ransomware (and had my question deleted) for asking about stopping a McAfee service?

I asked about how to stop a McAfee antivirus service (where I am an administrator of the computer) in the Super User community. Why was my question deleted as "off topic: not related to hardware/...
thedrs's user avatar
  • 324
10 votes
2 answers
257 views

Close reason for questions asking for code

Wording of close reasons has changed recently. For questions asking code (e.g. VBA macro) without demonstrating self effort I've voted as "too broad" in the past, however with the new wording I'm ...
Máté Juhász's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
226 views

Should I flag questions as off-topic if they are already upvoted and answered?

I've just now found this question: Note taking softwares with fast searching?, which is already upvoted and answered. For me it's off topic as looking for software recommendation, should I flag it, or ...
Máté Juhász's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
331 views

Was I wrong answering an off-topic question?

It's quite clear to me the reason for establishing rules on any Stack Exchange site. Yesterday, I found this question, which I answered, and once sent, I read JakeGould's comment and realized ...
nKn's user avatar
  • 5,657
10 votes
1 answer
132 views

How to handle off-topic questions with a bounty

Second question that I recall in recent weeks where the question is completely off topic and the OP posted a bounty before it was closed: Select Google music track on Android to play via Nexus Play/...
fixer1234's user avatar
  • 27.5k
9 votes
2 answers
163 views

Too liberal use of the "off topic" button

I've seen a small handful of questions here marked as off topic that just baffle me. Here is the latest: https://superuser.com/questions/197939/best-host-for-vmware-workstation/197942 How is that ...
Brad's user avatar
  • 6,152
9 votes
1 answer
84 views

Is there an easy way to find out what this site's on-topic and off-topic questions are?

There is no quick and easy way to find what are the topics of Super User, nor what is off-topic The superuser.com/tour: Gives a very (and too) brief information in its first paragraph as to what is ...
Olivier Dulac's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
202 views

Are questions about Joomla considered off topic?

Currently I am fighting with Joomla and XAMPP installation and trying to make it to work so I would like to post a question on the main Superuser site but searching for Joomla on the Superuser I get ...
Darius's user avatar
  • 2,206
8 votes
2 answers
215 views

Are questions regarding "how to research things on the internet" on-topic

I came across this question: https://superuser.com/questions/659831/how-to-search-for-a-specific-program-with-a-specific-set-of-features The title seemed innocent enough, but the bulk of the ...
user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
174 views

Are questions about adblocking on-topic?

Our help says that questions about "websites or web services like Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress" are off topic. What about web browser add-ons, specifically configuring adblockers? We've had ...
Gavin S. Yancey's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
153 views

How to deal with questions about debugging?

I've met a question asking to debug an Excel formula without providing the necessary details: https://superuser.com/questions/1029939/excel-index-match-returning-value-that-doesnt-exist-in-the-table ...
Máté Juhász's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
208 views

How far can we go when asking about beta software?

This question asks about OS X Mavericks, which is still in beta. There's a close reason specifically for questions about software that's still in beta. However, once Mavericks is released, the ...
Blacklight Shining's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
224 views

Is SU the appropriate place to ask how hardware affects code?

Tried to ask a question about the differences between a certain tablet and a desktop computer, for purposes of a certain software. I see differences, and need to understand the source of these ...
CWilson's user avatar
  • 101
7 votes
1 answer
308 views

Why is this question about downloading an M3U8 video file off-topic?

I ran across this fairly popular question about downloading an M3U8 file on Windows 10: Downloading m3u8 videos that was closed. I don't spend a lot of time on Super User, but I'm struggling to see ...
M. Justin's user avatar
  • 173
6 votes
3 answers
245 views

Why was this question deleted instead of closed?

I've found this question and voted to close it. For those who can't see deleted questions, here is the original text: Which One is Best News Paper App? Because there are so many newspaper ...
Máté Juhász's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
233 views

Anti-virus question, reasons vs opinion

This question was rapidly closed, as I was writing a detailed answer actually: https://superuser.com/questions/458666/is-it-neccessary-to-use-antivrus-tools-for-linux I'm not questioning why the ...
Brian Deragon's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
103 views

Editing others' questions: etiquette issue with partially off-topic questions?

The quidelines for editing say don't change the meaning. And it's reasonable and just. But what about questions like this one: "Should I buy webcam of 720p or VGA quality?" The first part, where the ...
haimg's user avatar
  • 22.5k
6 votes
2 answers
82 views

How to reply to a user about something off topic without derailing a comment thread?

Since I started using Super User a short while ago, I've been wondering how to comment on a user's attitude, spelling or similar without getting into a long off-topic comment thread which doesn't ...
oKtosiTe's user avatar
  • 9,578
6 votes
2 answers
61 views

where to ask about website CMS, like wordpress SU or SO?

Wordpress is technically computer software, but it is also programming and development. So where should I ask a question about a WP plugin on SO or SU?
Jonathan.'s user avatar
  • 2,614
6 votes
2 answers
77 views

Are printers and their hardware problems (NOT a driver issue), on topic for Super User?

I didn't think that this question was on topic under Super User. I didn't flag it because printers are sort-of computer related, but... if it's only hardware?
wizlog's user avatar
  • 13.3k
6 votes
2 answers
76 views

Are mobile networking questions on topic for this site

I found a question on Android Enthusiasts that was off topic for that site. It was about mobile networks (3G and 4G). Does excellent 4G coverage imply excellent 3G coverage? Is the primary benefit of ...
Uwe Plonus's user avatar
  • 1,444
5 votes
2 answers
191 views

Is giving a shopping recommendation prohibited?

I understand that questions that ask for a shopping recommendation are off topic. However, after reading this answer, a question came up: is giving a shopping recommendation in response to such a ...
bwDraco's user avatar
  • 46.1k
5 votes
3 answers
135 views

Off-topic questions on Super User

In the Super User FAQ, the following questions are stated off-topic: Programming, ask on Stack Overflow. Servers, ask on Server Fault. Web design and HTML/CSS layout, and your job title is "designer",...
petersohn's user avatar
  • 2,672
5 votes
3 answers
124 views

Add a new off-topic close reason for questions asking for scripts

Recently, I've seen several questions in the close queue that simply ask for a script to be written to perform or automate a particular task. These questions are currently closed as too broad with ...
bwDraco's user avatar
  • 46.1k
5 votes
2 answers
121 views

Are relationships/interference between two piece of hardware on topic?

A colleague claims that leaving on cell phone on top of an external conventional platter hard drive could damage the drive. I'm not so sure about that, so I am interested in posting a question on ...
End Anti-Semitic Hate's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
72 views

Are questions about interfacing with printers on topic?

According to the current consensus on Meta, questions about printers are on topic, even questions concerning the hardware. Also, according to the help, it is OK to ask question concerning smartphones "...
Malcolm's user avatar
  • 394
5 votes
0 answers
73 views

Request to reopen question 600238

This question about creating CD+Gs from MP4s was closed this morning, 27 May 2013, at 04:05 UTC for being off-topic: in its original form, the question was obviously a software-rec. Twelve minutes ...
nc4pk's user avatar
  • 9,107
4 votes
3 answers
95 views

Why was this off-topic (resource recommendation) flag declined?

I flagged this question as off-topic, using the reason "Questions seeking product, service, or learning material recommendations are off-topic because they become outdated quickly and attract ...
Robert Columbia's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
62 views

Why are the question on linux not considered off topic? [duplicate]

As we already know that Super User is a for computer enthusiasts and power users but we have different sites for Linux questions such as: Unix and Linux - for users of Linux, FreeBSD and other Unix-...
Kunal's user avatar
  • 1,899
4 votes
1 answer
66 views

Are new questions regarding Windows XP on-topic?

Does superuser follow the same policy as askubuntu to mark new questions about "no-longer supported" operating systems as off-topic?
Manoj's user avatar
  • 816
4 votes
1 answer
41 views

Clarification regarding Question Closure as Off Topic

I have a question about my Super User post: dnSpy: What do included reference assemblies affect? This question was closed as off topic, it was asked in reference to dnSpy and how it recompiles DLLs. ...
Gumpf's user avatar
  • 111
4 votes
2 answers
95 views

Why is question 112455 not off-topic?

This question, which seeks "a program where I can type one, two or more components of chemical reaction and find out the result of it," is a blatant software rec question. I flagged it as off-topic (...
nc4pk's user avatar
  • 9,107
3 votes
1 answer
79 views

Are questions about connecting smartphones to computers on-topic?

This question asks about connecting a smartphone to a computer and transfering files. It was put on-hold as off-topic. The list of on-topic subjects, linked on the very on-hold message, says ...
That Brazilian Guy's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
90 views

Why do we have the google-calendar tag if we can't ask questions about it here?

I'm just wondering why we have the google-calendar (or any other web application) tag here for superuser when questions on this topic are considered off topic? I recently had my question migrated ...
Classified's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
77 views

Off-topic : network discussions

The following question : https://superuser.com/questions/257073/good-book-for-networks has been closed as off-topic. The question I'm asking: if network discussion are not meant to be on super-user, ...
M'vy's user avatar
  • 3,910
3 votes
1 answer
95 views

Are questions about TVs off topic?

About 2 hours ago, the question Why do enormous TVs take longer to turn on than smaller TVs? got closed for being off topic. The question also has a comment that reads TVs are not computer ...
Dennis's user avatar
  • 49.7k
3 votes
1 answer
54 views

Is my question about Netbeans more suitable for Stack Overflow or SuperUser?

I asked this question yesterday and one of the users pointed out to me that this question may be better for Stack Overflow. I feel that my question involves configuring Netbeans to run assembly code ...
a_sid's user avatar
  • 179