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Sorry - failure to communicate on my part. I was simply trying to offer you some respect for your gracious comment. No curve/slant was implied or intended.
Choosing a site is hard. See the taglines: "Stack Overflow - Q&A for professional and enthusiast programmers" versus " Super User - Q&A for computer enthusiasts and power users" versus " Programmers - Q&A for expert programmers interested in professional discussions on software development". Permutate any of professional/enthusiast/programmer/software/development
Ivo - "Sadly, there's no guide to Stack Exchange or a global FAQ. Your best bet is to read the FAQs on any site you like or have a look at the question that are being asked, whether it's on-topic or not." - Exactly.
I haven't "localized the problem" enough? Scenario: I have a web form that won't email me a report. I start digging into jQuery, then it's the database, then it's mailx, then it's an Ubuntu issue. I am forced to think "where do I post my questions?" One time it's StackOverflow, next it's SuperUser, next it's SomewhereElse. I lose track of all the factors that matter to my evolving problem.**This is the tail wagging the dog**. Just help me, people. I think the StackExchange sites form clusters particularly the IT/tech ones and the people I need to help right now are in there somewhere.
Chat rooms? Seriously? I really don't want to engage that deeply with SE - I want self-service. That's like asking someone online "How do I use Google to search. A great site/service "just works".
Now that is more helpful but as a normal (CompSci grad of 20+ years) user looking for help nothing in the UI guides me there. Familiarity with the site will prevent established users like you and @studiohack from seeing this kind of thing. I'm going to give an answer which shows a use case that I don't think you are addressing. But thanks - I'm seriously not trying to wind you folks up.
That list is spectacularly unhelpful because a)it's a randomly sorted list in a tiny window, b) nothing in the UI guides me there, c) all I can do is scroll up and down, not search or get suggestions.
