Should older questions be closed to new comments?
Every now and then I go back and look at questions and deals I've made, or commented on. I also look back on all the popular questions (that I can see), whether I ever commented on them or not. Sometimes there'll be a new comment, or multiple comments, and NO, I'm not talking about that loony @wootvan, either. Perhaps Questions that were asked can be marked closed in a similar fashion to the way Deals are marked RIP.
When you see questions where the comments are clearly from someone looking for help, and not really understanding that NO ONE is going to answer, it seems sad. It took me a while to realize how it happens, but it's from the Similar Questions suggestions. Someone sees the Popular questions, decides to read one to see if what they want is in it, and then clicks on the question that says it's similar. Alternatively, someone searches in the AtW search bar, and look what pops up:
What is deals woot?
Let's RIP old questions.
by
shrdlu
asked 2 years ago
Stupid character limit.
http://deals.woot.com/questions/details/091af3f7-e27f-4e74-9be2-5ade5efba5d1/what-is-deals-woot#44
Take a look at the last two comments.
The downside is that the same (or very similar) questions may be asked over and over.
What if a question could pop back up on the fresh tab when someone posts a comment?
Excellent idea @shrdlu
@shrdlu: Checking in from Memphis, Tennessee, and I totally agree. RIP the old stuff.
@hobbit: Hi Hobbit. Glad to see you!
@weakgeek: Not at all what I said. Please re-read what I said.
Not kill them. Just keep new comments out. It's all about reading comprehension.
@shrdlu: Sorry, I try to keep my posts short. Perhaps I need to elaborate.
If you lock a question (not kill it), you force people to ask new questions. If they ended up in an old question, it's likely very similar to what they wanted to know. Perhaps they were reading responses and they need clarification to a post. Because it's locked they cannot ask in context. They must try and explain, in a new question, that they HAVE read other questions but they need to know something different (otherwise, people will say: "read questions X, Y, and Z before asking a new question!!" see: http://tinyurl.com/ygqhske).
So a method of indicating there's a new post in an old question might cause less friction than forcing users to ask the same (or similar) questions over and over.
That's all I'm saying.
@weakgeek: I understood what you said the first time. Let me state what I mean more clearly.
The idea is that they WILL ask the question again. NO ONE SEES IT OTHERWISE. That's the point. This doesn't stop old questions from being read. There's a lot of good stuff out there. I just feel bad every time I see seomone who's trying to figure out the site, and there they are, off in the world of November 2009, when we're all over here, already into 2010 (Deals lives on ZULU time, so it's already tomorrow).
Let them ask again. I'll answer again. I don't mind.
Capice?
Oh. And I never ever EVER click on shortened URLs, so if that was something that's still pertinent, please repost.
So, I can see that I have a comment with a ZERO vote. Apparently it was a bit too snarky for the powers that be. Happens. Shrdlu is not a perfect person. Feel free to remove the offending words, but please do not remove the comment. Thanks.
Okay, maybe it's just a bug... Or a guilty conscience, who can say?
Done.
@sand4me: Hi Sand4me
@hobbit: Here's the post, per your request.
I see that "Done" has a zero, now. Please note, anyone who's watching, that it's not me doing it. Either it's a bug in the system, or someone with privileges, but it's not me.
Now that I see which post whatsisname is talking about, I'm vaguely amused. I point out that the post was on that crazy night that both @hobbit and I remember all too well, when the site went from Beta to released without warning (at least not any that we ever saw). So it goes.
That was one crazy week. Shrdlu waves fondly at @prettywootprincess, wherever she is (hopefully off having a good time, since it's New Year's Eve). Time to bring up a Solaris box and go poke at SWIFT for a while...
My excuse is I'm a tool with poor reading comprehension.
Don't work too hard!
Maybe older comments be assigned to new questions...that could be real interesting.
I agree.
Yeah, it's crazy when ppl comment on ancient questions! RIP old questions! ;)
Totally, let's end that stuff.
I'm not even gonna try to be witty, since I'm obviously just posting for the sake of irony.
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- 2 years ago
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- shrdlu
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