Questions tagged [etiquette]
This tag is aimed for discussions about etiquette: how to behave on the site and the chat.
217
questions
9
votes
1
answer
663
views
Should I delete a partial answer when someone else posts a complete answer?
Recently I edited and bumped this question; I thought it was interesting and it had garnered no attention in over two years. I wasn't able to solve it, but I mentioned I solved a problem with a ...
- 8,269
32
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Answers in a language other than English
I would appreciate if someone could clarify what the policy and etiquette are about using languages other than English on MSE, or point me to an authoritative resource on the subject.
What prompted ...
- 76.2k
-3
votes
3
answers
405
views
Why was my question on the objectivity of math heavily downvoted?
I posted the question Is math truly objective? which has been heavily downvoted (a score of $-9$ at the time of posting).
I have requested the downvoters to comment on the rationale behind their ...
user954997
2
votes
1
answer
139
views
"alternative method" type questions
I have a numerical type question on matrices, for which I already have a solution, but is a bit tedious. I actually wanted to know an alternative method or wether that question is kind of a “standard ...
- 562
5
votes
0
answers
461
views
I would like to bounty a question that lacks context and possibly focus
This question claims three interesting limits about primes. I think it is poorly phrased, in that there is no context, source, or effort; further, it's unclear if any of the limits are related.
That ...
- 8,269
22
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there a shorter and more opinionated version of "How to ask a good question?" that we can direct new users to?
The advice in how to ask a good question is good, but reading through the whole thing takes a while and, IMHO, requires some familiarity with the site to interpret. It also presents the reader with ...
- 10.1k
6
votes
0
answers
309
views
What is the etiquette of tag creation and editing?
In this years Tag management thread, I've suggested the creation of the tags hochschild-cohomology and a-infinity-algebras. Let's say for the sake of argument that this suggestion is well received and ...
- 1,168
3
votes
1
answer
93
views
Making the tour mandatory before asking questions?
I have had a SE account for some time now so forgive me if this policy is already in place.
I am curious if the tour is mandatory prior to asking questions? If not, has this ever been considered? Is ...
- 5,949
0
votes
0
answers
99
views
Should I edit the question before starting a bounty, or start a new question?
I have a question I would like to start a bounty on. But I would like to edit the question to add the possibility for a stronger result. The question I want to start a bounty on is this question:
For ...
- 1,240
-5
votes
1
answer
203
views
Alternate account to remind askers to accept answers when I am one of the answerers
There are many instances when a question receives satisfactory answers yet none of them is accepted. Specifically, in situations when the asker has explicitly commented below useful answers that their ...
- 17.6k
0
votes
1
answer
215
views
Should I thank people when they post comments?
When I ask questions on MSE, a lot of people often leave very helpful tips and suggestions in the comment section under my question. I feel that it's only right to thank each and every one of them for ...
- 6,430
21
votes
0
answers
795
views
How do I find the right questions to answer?
I'm not sure if this is on-topic for meta; I apologize if it isn't, but I think it's OK because it's somewhat the opposite of this.
My question is about how I can improve as a contributor, not about ...
- 115k
64
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Don't review a first question by simply downvoting it or voting to close it
A fair amount of first questions are of very low quality. Even so, I think that it is not correct, when a user gets one such first post from the First Questions review queue, to simply downvote it or ...
- 423k
11
votes
2
answers
661
views
Etiquette of letting a bounty expire on a question with an upvoted but incomplete answer?
I posted a question on math.SE a few weeks back, which received a fair bit of attention and some promising leads in the comments but no clear answers. I posted a +100 bounty on the question, and ...
- 16k
22
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a 'polite amount' to put up as a bounty for someone else's question?
Every now and again I see a question that I would like to know the answer to but don't know how to solve. I don't mind offering bounties but since I don't have a ton of rep, I'm wondering if a bounty ...
- 8,269
17
votes
2
answers
541
views
How long should one wait before cross-posting?
In posting questions on MSE, I find that, if a question is not answered within a day or so, it will not receive an answer at all. Typically, I have waited for several weeks before cross-posting such a ...
- 17.9k
5
votes
1
answer
284
views
Are askers notified of close votes on a question they've asked?
If I encounter a question that is, for example, missing context, so I give it a close vote accordingly, is the poster notified? Or should I copy the relevant blurb:
Please provide additional context, ...
- 4,434
-1
votes
3
answers
277
views
Reason for downvoting the answer.
This question is in accordance with the question that I answered yesterday. It was downvoted three times without any comment (even the pop-up displayed instructs to do so) of the users that what was ...
- 2,970
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is it rude to tag someone in the comments of an old post and politely ask them to check out your new question related to another post?
I was wondering whether is it rude to tag someone (who was extremely helpful in the past) in the comments of an old post and politely ask them to check out your new question related to another post ...
- 1,457
5
votes
2
answers
467
views
Should we offer comments to questions which are "beyond saving"?
On a question such as this (currently deleted and thus only visible to some users), should we offer a comment as to why the post is being downvoted?(since they are a new user) and if so what comment?
...
user649348
19
votes
2
answers
819
views
Several users are gorging themselves in the Late Answer queue
This is something I've noticed for a while but I wanted to wait until I earned a Steward badge to show I have some 'skin in the game,' so to speak.
Of the review queues, Late Answers (LA) are by far ...
- 8,269
51
votes
12
answers
4k
views
What's the reputation of MathSE among students and more casual users?
StackOverflow has quite the reputation as a toxic site, mostly for being unwelcoming to new users. But what's MathSE's general reputation? For users who are teachers, have you heard any of your ...
- 18.8k
14
votes
3
answers
878
views
My username is forced to change because it is close to that of a well-known user
I received suddenly an email from the Moderation Team:
Hello,
We're writing in reference to your Mathematics Stack Exchange account:
https://math.stackexchange.com/users/798202/user798202
We reset ...
user9464
3
votes
3
answers
396
views
Is answering only "This is correct." to a proof-verification question acceptable?
I answered a question of the form “Is my proof correct?”. From the proof, which was indeed correct, it was clear that the OP knew what he/she was doing, and I think that the doubt arose only because ...
- 17.9k
2
votes
0
answers
86
views
How to handle unanswered MSE questions with answers on MO?
For reference, I am looking at this MSE question in particular, which mentions obtaining an answer on MO here. I guess the question was posted to MSE first and, perhaps after nudging from other uses, ...
- 42.1k
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
Referring to ones own questions as examples, is it an accepted practice?
Is the following unethical?
I want to refer new users on the website to questions that I have asked. I want to help them to ask better questions by providing my questions as examples.
I am asking ...
- 2,573
12
votes
5
answers
1k
views
User answering poor question while also voting to close
Context
Tonight I witnessed conduct from a reputable user that I find outrageous. I won’t name names, but as the individual’s identity could be determined by tracing my activity anyways, I’ll include ...
- 6,560
13
votes
1
answer
444
views
Can I run a course project on Math.SE?
I'm an instructor at a North American university and I've been asked to teach an introductory group theory course online this summer. One of my learning goals emphasizes mathematical communication, ...
- 7,553
9
votes
1
answer
383
views
etiquette related to question posts or comments in which the asker (commenter) writes as though they are texting or chatting?
I'm concerned about posts like the following:
$\langle$ Problem statement appears here$\rangle$
idk - u plz hlp me?!!!
I find that sort of question to be really rude; though probably not ...
- 209k
32
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Engage with people from the fringes - or not?
I am quite tempted to ask this question because I have committed this a few times recently (e.g. Is this a useful concept in trying to solve the Riemann Hypothesis? Or am I still to naïve? , Why ...
user700480
6
votes
1
answer
74
views
Should I create a new question?
I forgot a minus sign everywhere and I made a question wrong.
I asked
The differential entropy cannot be negative for pdf in (0,1) but the question should have been positive instead of negative.
The ...
- 1,177
39
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can actual names with vulgar words be used on Mathematics SE?
I recently asked on Mathematics Stack Exchange (and quickly deleted) a question named "How is used Chinese Dumbass Notation?" The question was upsetting to the public, so I decided to ask this ...
- 363
6
votes
1
answer
154
views
Is it OK to ask approximately one question a day from old application exams?
If I ask approximately one question a day (from old application exams) will it be considered flooding/spamming or is this perfectly legal?
- 123
3
votes
0
answers
101
views
Multiple questions in a single post
Recently this question was edited so as to have two separate questions within the same post (after the OP tried to ask me the second question directly in comments on an unrelated question and I ...
- 19.4k
36
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Policy on smileys?
Is there a policy about using smileys in questions/answers? I am especially concerned by the colored icons, rather the more traditional ascii combinations.
I only started to see smileys recently on ...
- 22.9k
-2
votes
1
answer
85
views
Editing another users 'unclear what you are asking' question
General question: if a question by another user is put on hold by moderators because it is 'unclear what you are asking' is it ok to edit it to make it clear what is being asked?
This came up with ...
- 5,548
18
votes
2
answers
613
views
Answering a question too late
I recently answered a question I later found to have been asked nearly 3 years ago. If interested the question is Constructing a family of sets. (EDIT: The answer I provided was not correct, but this ...
- 3,491
-2
votes
2
answers
209
views
Whine... (acknowledging priority) [duplicate]
Say $X$ posts an incorrect, or at least incomplete, answer. I post a complete answer. X edits his or her answer - the new version is imo essentially the same as mine, although imo much less well ...
- 89.1k
1
vote
1
answer
169
views
Should we edit the post of a user who has left the site for medical reasons?
I recently encountered an answer by a user who has left the site for medical reasons. The answer, which was otherwise well-written, contained a minor error. The author's intention was clear, so I ...
- 75.9k
2
votes
3
answers
811
views
Why are the user suspension criteria applied for unfair comments on the main site currently not applied for unfair use of public chat rooms?
After my first 7 days suspension on April 2018, I raised HERE some questions related to the proper use of chat rooms to avoid defamatory actions clearly not compatible with the fair harmony of the ...
- 152k
-17
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Heteronormativity and binary gender assumptions
Recently quite a number of questions have been posted that contain heteronormative assumptions or assumptions about binary genders, e.g. questions about married couples that assume that these consist ...
- 230k
1
vote
3
answers
784
views
Are downvotes considered offensive?
I am asking this question because more and more frequently, I feel that people treat and experience downvotes as offensive. To give one example, I just stumbled across this question:
Why is true that ...
- 14.7k
34
votes
6
answers
861
views
Is it bad to edit your own answer several times?
I often need to edit my answers several times to fix errors or maybe to answer more directly the questions asked.
But each time I edit my answer, the post will get a bit higher in the top questions ...
- 1,043
13
votes
2
answers
596
views
What are the rules for posting an image with my attempts to solve my question?
Hi guys not sure if this is the right place to post this but just wondering what is the rules regarding posting images of individual attempts for a question you have asked, i.e. if I have a question, ...
- 1
21
votes
3
answers
762
views
Is it okay to ask for proof assistance frequently as you self-teach a topic?
I'm self-teaching algebraic geometry, and obviously the problems get hard fast (for a hobbyist at least) and I can't be 100% sure if I solved a particular problem. Initially I found Math SE to be very ...
- 735
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to deal with defamations perpetrated through public chat rooms?
I must premise that the present OP, albeit motivated by a personal experience on Mathematical Stack Exchange, aims to solicit an open discussion about an important general issue concerning the common ...
- 152k
0
votes
0
answers
91
views
Immediate question deletion to prevent others from seeing an answer
I recently answered a question about a simple strategy game. (Mine was the only answer.) The OP deleted the question about a minute later. It occurs to me that he might not have wanted a potential ...
- 8,158
13
votes
3
answers
722
views
Etiquette dilemma
Suppose hypothetically you've decided there's simply no point in trying to explain things to a certain user. But he's asking questions about something. Community-norms-wise, which alternative seems ...
- 89.1k
16
votes
1
answer
414
views
What to do with my cross-posted question that got answered elsewhere?
On MSE I recently asked a question which remained unanswered for a couple of weeks, at which point I cross-posted it on MO where it was answered.
What should be done now with the unanswered question ...
- 14.1k
8
votes
1
answer
265
views
Which answer to approve?
If I ask a question and get some answers for it of which all are equally correct and use a different method to solve the problem then how to decide which answer to approve?
- 203