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Elder Geek
Elder Geek
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A general answer:

Yes and No. This has been discussed in this meta post. and another very good related meta post here.

My take on this in a nutshell, is that the approach should be customer service based. If you can help someone more effectively by flagging their question as a dupe, you should do so. If however you think that you can be most helpful by providing a specific answer you should do that.

I have no doubt that some may think this an over simplistic view and perhaps it is, but if so, it's only because I'm eager to help. To be honest I can't imagine how any action taken trying to improve the site could be construed in a negative fashion.

Here's the point by point response:

Does the fact that duplicate is a general solution allow keeping the question open?

Yes and No. The answer to that is decided by the community and varies depending on the post and the views of those voting. As noted in the meta posts I linked above, duplicates are a complex issue and are as unlikely to go away as they are unlikely to get unanimous agreement on what is and isn't a duplicate.

Is it a reasonable to have question open when answers on duplicate are "overkill?".

Absolutely. For example, A common answer to almost any problem might be "re-install Ubuntu". I would argue that in most cases this solution lacks finesse and while easy to recommend is likely more time consuming and less helpful to the member asking than a less invasive, surgical approach that addresses his or her question exactly.

Does the fact that solutions posted on new answer not fit for suggested duplicate matter ?

Probably. Answers specific to the members situation should in theory be more effective than answers covering a general situation. Granted some of us are quite capable of extrapolating a general solution to our current situation, but since no all of us are exceptionally good at this, sometimes a tailored approach is required to provide the highest level of service.

Does the fact that a solution made specific warrant keeping question from being closed using a general approach ?

Again, Yes and No. You are well within your rights to vote to close such questions just as others who disagree are well within their rights to vote to keep it open. The benefit of having various answers to a question goes beyond the obvious (that one answer may work better than another for a specific individual) but also extends to the educational value of, as you say "teaching a man to fish"

A general answer:

Yes and No. This has been discussed in this meta post. and another very good related meta post here.

My take on this in a nutshell, is that the approach should be customer service based. If you can help someone more effectively by flagging their question as a dupe, you should do so. If however you think that you can be most helpful by providing a specific answer you should do that.

I have no doubt that some may think this an over simplistic view and perhaps it is, but if so, it's only because I'm eager to help. To be honest I can't imagine how any action taken trying to improve the site could be construed in a negative fashion.

Here's the point by point response:

Does the fact that duplicate is a general solution allow keeping the question open?

Yes and No. The answer to that is decided by the community and varies depending on the post and the views of those voting. As noted in the meta posts I linked above, duplicates are a complex issue and are as unlikely to go away as they are unlikely to get unanimous agreement on what is and isn't a duplicate.

Is it a reasonable to have question open when answers on duplicate are "overkill?".

Absolutely. For example, A common answer to almost any problem might be "re-install Ubuntu". I would argue that in most cases this solution lacks finesse and while easy to recommend is likely more time consuming and less helpful to the member asking than a less invasive, surgical approach that addresses his or her question exactly.

Does the fact that solutions posted on new answer not fit for suggested duplicate matter ?

Probably. Answers specific to the members situation should in theory be more effective than answers covering a general situation. Granted some of us are quite capable of extrapolating a general solution to our current situation, but since no all of us are exceptionally good at this, sometimes a tailored approach is required to provide the highest level of service.

Does the fact that a solution made specific warrant keeping question from being closed using a general approach ?

Again, Yes and No. You are well within your rights to vote to close such questions just as others who disagree are well within their rights to vote to keep it open.

A general answer:

Yes and No. This has been discussed in this meta post. and another very good related meta post here.

My take on this in a nutshell, is that the approach should be customer service based. If you can help someone more effectively by flagging their question as a dupe, you should do so. If however you think that you can be most helpful by providing a specific answer you should do that.

I have no doubt that some may think this an over simplistic view and perhaps it is, but if so, it's only because I'm eager to help. To be honest I can't imagine how any action taken trying to improve the site could be construed in a negative fashion.

Here's the point by point response:

Does the fact that duplicate is a general solution allow keeping the question open?

Yes and No. The answer to that is decided by the community and varies depending on the post and the views of those voting. As noted in the meta posts I linked above, duplicates are a complex issue and are as unlikely to go away as they are unlikely to get unanimous agreement on what is and isn't a duplicate.

Is it a reasonable to have question open when answers on duplicate are "overkill?".

Absolutely. For example, A common answer to almost any problem might be "re-install Ubuntu". I would argue that in most cases this solution lacks finesse and while easy to recommend is likely more time consuming and less helpful to the member asking than a less invasive, surgical approach that addresses his or her question exactly.

Does the fact that solutions posted on new answer not fit for suggested duplicate matter ?

Probably. Answers specific to the members situation should in theory be more effective than answers covering a general situation. Granted some of us are quite capable of extrapolating a general solution to our current situation, but since no all of us are exceptionally good at this, sometimes a tailored approach is required to provide the highest level of service.

Does the fact that a solution made specific warrant keeping question from being closed using a general approach ?

Again, Yes and No. You are well within your rights to vote to close such questions just as others who disagree are well within their rights to vote to keep it open. The benefit of having various answers to a question goes beyond the obvious (that one answer may work better than another for a specific individual) but also extends to the educational value of, as you say "teaching a man to fish"

Source Link
Elder Geek
Elder Geek
  • 36.4k
  • 21
  • 44

A general answer:

Yes and No. This has been discussed in this meta post. and another very good related meta post here.

My take on this in a nutshell, is that the approach should be customer service based. If you can help someone more effectively by flagging their question as a dupe, you should do so. If however you think that you can be most helpful by providing a specific answer you should do that.

I have no doubt that some may think this an over simplistic view and perhaps it is, but if so, it's only because I'm eager to help. To be honest I can't imagine how any action taken trying to improve the site could be construed in a negative fashion.

Here's the point by point response:

Does the fact that duplicate is a general solution allow keeping the question open?

Yes and No. The answer to that is decided by the community and varies depending on the post and the views of those voting. As noted in the meta posts I linked above, duplicates are a complex issue and are as unlikely to go away as they are unlikely to get unanimous agreement on what is and isn't a duplicate.

Is it a reasonable to have question open when answers on duplicate are "overkill?".

Absolutely. For example, A common answer to almost any problem might be "re-install Ubuntu". I would argue that in most cases this solution lacks finesse and while easy to recommend is likely more time consuming and less helpful to the member asking than a less invasive, surgical approach that addresses his or her question exactly.

Does the fact that solutions posted on new answer not fit for suggested duplicate matter ?

Probably. Answers specific to the members situation should in theory be more effective than answers covering a general situation. Granted some of us are quite capable of extrapolating a general solution to our current situation, but since no all of us are exceptionally good at this, sometimes a tailored approach is required to provide the highest level of service.

Does the fact that a solution made specific warrant keeping question from being closed using a general approach ?

Again, Yes and No. You are well within your rights to vote to close such questions just as others who disagree are well within their rights to vote to keep it open.