Very Little Excuse To Ask A Question Cold - Comments

[fresh_42]

So perhaps on registration, there could be some required selections: ...

I think that would do more damage than good. I still remember my registration, and what I wanted to know the most has been whether there are hidden costs. To reveal all personal information like this, would have certainly led me to leave instantaneously. To give away personal information to the public beforehand would be an invitation to abuse. Let alone legal issues in the various countries. The world out there isn't a scientific one. (Live long and prosper! )

My experience is, that those information weren't even useful, as it tells you nothing about a specific post. The available degrees "B","I" and "A" are much more telling. Why should an astronomer has to be an expert in particle physics, a geologist capable to understand a mathematical question on "A" level or a chemist understand general relativity? I find that the way a question is worded reveals more information than a vita would provide.

 

[Drakkith]

No offense whatsoever to this forum or anyone on this forum, but I honestly wouldn't recommend trying to participate in a discussion or ask a question if you think you are not smart enough; it is too professional.

I would say that if you want to participate in a discussion, you need to have the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. If you don't have these, then you're best bet is to stick to asking basic questions about the topic and not answering them. This isn't really any different than what most people do everyday and could be considered "common sense".

On this forum, people ask you to be clear on what you want to know or what you want to discuss. Sometimes we ask them to do some research on their own before asking anything. I suggest we keep in mind that this is only possible for minority of people who have the cognitive ability to accurately identify the actual problem they want to talk about. I suggest we keep in mind that we are the minorities and those that make up most of the active members.

Respectfully, I don't fully agree with this. I would say that the majority of basic questions we get here at PF are not simply, "What is X?", like the insights article is talking about. Most people asking a question on this level actually take the time to explain that they are novices at science and often give some background as to what made them ask the question in the first place. Some people are so talkative that it takes them 3/4 of a post just to get to the actual question!

Has any thought been given to finding a way to automatically require that this information be provided? From my lurking and reading threads on physics forums I notice that many threads begin with several messages back/forth assessing the background of the person asking the question and what their purpose is.

It's been discussed more than once, but the problem is that the more barriers you put in place, the less likely people are to take the time to get through them and register. We don't want to drive people away before they've even registered. We don't want to drive people away at all!

There's also the issue that this information is personal and there's no real reason to require it. A person's background in a topic is almost always immediately apparent when they post. The issue is that for people who aren't formally educated and trained in an area, we don't know where they stand in their general education and knowledge of science. If someone's asking about what energy is, it's pointless to respond with a long mathematical derivation if that person can't even do algebra. But I don't know how you would figure this out except by directly engaging with the person and asking. The number of things you'd have to put on a questionnaire would be very large if we wanted to cover all the basic areas and it would just make it a huge pain in the butt to register.

 

[symbolipoint]

Has any thought been given to finding a way to automatically require that this information be provided? From my lurking and reading threads on physics forums I notice that many threads begin with several messages back/forth assessing the background of the person asking the question and what their purpose is.

Right now when people post questions they have to choose what they believe the level of their question is.
Perhaps additionally, to post a question they should be required to also describe themselves. They can skip this step if their profile provides the required information.

So perhaps on registration, there could be some required selections:
(1) completed education level, with choices like: high school, college, undergrad, masters, doctoral, post-doc
(2) education major: math, physics, engineering, N/A, etc.
(3) currently doing: working, high school, undergrad, masters, doctoral, post-doc
(4) reason for being here: improving on popular science level understanding, help with school, in depth self-study, technical professional development

Some members and potential members may refuse some of that profile information because they want to protect their identity and avoid reputation destruction.

 

[Drakkith]

Some members and potential members may refuse some of that profile information because they want to protect their identity and avoid reputation destruction.

Indeed. Or just because they don't like to give out personal info to random people on an internet forum.

 

[symbolipoint]

Indeed. Or just because they don't like to give out personal info to random people on an internet forum.

For the reasoning described...

Not every member can afford to be a dedicated specialist in his field. People too often need to diversify or be flexible, and members never know who will read what the member writes on the forum and member never know what unfavorable ways the reader will take and use what the member says/writes.

 

[phinds]

I would say that if you want to participate in a discussion, you need to have the necessary knowledge and skills to do so.

Yeah, but there are always people like me who don't let a little thing like total ignorance get in the way of giving an answer.

 

[Fervent Freyja]

Yeah, but there are always people like me who don't let a little thing like total ignorance get in the way of giving an answer.

I should bookmark this and reference it when I get agitated with you.

 

[Nucleus _Basalis]

Author: ZapperZ

Very Little Excuse To Ask A Question Cold
Read: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/little-excuse-ask-question-cold/

I knew what a question was but, could only guess what a "cold one" was after reading your article, perhaps a question is cold when it is without reference or context etc.
I googled cold question as suggested
https://www.google.com/search?q=col...4qfYAhVEU98KHWbjAQQQvwUIJCgA&biw=1396&bih=668

haha, just kidding!

'PF is a great forum' as always