Okay I noticed that some things are used but wrongly explained, why don't we make a list of sorts to prevent hours of discussion (for example) wheter 1/infinity can be done or not. I saw a discussion about that about 20 times and really it always ends in the same way. There's no point to those, so why don't we put those in a sticky with facts etc? And when that (side)discussion pops up again we put a small link to the sticky? To prevent useless fruitless talking about nothing?
Last edited by Klaw 2 on Tue May 06, 2008 5:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
I'm not sure exactly what you mean but from what I think do you mean this?:
1.) Infinity is not a really really big number. It is an unknown value that can go on forever and never reach solution, but it is not a 'really really big' number.
no make a list of things that continue to pop up, write down the (scientific) facts and sticky them.
so that we don't get a discussion over and over again.
| Klaw 2 wrote: |
no make a list of things that continue to pop up, write down the (scientific) facts and sticky them.
so that we don't get a discussion over and over again. |
There is something to be said for this idea. It was for this very reason that I wrote the sticky on 'what is science' - because people kept posting things which clearly illustrated that they did not know how science is defined and how it works. Perhaps a FAQ sticky would be in order...Yeah, let's make a list of 25684965924386302 topics that nobody will be allowed to talk about anymore. Great idea. Why stop at Frihost, we might as well extend it to schools??? 
| Arnie wrote: |
| Yeah, let's make a list of 25684965924386302 topics that nobody will be allowed to talk about anymore. Great idea. Why stop at Frihost, we might as well extend it to schools??? |
No - that was not my suggestion. A FAQ is just a useful reference and when someone asks a question covered by it, they can be given a reference to the FAQ. That doesn't stop them debating further if they wish, it just makes it easier for those of us who constantly deal with the same issues.. 
| Arnie wrote: |
| Yeah, let's make a list of 25684965924386302 topics that nobody will be allowed to talk about anymore. Great idea. Why stop at Frihost, we might as well extend it to schools??? |
That wasn't mine suggestion too. Just tose things that keep coming back. What's the point for us to discuss the same things over and over... isn't it better to talk about some new things? And making a frih-wiki wasn't my intent either just those few topic's that keep returning.The idea is good but then some people will always ignore it, some will not know about the site (I bet there are plenty of sites out there that already deal with that sort of thing), and some will call it a vast conspiracy.
Well, if people used the search function, then it wouldn't be a problem. If they think that previous topics don't address what they're talking about, then a wiki or a 'don't post about this' rule wouldn't stop them either.
| Arnie wrote: |
| Yeah, let's make a list of 25684965924386302 topics that nobody will be allowed to talk about anymore. Great idea. Why stop at Frihost, we might as well extend it to schools??? #-o |
That was taken out of context. You would still be able to discuss these topics, it's just that the FAQ will be there so that questions aren't brought up multiple times. But if someone read the FAQs and what was said in there, and they still wanted to further discuss the topic, then it would be appropriate to bring it up from either a different aspect or in a deeper sense.You're telling me you won't bash such a topic by referring to the FAQ with a nice array of 
's? Frankly I have problems believing that. | Arnie wrote: |
| You're telling me you won't bash such a topic by referring to the FAQ with a nice array of 's? Frankly I have problems believing that. |
What's the difference between doing that and referring people to the forum search and/or Google with a nice array of 's?
Rude people will answer rudely, no matter what you do. So forget about them. In the meantime, why not make ir easier for non-rude people to help out. If we have a well-written FAQ, it doesn't mean discussion stops, because there will always be people making new FAQ suggestions, challenging old FAQ answers, or asking for clarification because they don't quite understand the FAQ answer completely. However, it gives us a place to put well-written, non-controversial answers that get asked and/or expressed incorrectly often.
Take the case of infinity. i can't even count the number of times i have had to tell people that infinity is not a number. And yet people keep claiming that - and many times it's not just the original poster making the mistake, many times it is someone who is answering the question that gives the wrong answer (and then they have to be corrected, and so on). These people are not stupid, they have just misunderstood a difficult mathematical issue (and, often, were taught it badly), and they end up - through no fault of their own - sounding stupid in public. A FAQ would spare them that by showing them their mistake before they make it; it would provide some support for people who do give the answer ("infinity is not a number", "says who?", "look in the FAQ"); it would make sure important concepts get clearly discussed and understood by everyone (before something makes the FAQ, it has to be somewhat discussed and agreed on); and so on.
If you're advocating against a FAQ because of terrorists, the terrorists have already won. ^_^;
