The Junk Drawer

J. Musser

12:05 AM

Why does this require a hack? — J. Musser 26 secs ago

The answer n there isn't a hack either.

cv-plz lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/1546/…

cv-plz psychological lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/1691/…

J. Musser

1:00 AM

You'll see a lot of:

> Thanks for your contributions! Please describe what you've tried so far, and why that wasn't satisfactorily successful. Questions that lack this basic information will shortly be ruled off-topic, and closed. If possible, update your question before that happens. Thanks!

To notify folks. That way we won't have to close as many.

I'm adding it to all the questions that need it.

Sorry all but I'm generalizing for practical purposes.

J. Musser

1:20 AM

@MattS. Thoughts on questions that say, "I've heard that this, this, and this hack will work. Is that correct?"

Just in case that pops up.

I tend to not want that kind of question, but that's just me.

Matt S.

@J.Musser Questions asking if a method works belongs on a specific site?

Would X method work to remove black mold would be on-topic at DIY.

J. Musser

@MattS. Assuming they're hacks.

not general knowledge

Matt S.

I still feel like they could be asked on another site.

J. Musser

@MattS. Most could.

Better reason?

Matt S.

If they're verifying a hack, wouldn't it be better to ask a specific site, and not the people who recommend the hack?

J. Musser

1:28 AM

@MattS. The reasoning?

Matt S.

It's like if your friend fixed your car, so to make sure it was okay you go to another friend that knows about cars and ask him about it.

When really you should be asking a mechanic.

J. Musser

@MattS. Why doesn't that apply to asking on other sites for a 'quick fix'?

Just to differentiate

Matt S.

Maybe a better reason might be that they're yes/no questions?

I'm not sure exactly.

J. Musser

@MattS. Ok, then we should rule out all yes/no questions. I'm good with that.

Matt S.

I'm not sure they should be on-topic, because that gives a huge loophole to ask bad questions. But if someone can ask one that's worded extremely well I wouldn't be opposed to it.

But with the re-occurring problem of one-line answers we're having, It might be worth it to explicitly state yes/no questions are off-limits.

J. Musser

1:34 AM

@MattS. I still think it's a good idea to rule them out for now, i don't think they're great questions.

Matt S.

Tentatively not off-topic.

J. Musser

@MattS. Why not?

Matt S.

Do we have a clear reason?

J. Musser

@MattS. It's very likely to promote poor answers.

It doesn't match the site anyway, at least imo, the answerers don't get to be creative.

Matt S.

So we're here to provide hacks, not verify them.

J. Musser

1:39 AM

@MattS. That's how I see it working best.

Well, you do verify them by upvoting answers, but yeah...

Matt S.

Because it's a hack, it can't be considered reliable, and results may vary.

J. Musser

@MattS. That too.

Matt S.

It's up to each person to decide if a hack will apply to their situation.

J. Musser

@MattS. I know. But making yes/no questions off-topic still seems a good idea to me.

Matt S.

I know, I'm just trying to figure out a reason for all verification questions being off-topic.

Yes/No questions are frowned upon in all SE sites.

J. Musser

1:42 AM

@MattS. Then maybe you could find/copy a reason from MSE.

That would put lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/3/… off topic, no?

Matt S.

Yes

J. Musser

So we'd have to think of a good reason.

Matt S.

It's not asking for an alternative solution either.

J. Musser

thinks

Matt S.

Should it be on-topic?

I don't think so.

J. Musser

1:47 AM

@MattS. which imo would make it ok, so long as the OP tried something and described why it didn't work.

@MattS. I don't think so either - coming up with a better reason tho

related: meta.stackexchange.com/questions/183177/…

Matt S.

@J.Musser Sweet thanks

Zach Saucier

2:09 AM

@J.Musser I'm back

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier Hey.

Zach Saucier

o/

J. Musser

We're getting somewhere.

Matt is writing the post.

Zach Saucier

ya, I read did a skim of most the chat posts

updating my definition with the new one now

J. Musser

To be in scope, a question must provide details on what was tried so far and why it wasn't satisfactory. Also, yes/no questions are off-topic.

And other thing.

I'm leaving notices on folks posts.

Zach Saucier

2:12 AM

so we're forcing, "what have you tried"?

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier Yes.

We need it.

Zach Saucier

hmm. Kind of hard on my question... (make bedsheets warm)

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier Try something then. :P

Zach Saucier

lol

does saying I like when my bedsheets were warm from the dryer but I can't do that every time because it's a hassle to put them back on count?

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier did you say that?

I guess putting them in the dryer counts as a try.

Zach Saucier

2:15 AM

I didn't before, I'll update now

Matt S.

Putting them in the dryer isn't a feasible solution because it takes time and costs electricity.

J. Musser

@MattS. yup

@MattS. I think it counts as a try for a question though.

Two people have responded to me comments so far, both have edited their questions, and have been great.

Sabre Tooth

the use multiple cats would keep the sheets warm... but that may turn into a catastrophe

J. Musser

Now three.

@SabreTooth Hmm, if you could get them to stay there...

Sabre Tooth

Question: How can I herd cats to keep my sheets warm, I tried tuna tempters but the sheets smelled like my week old gym socks, all attempts to corale them meant visits to the emergency room - after the 400th stitch, I realised that this too was not a feasible option.

J. Musser

2:22 AM

@SabreTooth contrived.

Haha!

Funny tho

Sabre Tooth

no, true story

J. Musser

visits to the emergency room?

How many?

Sabre Tooth

nah, it was my bathroom and I could only find 3 cats and they were supremely unwilling

Zach Saucier

haha

I updated my requirements for an answer to be on topic to match our discussion: meta.lifehacks.stackexchange.com/a/1161/78 the answer could use some votes

I am disappoint meta.lifehacks.stackexchange.com/a/1190/78

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier helps

Sabre Tooth

2:26 AM

I dare anyone to suggest cats, as a comment of course, to @ZachSaucier's sheet warming question

J. Musser

@SabreTooth Why don't you?

not a member

lol

th cats said no

you want to be?

2:27 AM

@SabreTooth Be one.

be a cat?

exactly.

meow

no a member.

thecatapi.com/api/images/get?format=src&type=gif Click it. Then click it again. Best. Link. Ever.

Sabre Tooth

2:28 AM

a member of cats? didn't they were auditioning...lol

J. Musser

@SabreTooth I didn't commit either, I joined in the frost day tho.

Sabre Tooth

how on earth does one join or even seeing when one does not catmit...erm...i mean commit

can you tell I love cats

J. Musser

@SabreTooth how many do you have?

Sabre Tooth

none, they've adopted/enslaved me

@ZachSaucier that is awesome!

J. Musser

@SabreTooth Would you be supportive of the common good if introduced to the environment here? :)

How did you find the chat room?

Sabre Tooth

2:32 AM

@J.Musser the chat room found me

Zach Saucier

lol

just like our "just chatting" room

J. Musser

@SabreTooth Will you ever be serious?

cause that is kinda nice at times.

@ZachSaucier yeah

Sabre Tooth

serious, me?

Zach Saucier

@SabreTooth I like your chat :P

Sabre Tooth

you should see how I post

Zach Saucier

2:34 AM

J.Musser is just a straight forward guy

J. Musser

@SabreTooth You'd make a great comedian.

Sabre Tooth

like this one earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/3033/889

@J.Musser only when I am funny

J. Musser

@SabreTooth -1

Sabre Tooth

yum yum

J. Musser

@SabreTooth Reminds me of when people ask me 'do you think everything funny?' and I say 'jokes are'

because I can't think of anything to say.

@SabreTooth jk

Zach Saucier

2:37 AM

@MattS. how's the post coming?

Sabre Tooth

I am far too accident prone for lifehacks to work - I flush the toilet, the toaster explodes, I sit in a chair, the microwave turns upside down, I walk into the hallway and the toilet sings.... either I am clumsy or I have poltergeists

Zach Saucier

@SabreTooth it's your cats

Sabre Tooth

cat poltergeists....o.m.g!!!!

hmmm here is a question

J. Musser

@SabreTooth I walk in the house and ... the roof caves in - cause I'm a tree.

I never learn.

Zach Saucier

@J.Musser I enjoy how not funny that joke is, haha

Sabre Tooth

2:39 AM

"What is an effective way of training my poltergeists? I tried giving treats, but considering that they are ectoplasmic beings this was rather futile, I tried being stern and they just pulled my pants down pinched my nose and threw my dirty washing in my face.

herding poltergesits, just as bad as herding cats

wait a sec... poltergeist training questions would be off topic at lifehacks!

@J.Musser I go to the beach, and not only do greenpeace try and roll me back in, the tide goes out!

J. Musser

I'm not sure you understood. In it's current condition, your question will be closed when the new guidelines are implemented. To keep that from happening, edit the following info into your question: 1) what you tried when looking for a solution and 2) why that didn't work and you need a hack. — J. Musser 29 secs ago

haha

Finally someone didn't know what I meant.

Sabre Tooth

and no poltergeists

Zach Saucier

@J.Musser perhaps we should have waited for the announcement?

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier Might as well warn them now.

Zach Saucier

eh

I think it could cause confusion

J. Musser

2:48 AM

I don't

They'll understand better when their question gets closed.

Which by the way...

Sabre Tooth

so @ZachSaucier my poltergeist traing question would be off topic?

Zach Saucier

da, it's physical problems

J. Musser

We have three custom close reasons we can use. What should those three reasons be?

Zach Saucier

one is "This question does not provide reasoning for why the standard way of solving the problem (for their area) is unavailable or undesirable." or something similar for sure

Sabre Tooth

@ZachSaucier poltergeists do get physical... but then again, it is lifehacks... not afterlifehacks

J. Musser

2:52 AM

@ZachSaucier yup

> How do I keep the zombies in the garage after all else fails? they ooze out the pet door.

Zach Saucier

the other two I think we'll have to wait on. They could be something like "too localized" or "does not deal with a physical problem" but we need to see if there's something more important before we decide on that

Sabre Tooth

@J.Musser easy - buckets, mops and CATS

J. Musser

@SabreTooth What about the protruding bones?

Sabre Tooth

@J.Musser dogs or my ex-girlfriend...

J. Musser

@SabreTooth in what arrangement?

Sabre Tooth

2:57 AM

you do not want to know

here is a somewhat serious-ish question

J. Musser

where?

Zach Saucier

just got a "you can accept your own answer in 41 seconds" on my meta question, haha

Sabre Tooth

"I live in an area where flies are everywhere. Asides from swatting them, which is not always possible, what are effective ways to keep flies away? Given that fly-nets and cork-hats are impractical and I am allergic to skin repellant."

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier Like 'Daily vote limit reached; vote again momentarily'

@SabreTooth What have you tried, and why wasn't it satisfactory?

Sabre Tooth

fly nets, cork hats - the get in my way and are uncomfortable; skin repellant does not always work and leave me with a rash

J. Musser

3:01 AM

@SabreTooth ok then - join the site!

Sabre Tooth

swatting the is no good either, I always miss

J. Musser

@SabreTooth haha

Sabre Tooth

throwing cats at them is impractical

and throwing @ZachSaucier at them is a tad more impractical

J. Musser

@SabreTooth easy - for someone your size.

Sabre Tooth

true, but i'd still miss

I am so uncoordinated, I can't even catch a cold

Zach Saucier

3:04 AM

@SabreTooth what? I'm a great projectile!

J. Musser

@SabreTooth I pretended to once.

Sabre Tooth

@ZachSaucier the flies, they are too quick

Zach Saucier

I kill them with my bear hands ;)

Sabre Tooth

and as for throwing poltergeists at them...well...

@ZachSaucier you have the hands of a bear?!

Zach Saucier

When I want them

Sabre Tooth

3:06 AM

awesome! I have legs of a left-handed jelly mold even when I don't want them

J. Musser

I kill flies with an m16 assault rifle.

Zach Saucier

@SabreTooth that seems quite unfortunate for a sabertooth

Sabre Tooth

hmmm possible

@ZachSaucier it is, i walk with my teeth

J. Musser

change your name to waddletooth

Sabre Tooth

only on Mondays

Zach Saucier

3:10 AM

@MattS. ping when you're done with the post :P I'll be coming to and fro the PC

Sabre Tooth

so, the fly swatting question would be on topic? (with the explanations)

J. Musser

@SabreTooth Yes.

Sabre Tooth

but not the poltergeist training one?

J. Musser

@SabreTooth No.

Sabre Tooth

lol just as well

J. Musser

3:12 AM

So you can't join the site?

Sabre Tooth

i am not even a member of A51

J. Musser

@SabreTooth What does that have to do with it?

And I thought you were...

Sabre Tooth

not sure

J. Musser

ah, down to 5 sites.

Haha I win.

Sabre Tooth

so I can count them

J. Musser

3:14 AM

133.

Someone gave me a link where I could join this site, and I forget what it was.

Sabre Tooth

thats a lot of fingers to count

J. Musser

@SabreTooth easy for a tree.

Sabre Tooth

i am patient, i can wait for public

J. Musser

@SabreTooth ok then

Or I could email-invite

I never considered binning my GL account.

Matt S.

@ZachSaucier Will do, it'll be a while.

Sabre Tooth

3:17 AM

i am very picky, like all cats - i have to see, read and get the vibe of a site first

@J.Musser say what???

Zach Saucier

lol

J. Musser

1 min ago, by J. Musser

I never considered binning my GL account.

haha gotcha

Sabre Tooth

sheesh, got me wobbly then

J. Musser

@SabreTooth why?

You binned yours.

:P

We would match, except you'd be way better on ES.

Sabre Tooth

my ES one is awesome

J. Musser

3:21 AM

@SabreTooth very.

Mine is so so

Sabre Tooth

not too bad - avid user level

J. Musser

I know my way around the site, not the topic tho

Sabre Tooth

i consult the oracle

J. Musser

true.

Ok, got all the questions blanketed, I think.

Sabre Tooth

@J.Musser with cats?

J. Musser

3:27 AM

@SabreTooth You really should join A51, it's so cool to watch new sites develop, and userbases form.

@SabreTooth With my notification comment.

Sabre Tooth

i am tempted by Pastafarianism

J. Musser

@SabreTooth I was gonna but they take themselves way too seriously.

Sabre Tooth

to me, just as believable as any other religion

J. Musser

I'm a devout christian, so there. :D

braces for spankings

Sabre Tooth

lol, I am a devout Atheist, so there

J. Musser

3:30 AM

I'm prolly the only user on this new site with 10 pages of comments posted.

Most of them are the same.

Sabre Tooth

lol

J. Musser

> Thanks for your contributions! Please describe what you've tried so far, and why that wasn't satisfactorily successful. Questions that lack this basic information will shortly be ruled off-topic, and closed. If possible, update your question before that happens. Thanks!

x many many many

Zach Saucier

-1

A: Saving "Lifehacks" — Can we make this a topic space instead of a vague buzzword?

Your purpose has to be straightforward. Lifehacks is for people that have questions about reoccurring issues and that think there may be an easier, quicker way to resolve those issues. Lifehacks is for people that have found unique ways to solve reoccurring issues and to share those solution...

J. Musser

also

Sabre Tooth

...and watch out a projetile @ZachSaucier

J. Musser

3:32 AM

> Welcome to Lifehacks! This question appears to be off-topic because it is about psychology, which is off-topic. See this meta post for details.

Zach Saucier

@J.Musser after we have a better post I'd say link people to that instead for most all reasons

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier agreed.

@ZachSaucier I saw.

Zach Saucier

obviously hasn't been thinking about this for days like us, haha

J. Musser

@ZachSaucier is conceited - yeah, we have way better developed brain cells.

Zach Saucier

ofc

Sabre Tooth

3:36 AM

sooooo tempted to follow Pastafarianism

J. Musser

@SabreTooth looks dumb to me, but whatever.

Sabre Tooth

more out of curiousity.... all religions do not make sense to me

Zach Saucier

@SabreTooth that's off topic for this room, but if you want to go to our other room we'll be glad to talk to you about it

Sabre Tooth

nah, just a passing thought

so, how do I get those blasted flies away?

J. Musser

I like how @Mooseman answers the post I left a notice on, after ignoring the notices I left on his questions.

btw @Mooseman, congrats on 1k!

Great job.

Zach Saucier

3:41 AM

@SabreTooth just know it makes perfect sense to us :) Not because we're better or anything, but because of what God has done in us. That sounds weird and nonsensical to you most likely, but it's true. Know that we think logically and critically about it all just as much if not more than you :P

2

J. Musser

@SabreTooth ask on the site.

Whatever you do @SabreTooth don't be impulsive. In anything.

Sabre Tooth

@ZachSaucier that's off topic for this room... tsk tsk

Zach Saucier

I don't think so

Sabre Tooth

@J.Musser but I ain't a member

Zach Saucier

you said religions don't make sense to you, I said they do to me (well, one)