The Water Cooler

4:00 PM

@ChristopherEstep No I dont mean that. I mean ones that are just clearly blatantly bad questions like the one we just deleted

But yes anyone who does not agree with me should be drawn and quartered, is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Christopher Estep

well, I feel the same about people that knee-jerk close questions for thin reasons (or no good ones at all)

IDrinkandIKnowThings

Most votes for primarly opinion based hit that for me.

Christopher Estep

99% of the answers are primarily opinion based. It can't be treated like SO where there are definite solutions to problems.

IDrinkandIKnowThings

Most of those can be easily edited to ask for something on topic. Closing as opinion based is lazy to me.

@ChristopherEstep If its not a rant against employer or situation(off topic) then it is probably easy to fix to ask for something constructive over what does every one thing, or what would you do...

Mister Sort of Positive

if a question is deleted, the rep goes away too, right?

enderland

4:14 PM

@MisterSortofPositive if within a time period, I think 60 days?

GrayCygnus

yes, the rep goes back to what you had without the upvotes or downvotes of your post. However there are some exceptions I remember..

Mister Sort of Positive

Cool, at least it is IMHO

Is it just me, or is it odd to put a bounty on question that has an answer with 547 votes.....

GrayCygnus

@MisterSortofPositive we were discussing that yesterday with @Dukeling

Mister Sort of Positive

@GrayCygnus I missed it, damn.

GrayCygnus

I did some research and the user that offered the Bounty is actually one that wrote a highly-voted answer on that question ....

which seems more suspicious to me

@MisterSortofPositive It was at 0:00 UTC I think you were gone by then

Mister Sort of Positive

4:23 PM

ah...

GrayCygnus

We were also thinking if it was worth asking about it on Meta TWP

Mister Sort of Positive

might be....

no rule is being broken that I know of....not sure the motive.

GrayCygnus

yes

however the reason of giving the bounty escapes me, as it says "It has not received enough attention"

Kaz

@enderland Stargate SG1 is one of my favourite stories because things actually happen and progress.

They start off knowing next-to-nothing about stargates and most of the early episodes are about various screw-ups. But as the series' go on, they learn, and they master various things, and they create effects in the wider universe that persist and create real consequences and it's wonderful because it's actually one big story, instead of your normal "adventure-of-the-week-where-nothing-actually-changes-afterwards".

GrayCygnus

maybe the user wanted to reward an existing answer and chose a bad option

I see no one asked it, so I'm going for it :)

Kaz

4:27 PM

And they're not idiots. They actually learn from their various screw ups and make somewhat rational decisions and the universe actually makes some kind of sense. (You know, by the standards of TV Sci-Fi anyway)

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@GrayCygnus Every once in a while there is a job that runs that updates your profile to the correct rep. there is a way you can force it to run for your account but i dont remember how to do it

Kaz

It reminds me a lot of the old "hard sci-fi" books in terms of universe building.

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@GrayCygnus what question

GrayCygnus

@IDrinkandIKnowThings have you seen this? workplace.stackexchange.com/reputation

@IDrinkandIKnowThings THE question... I mean the highes voted question workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/93696/…

Mister Sort of Positive

@GrayCygnus @IDrinkandIKnowThings I simply don't get the point...

IDrinkandIKnowThings

4:30 PM

:4015493 Its their rep...

I hate the reps that are offered simply to derail the question from getting closed

Mister Sort of Positive

@IDrinkandIKnowThings Agreed. No rules broken, just not making sense. In the end it doesn't have too.

@IDrinkandIKnowThings Next time there is a mod election, you should run sir.

Richard U

I was done with Enterprise after the "I wish we had some sort of.... directive" episode.

David K

@MisterSortofPositive I believe that user also recently came off of a suspension, so I'll be curious to see how active they get now.

GrayCygnus

workplace.meta.stackexchange.com/questions

done

Mister Sort of Positive

@DavidK Yes, I noticed they are an interesting character...

Lilienthal

4:41 PM

@ChristopherEstep I'm not asking @MisterSortofPositive to justify anything, I was asking about his reasoning considering his comments and the accepted edit that came in later which seemed to be basically the same which were rather confusing to me. The comments seemed to indicate an unfamiliarity with SE's policy on edits (basics are here) which was strange to me considering the high rep.

Mister Sort of Positive

@Lilienthal I am here to help, and for the cookies. Not policies.

;-}

Lilienthal

Case in point, an edit should be substantial in that it fixes most or all of the problems the edit is trying to correct, i.e. don't fix a single typo if a post is riddled with them. But a handful of grammar fixes and bringing the format in line with the commonly accepted standard is a fine edit, as indicated by the review.

David K

THERE ARE COOKIES???

Lilienthal

The real reason I asked is because I wanted to figure out what, if anything, to say to the user who made this edit in good faith and who is confused about the rollback.

GrayCygnus

Yes @DavidK SE strongly relies on the use of cookies....

Mister Sort of Positive

4:45 PM

@Lilienthal Tell him at first I thought it was trivial, and then I changed my mind when someone else re-enforced his edit.

@DavidK I was told there were cookies after 20K. This was a damn lie.

enderland

I'm SO GLAD IPS takes over HNQ from us

2

Lilienthal

No, no, the cookies are at 50k, keep posting son. :)

GrayCygnus

I suspect that @JoeStrazzere ate all the Cookies lol

Christopher Estep

@Lilienthal I completely get what your saying, but while as a pleb you can inquire about something innocently, as a mod everything will be viewed in that context and will likely be seen as a challenge or allegation of having done something wrong. That's solely because of your (well-deserved) position.

David K

2

Mister Sort of Positive

4:47 PM

@GrayCygnus That is common theory.

Christopher Estep

Cake is a million. That's why Jon Skeet still participates so much.

2

Mister Sort of Positive

@Lilienthal I agree with @ChristopherEstep. When I speak to a mod I feel as though I am in the principles office.

Christopher Estep

Don't get me wrong, I know that wasn't the intent. But it's just the nature of being charged with authoritative oversight.

Mister Sort of Positive

@ChristopherEstep Wait...somebody is watching me....

Lilienthal

@ChristopherEstep Fair, but as far as I know that's not entirely how the diamond badge is supposed to work. Mods remain a part of the community with their own voice and while they're entrusted with additional responsibilities and expected to hold themselves to a high standard the principal analogy is wrong.

Mods aren't called janitors for no reason. :)

Mister Sort of Positive

4:50 PM

I don't think I will make it to 50K without at least on suspension....

Lilienthal

Though I guess the only janitor I can think of is the one from Scrubs and that's not exactly a good comparison.

Regardless I see your point and I guess it can feel like being singled out if I'm "calling you out" on something.

Christopher Estep

@Lilienthal maybe it's because outwardly you appear no different than the actual "gods" of corporate SE. You have a diamond, they have a diamond.

Lilienthal

Which to be clear was not my intention.

Though I guess you both know that. :)

Christopher Estep

@Lilienthal it helps because we know you.

Mister Sort of Positive

I don't know anyone...

Christopher Estep

4:56 PM

well, "know" is relative. I'm probably "known" more than most because I use my real name and have no problem talking about where I work.

Mister Sort of Positive

@ChristopherEstep ;-}

Christopher Estep

Though I've actually been thinking about just dropping to a shortened name and initial like ChrisE

Mister Sort of Positive

@ChristopherEstep The security guy in me won't allow the use of my real name...

Richard U

I don't even know myself

Christopher Estep

@MisterSortofPositive The realist in me knows that I could find out that information whether you gave it to me or not. :)

Richard U

5:06 PM

And what kind of head of security would I be if I let people like me know things I'm not supposed to know. I know what I know because I have to know it. And if I don't have to know it, I don't tell me or let anybody else tell me either.

Christopher Estep

@RichardU The other guy in that conversation died yesterday.

or rather it was announced yesterday

Mister Sort of Positive

5:18 PM

@ChristopherEstep I certainly hope not, LOL

Christopher Estep

@MisterSortofPositive It's true. It's like any security, physical or cyber. Your ability to remain safe or hidden is inversely proportional to the determination (and ability) of the person desiring to circumvent those measures. Most people just want to put their head in the sand.

It's like that Dilbert cartoon where they talk about not using credit cards online and then hand it to the waitress who comes back in a fur and jewelry.

Mister Sort of Positive

@ChristopherEstep Sadly that is a fact....

Christopher Estep

We don't lock our doors to keep out all criminals. We lock our doors to keep out petty criminals and to keep honest people from becoming dishonest people. A pro doesn't care whether you lock it or not. Same with cybersecurity and the average person.

Mister Sort of Positive

Good analogy

Later everyone, have a good weekend. Even you @IDrinkandIKnowThings ;-}

Magisch

6:04 PM

@enderland I assume you had good reason to delete that question

enderland

... yes, obviously

Magisch

What was it?

Too outlandish?

enderland

@Magisch workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/99480/…

Magisch

hmm

@enderland So you found something on OPs profile that uncloaks this as made up?

GrayCygnus

you too @MisterSortofPositive

enderland

6:07 PM

I'm not going to give out a bunch of information that is available to me because I am a moderator @Magisch

Magisch

@enderland Not askign you to name specifics

I think that would violate the mod agreement too

enderland

then what are you asking?

Magisch

Literally my question. You found out that the situation didn't happen this way?

Don't need to know how or what. It's good for my peace of mind that this didn't actually happen somewhere

Richard U

@Magisch do not meddle in the affairs of mods, for they are subtle, and quick to anger

Magisch

enderland is a very patient person

I know because I've been a unbearable scrub before and he didn't instaban me

Richard U

6:12 PM

@Magisch you're just young and idealistic. in 30 years, you'll be just like me.

Magisch

I'm my own person and I'll make my own life and way

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@MisterSortofPositive You cant make me!

enderland

@Magisch the liklihood of this being a real situation is... let's call it very, very low

David K

@enderland But you as a moderator have access to more information than us regular users? Because at face value I think this is a viable question.

enderland

yeah, we do - we have to sign to this - stackoverflow.com/legal/moderator-agreement

well there's a workplace version, but iirc it's the same (workplace.stackexchange.com/legal/moderator-agreement)

we can access some PII stuff, which is why we have to sign that

David K

6:27 PM

Okay, well if you think that the question is trolling based on that privileged information, I think we all trust your judgement. I just wanted to understand your motives since for most of us this doesn't appear as clearly spam.

enderland

One of the difficult things about a lot of the trolling we get here is that many of the questions could be legitimate questions, were they not directly associated with the trolling/pattern

But, we also want this site to be meaningful and not just a place for people to continue to come up with questions which are clickbaity

I mean I could come up with 100 "plausible but definitely trolling" questions about the political environment and ask them here, and they'd be, well, "ok questions" but that's not good long term

It's a weird tradeoff and tbh I don't know the "answer" to it

David K

Travel SE had similar dilemma a while ago, and they seem to have left the questions up

11

Q: Is asking hypothetical questions considered trolling on SE Travel?

I have posted a few unusual questions, they have received a decent amount of votes & answers. I would like to believe they were good questions as in "haven't been asked before & fit this websites standards". In spite of that I have been accused of trolling and received some negative attention as...

That user was upfront about the fact that the questions were hypothetical though, so it is a little different

Feeds

6:46 PM

2

Q: Our highest voted answer "has not received enough attention"?

I recently noted that a bounty was offered on the question Is it unethical for me to not tell my employer I’ve automated my job? indicating that it has not received enough attention: I also noticed that this is actually the highest voted question on The Workplace, currently with 29 answers and...

discussion bounty

enderland

@DavidK I vaguely remember meta discussions here on that topic recently but all I can find is this one

oh, this is the one I was thinking of

David K

Yeah, I was wondering if the guy from the second post was also responsible for this recent question

Richard U

7:03 PM

@Magisch I thought I would never end up like this either, but you're making all the same mistakes I did.

@enderland tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PoesLaw

David K

7:46 PM

@enderland Could you use your mod-powers to check on this trolly post too? It's been deleted but already has 2 undelete votes. The fact that it popped up around the same time as the other one, also with a new user account, is suspicious to me.

workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/99496/…

Christopher Estep

I'm one of the votes. I don't think it should have been deleted so quickly.

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@ChristopherEstep Had it been edited to fix the problems before the rush of reopen votes it probably would not have been deleted in the first plave

Richard U

Hurm.... has anyone noticed that the spate of highly PC posts has stopped since school started up again?

enderland

@DavidK it seems... suspicious

look at writing styles, too

Richard U

Just because it's hard to troll SE does not mean it is impossible. Just that you have to be a skilled troll

Christopher Estep

8:02 PM

@IDrinkandIKnowThings I don't agree that's a proper rationale to delete a question.

lovely thing is that we all get to have our opinions. That's why it's a community. :)

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@ChristopherEstep The question merited being deleted on its own IMO

it could have waited if there wasnt a rush to reopen with out editng

David K

@enderland Yeah, the unedited versions of both look very similar. Lots of one sentence paragraphs, irrelevant side information

Christopher Estep

I think it was salvageable but personally didn't have the time to do so.

But I'm also not going to get my shorts in a knot because I'm outvoted on something either. no big.

IDrinkandIKnowThings

Actually I dont see how to salvage it. Feel free to edit it Chrispher. If it is worth reopening ill cast an undelete and reopen vote. Get rid of all the salatious details and opinion on the new hire though

It boils down to a rant about someone the OP dislikes with no objective question. Once you get rid of the salatious details that becomes obvious

Richard U

@IDrinkandIKnowThings even the BDSM references?

IDrinkandIKnowThings

8:08 PM

Other than a completely subjective opinion that someone else overheard "Susan" make bdsm references there is no context to it anyway or reason for it to be included.

OK Time for my mid afternoon rant...

So I sent an Email out to have my boss and the developer of another system I have to integrate with look over and evaluate the implementation of the design specs I was sent (Consisting of a crappy autogenerated Css and a simple form to emulate). I get 4 emails about how its not functioning correctly...

I really hate pseudo tech people

enderland

I think you should add "Software Engineer" and/or "Software Developer" to your list of roles, but that's just me... — enderland 3 mins ago

like that?

Lilienthal

8:40 PM

Hah, looks like we're going at it again for round 4:

84

Weapons

Proposed Q&A site for any type of weapon, from ancient edged weapons and archery to guns and military systems.

Currently in commitment.

enderland

@IDrinkandIKnowThings I'm pretty comfortable saying that I'll just delete it if it gets reopened, hah, as it's... well, let's just say too many coincidences

Christopher Estep

so just lock it now

problem solved

waiting for it to be reopened has the potential for some butthurt so better just to get it over with and make sure that doesn't happen.

enderland

I just have to find it >.> hah

Lilienthal

@enderland link

IDrinkandIKnowThings

8:56 PM

@enderland Thank you

@enderland I have changed my mind. I think the extortion, graft, and blatant sexual harassment question should be reopened :p

enderland

you can cast a reopen vote if you want. ;-) @RichardU am I doing trolling right? :D

Lilienthal

2

Q: No office keys after several months of employment

I work as a software developer and recently (6 months ago) switched my employer. My new company is a small private company (15 employees), with an own office building. I do work for half a year now, and the boss told me that they are very satisfied with my work and me as a person. He told me, tha...

communication germany new-hires

Phew, how conflict-avoidant do you have to be if you think it'd be rude to ask about getting access to the building you work in... :|

Richard U

@enderland yes, my apprentice, I can feel the dark side welling up inside you.

The only thing that would have made that post a perfect troll would have been to have added something about pronouns

IDrinkandIKnowThings

@Lilienthal its not even a key its a freaking magnetic pass card

Lilienthal

9:12 PM

@IDrinkandIKnowThings Yeah good point, I went ahead and edited the question into shape.

Will be hitting HNQ in a few hours I'd bet.

Kaz

@RichardU I hereby charge you with reckless endangerment for posting a tvtropes link in public chat. You owe me 2 hours of my life ^^

Lilienthal

@Kaz It's dangerous to go alone, take this: addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock

enderland

shouldn't that block SE too????

IDrinkandIKnowThings

We should eliminate the ability of people to post anon questions on TWP

Lilienthal

@enderland It does on my laptop.

(work laptop ofc)

I get 6 minutes an hour.

:)

enderland

9:20 PM

lololol

Feeds

11:49 PM

0

Q: What is the minimum language level required for a non-native speaker?

What is the level of English language skill one is expected to use on workplace.SE if one is not a native English speaker. Is the minimum bar so high that the members here are not able to enter into constructive action before threatening to close and inciting down votes (followed by at least 4 o...

discussion

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