@JayeshBadwaik I'm not suggesting a resolution to this problem. I realize we can't have uniformity in dealing with these issues. What I'm proposing is we embellish our about statement. I think we should have a different expectation in regard to dealing with questions from students, although I do not posit that we need any sort of uniform practice in dealing with these issues.
@JayeshBadwaik The student needs to develop their own rapport with mathematics, and that won't happen if he or she doesn't discover things. Logical leaps are what brings them closer to trusting their own faculties. They need to experience continual success attributed to their own efforts. By providing a full answer to a low quality question, (or demand), we perpetuate a dependency cycle. This action isn't fostering academic independence.
And as to the point that you were making. You're right, for the established mechanism that math.SE is, it is a question, (As in it agrees with the standards set forth in the about section). I see your idea of how we should assume nothing about the questioner and I think that in itself is good practice.
I really hope that I'm doing my part to make stackexchange a welcoming environment. If the community would have me leave for my ideals or principles, I would gladly leave in favor of a more harmonious stackexchange. I really do apologize and hope that everyone feels that I'm not trying to cause such a consternation.
@BrianM.Scott "I also suspect that some simply lose heart when they read the often rather harsh comments on badly posed questions and decide that the game’s not worth the candle." ---- I'm merely proposing that the student who loses heart by the severity of the comments is not at fault for losing heart. The community is at fault for providing for an unwelcoming environment.
@BrianM.Scott I know where you're coming from because I tutor for a living but those questions aren't their questions, they're somebody else's questions that they've copy/pasted. In that case, we should be answering the creator of the question. If the comments are harsh, then it's not the questioner's fault if they get discouraged and give up their pursuit of an answer--it's the fault of whoever left such a derisive comment on behalf of the community.
@BrianM.Scott +1, for your perspective on how it is punitive, I can see it being discouraging. However-- if they fail to heed the comments then that's either their deliberate disregard or extreme obliviousness to a feature of the website, including the very poignant red notification they receive from a comment. Often they've plenty of time to even attempt an adequate change. Also once closed, they've the possibility of a re-open in exchange for turning their post into a question. If they feel they've been wronged, they've the right to protest and be heard on meta, in chat, or through e-mail.
@BrianM.Scott For every thesis there is an antithesis. In this reality we are the arbiters. Your opinion and reputation drive the future of this website. Why not reject today's reality? How much value does the commenting system retain then anyway if the questioner, more often than not, doesn't heed the comments? We've got to give them the benefit of the doubt don't you think? And can you 'quantify' improve? Any improvement in the question is significant, otherwise it's not an improvement now is it? In any case, the kind of Q's that 5pm is talking about aren't real Q's to begin with
Discussion between Rustyn Yazdanpour …
Discussion between Rustyn Yazdanpour …