These posts are your quick guide to the what, how and where of the Stack Exchange network.
9
votes
1answer
185 views
There's a bug in the syntax highlighting
There's a bug in the syntax highlighting for the foo tag:
It's not highlighting the bar keyword correctly...
or, there's some escaping problem that means that everything's being rendered as a ...
46
votes
1answer
946 views
The Complete Rate-Limiting Guide
I noticed that I can only perform certain actions such as commenting a finite number of times in a given period of time. Obviously, rate limiting is in place to prevent accidental misuse or ...
23
votes
1answer
576 views
What are the review queues?
I see a "review" link on the top of the page, which takes me to a few "review queues".
What is a "review queue"?
What are the various queues for?
What can I do in each queue?
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47
votes
1answer
943 views
Why are the moderators being so strict with quality related flags recently?
I recently flagged a question as 'very low quality' just like I've flagged many questions in the past. However, my flag was found to be unhelpful this time. The same thing happened when I recently ...
88
votes
1answer
2k views
What are review tests (audits) and how do they work?
I recently received this rather amusing message while reviewing a user's first post:
Congratulations!
This was only a test, designed to make sure you were paying attention. This post
has ...
19
votes
1answer
917 views
What is a Real Question?
Questions can be closed as "Not a Real Question."
What makes a question a "real" question?
What are new users expected to know about asking "real" questions?
Why does SE treat questions ...
12
votes
1answer
500 views
How do I read the history of my reputation?
When I visit the reputation tab of my profile, I see a lot of stuff. I can make out some of it, but not all.
What do all the event types mean?
Why do some events show an odd reputation gain or not ...
8
votes
1answer
427 views
How can I log in to my Stack Exchange account if my current account provider is blocked?
I usually log in to a Stack Exchange site using Facebook as my OpenID provider. However, providers such as Gmail, Yahoo and Facebook are blocked. Is there any way for me to log in to my existing ...
22
votes
1answer
794 views
How can I get Stack Exchange to send me to a conference?
I read Supporting Community Conferences, which states,
Depending on the circumstances and location, we can also sponsor community leaders to attend an event on behalf of their site. We will ...
41
votes
3answers
884 views
What is the proper way to approach SO as someone totally new to programming?
I've read the FAQs and prompts that coach on how to ask good questions and am careful to follow that advice. I make a good effort to research the problem before asking the question, both on Stack ...
24
votes
3answers
1k views
When should I vote?
I have seen a few questions here on Meta Stack Overflow that cover parts of this, but they are often too local, and none of them seem to cover all the relevant scenarios.
I will break it up ...
109
votes
1answer
3k views
What is serial voting and how does it affect me?
I just noticed that I lost a bunch of points from my reputation score on Stack Overflow, and I used the "reputation" tab on my user profile page to try and track down the cause.
During my ...
33
votes
1answer
981 views
What is a historical lock, and what is it used for?
Historical locks are sometimes applied to questions.
What is a historical lock?
What is the purpose of a historical lock?
How are questions affected by historical locking?
When is it appropriate to ...
346
votes
1answer
6k views
What does “user was removed” mean and why did my reputation change because of it?
It seems I have lost 5 reputation points on Stack Overflow yesterday. The reason given in my history is "removed". On mouse over I get the message "user was removed". I don't understand what that ...
25
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it acceptable to write a thank you in a comment?
There have been a number of cases where I would like to thank someone for providing me with a thorough response and give them feedback beyond the vote up. Often I wish people would tell me why they ...
112
votes
2answers
5k views
Something in my web site or project doesn't work. Can I just paste a link to it?
I have a CSS, HTML, or JavaScript problem on a website I'm working on.
I would like to just describe the problem and paste a link to the external site in question. Can I do this instead of posting ...
32
votes
1answer
1k views
My account has been temporarily suspended; what does that mean?
My account has been temporarily suspended, besides the following restrictions:
an account will be locked at 1 reputation
the user page will have a visual indication that the account is in timed ...
26
votes
5answers
1k views
Why can any user edit any other user's question or answer?
I see an "edit" link after each question and answer. So I was wondering: how come any user can change any other user's question or answer? I think the reason behind it is that each one can share his ...
49
votes
2answers
2k views
What is an acceptable answer?
I answered a question and my answer was (pick one)
deleted
converted to a comment
added to my question as an edit
Why was this? Why was my answer not acceptable?
What is the definition of an ...
43
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it acceptable to add a duplicate answer to several questions?
Let's say there is a user who has found a satisfactory answer to a common question asked on Stack Overflow (or other Stack Exchange website). This answer may be a snippet of code, or an addon, or a ...
30
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I create a screenshot to illustrate a post?
How do I create screenshots?
How to: Windows
How to: Unix-based
How to: Mac
How to: iOS devices
How to: Android
How to: The GIMP
Additional tips
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38
votes
1answer
2k views
Who are the Community Managers, and what do they do?
Who are the Community Managers?
What do they do?
What is their relationship to the "Community" user?
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14
votes
1answer
451 views
I think I found some user accounts that should be merged; what do I do?
While reviewing the suggested edits queue I found a suggested edit to a question or answer that appeared to be submitted by the same person. Upon further research, I found that the user actually had ...
34
votes
1answer
890 views
How do I remove my name from a post, in accordance with CC:WIKI?
The CC:Wiki License states that:
If you do not like the way that a person has made a derivative work or incorporated your work into a collective work, under the Creative Commons licenses, you may ...
46
votes
3answers
894 views
My OpenID provider is shutting down, what do I do?
I found out GetOpenID.com (not to be confused with MyOpenID.com) will shut down at the end of the month (details at their home page).
To not get stranded, here is a guide to switching OpenIDs across ...
46
votes
7answers
2k views
Should moderators enforce NDAs for software vendors?
A rash of questions was recently flagged because they were in violation of some "Non-Disclosure Agreement.".
Is it the job of Stack Exchange moderators to enforce these agreements, and delete these ...
24
votes
1answer
593 views
How to best handle the “Possible vandalism of own posts” flag?
I got a moderator flag saying, "Possible vandalism of own posts; multiple deletions in a short time"; the user is one of my stronger users.
The deleted answers are all over a month old. The flag ...
50
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I link to an external resource in a community-friendly way?
I would like to help my fellow Stackizens, using material from my blog or other website. But external links are sometimes viewed as excessive promotion. From the FAQ:
Be careful, because the ...
145
votes
2answers
15k views
What can I do when getting “It does not meet our quality standards”?
While trying to ask a question, I got the error message
Oops! Your question couldn't be submitted because:
It does not meet our quality standards.
Why am I getting this message?
What ...
211
votes
2answers
70k views
What can I do when getting “Sorry, we are no longer accepting questions/answers from this account”?
Do not repost the question you were about to ask until you have
READ EVERYTHING WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL YOU.
While trying to ask a question, one could get:
Oops! Your question couldn't be ...
10
votes
1answer
297 views
How do I see which of my questions are not accepted?
I want to quickly see all questions I have asked where I have not accepted an answer. How do I do this?
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82
votes
1answer
5k views
Choosing between Stack Overflow and Programmers Stack Exchange
Suppose you have a "borderline subjective" question, and you're not sure if you should post it to Stack Overflow or Programmers Stack Exchange. How do you decide? What's the best default option if you ...
37
votes
1answer
884 views
Why is the edit button disabled?
I edited some questions before, but am no longer able to click the edit button. I thought there was a problem with the specific question, but I cannot click it on any question.
What's going on?
...
59
votes
3answers
1k views
List of unlinked pages on Stack Exchange sites
Here is a list of special, unlinked pages (they may be linked in questions and answers) on Stack Exchange sites. Most pages listed here are work in progress. Currently, this list is incomplete.
...
110
votes
1answer
7k views
How do suggested edits work?
When clicking "edit" I see:
You do not have edit privileges. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.
We welcome all constructive edits, but please make them ...
29
votes
1answer
2k views
How to upload an image to a post?
Sometimes I need to upload an image to a question or answer. How can I do that?
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54
votes
2answers
2k views
Who are the diamond moderators, and what is their role?
Some people have a diamond after their username (ex: Jeff Atwood♦)
What special privileges do diamond moderators have?
How can I become a diamond moderator?
Who are the diamond moderators? How ...
5
votes
1answer
367 views
Why did I receive a message saying I have been granted a privilege, yet I don't have enough reputation?
The site shown a message saying I have been granted a privilege, but the reputation required for that privilege is higher than the one I actually have. What happened?
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27
votes
1answer
1k views
What are tag synonyms? How do they work?
What are tag synonyms?
How can tag synonyms be distinguished from "real" tags?
How are new tag synonyms created?
Who can create tag synonyms?
How can I delete/reverse/undo bad tag synonyms?
Return ...
320
votes
5answers
12k views
List of all badges with full descriptions
What are badge name's requirements?
Why didn't I get badge name?
Which badges can I earn multiple times?
Jump to:
Regular badges A-L and M-Z
Tag badges
Badge families
Area 51 badges
Note: ...
233
votes
1answer
21k views
What is the XY problem?
What is the XY problem?
When asking questions, how do I recognize when I'm falling into it? How do I avoid it?
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64
votes
3answers
3k views
Is cross-posting a question on multiple Stack Exchange sites permitted if the question is on-topic for each site?
It is possible to migrate a question from one Stack Exchange site to another by closing, but if I have a question that I think is on-topic for multiple Stack Exchange sites, is it OK to post it on ...
52
votes
1answer
1k views
What are tag badges and tag score? How do they work?
My question is specifically for badges in a particular tag. I've heard that the rules have been changed.
How and when can one get bronze, silver and gold badges for a specific tag, say c++?
What is ...
5
votes
2answers
520 views
Where do the names of the Stack Overflow trilogy sites come from?
Why are the names of the Stack Overflow trilogy so named?
How did the names Stack Overflow, Server Fault and Super User come to be the ones used?
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12
votes
3answers
262 views
Is it worthwhile to migrate questions that already have accepted answers?
Is it worth it to migrate off-topic questions that already have an accepted answer?
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378
votes
5answers
31k views
Recent feature changes to Stack Exchange
This is an unofficial list of new features and various changes to Stack Overflow and the Stack Exchange network.
It is maintained by the community, but an SO developer would change the Accepted ...
50
votes
1answer
2k views
Reputation requirements compared
How do reputation requirements for various privileges compare on Stack Overflow vs a graduated Stack Exchange 2.0 site vs a site in public or private beta?
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155
votes
2answers
16k views
How does the spam flag work?
It is possible to flag a post as spam.
What is spam?
What is the effect of the spam flag?
When should the spam flag be used?
Is there any way to remove spam flags?
How does the spam flag differ from ...
57
votes
1answer
4k views
How do I contact other users?
How can I contact another user, if that user has not specified any contact details in their profile?
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56
votes
12answers
4k views
Limits for self-promotion in answers
It's been covered before that posting links to your own website is ok, but should there be a line drawn? There were several spam flags today for Ira Baxter's recent posts, presumably because they all ...
