Questions tagged [faq]
These questions are the most frequently asked and answered questions on Meta.
4
votes
1answer
831 views
FAQ: Should I ask if something is “authentic”?
There are many questions (as of now) using the words "authentic" to ask a question, however I was told that my question is unclear because of it.
What is the correct usage of the word "authentic"?
20
votes
1answer
2k views
FAQ: What are theoretical answers?
Answers which are wholly based on a theoretical model are generally downvoted and may be deleted.
What are the characteristics that (dis-)qualify an answer as theoretical?
14
votes
1answer
1k views
FAQ: What constitutes original research?
Answers which are wholly based on "original research" are generally downvoted and may be deleted.
What are the characteristics that (dis-)qualify an answer as original research? How should these ...
28
votes
1answer
1k views
What is a 'notable' claim?
Throughout the Skeptics.SE site, there are demands for claims to be 'notable'.
For example: in Close Reasons, and in several places in the FAQ.
'Notable' isn't a common word and isn't always clear.
...
149
votes
1answer
6k views
11
votes
1answer
666 views
How should we enforce notability?
We require questions here on Skeptics to be about notable claims. This restriction is necessary to keep the site somewhat focused, despite the fact that we essentially accept questions about pretty ...
6
votes
1answer
302 views
FAQ: My question was put 'on hold' or has been 'closed', what does it mean?
Why are some questions closed? Is it like deletion?
4
votes
2answers
213 views
FAQ: Should questions be asked with an impartial tone?
Wikipedia has a very precise policy on tone:
Impartial tone
Wikipedia describes disputes. Wikipedia does not engage in disputes. A neutral characterization of disputes requires presenting ...
0
votes
0answers
368 views
Guidelines for Inadequately Referenced Answers
The Skeptics.SE community has had high expectations of its answers; that they be based on science and not conjecture. In particular, this means providing references to empirical evidence (that can be ...
4
votes
1answer
318 views
FAQ: What makes an answer good on Skeptics.SE?
What does a good Skeptics.stackexchange.com answer look like? What are the qualities that a perfect Skeptics.SE answer would have?
13
votes
6answers
705 views
FAQ: On the use of a non-metric system
This answer was down voted because of the choice of units.
The answer was giving a calculation in imperial units, rather than SI units. Can we get a consensus on the use of units of measurement, ...
1
vote
1answer
146 views
What are all the different FAQs and Help pages?
There are a number of different FAQ pages provided by the StackExchange software that drives this site.
How do they all fit together? How do I get changes made?
4
votes
1answer
136 views
What topics are in and out of scope of Skeptics.SE?
The FAQ page for Skeptics.stackexchange.com gives some brief guidance to what questions are on-topic and off-topic:
Skeptics - Stack Exchange is for skeptics, rationalists, free thinkers, or anyone ...
9
votes
7answers
2k views
FAQ: What are the attributes of a good question?
What does a good Skeptics.SE question look like? What are the qualities that a perfect Skeptics.SE question would have?
Ground rules for answering this meta-question:
One quality per answer
Provide ...
41
votes
3answers
3k views
FAQ: Must all questions be notable?
One of the key themes of Stack Exchange right from the start has been that you can't have a site about everything. Each SE site has a topic, users who are devoted to that topic, and who will ...
10
votes
1answer
205 views
How to cite books?
In this question, my answer references dead tree books. In at least one important case, the book is listed on Google Books with no preview. In all cases, the author and title will be enough to ...
53
votes
4answers
3k views
FAQ: When is it appropriate to “be a dick” on Skeptics?
There has been a long-standing issue in the Skeptics community that has been recently re-raised and re-branded by Phil Plait's TAM8 talk.
It concerns traditionally hostile and/or mocking responses to ...
24
votes
1answer
4k views
FAQ: Must all answers be referenced?
How strict should we be about references?
When someone makes a claim, should we require them to support that claim with a source? If so, to what extent should we go? Must all claims be referenced or ...
