Questions tagged [discussion]
The question you're asking is designed to solicit opinions or best-practices on a particular topic, with the goal of reaching community consensus.
974
questions
9
votes
1answer
108 views
Are computed answers on-topic?
For any given question-my current example is this question-is a computed answer on-topic? Would it be appropriate to show the source code to a computer program that solves it? The source code I would ...
8
votes
3answers
195 views
Riddles involving Stack Exchange: Off topic?
I recently created this riddle which requires users to look through Puzzling Stack Exchange for the correct answer. I realized that this kind of question is brittle and shaky, primarily because this ...
34
votes
2answers
548 views
Please can “How to get to an island with a tree in the middle if all you have is rope” be undeleted and historically locked?
This question is one of the most important and memorable parts of Puzzling.SE history:
How to get to an island with a tree in the middle if all you have is rope?
Oh, sorry, maybe you can't view that ...
6
votes
1answer
113 views
Community Promotion Ads — 2020
2020 has come! But… oops, where did the time go? It’s already March! Belated as it is, it’s time for a refresh of Community Promotion Ads!
What are Community Promotion Ads?
Community Promotion Ads ...
7
votes
1answer
160 views
Should limerick be a separate tag from poetry?
I was looking through the different tags and noticed that although the old haiku tag had been made a synonym of poetry, limerick is still its own tag. I wanted to ask if there is a reason for this ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
Is there anything good to know (that isn't already said to the user / written down on some page)? [duplicate]
I'm very new to Puzzling. Are there any unwritten rules, stuff, or anything related that is good to know? (Especially about how to structure a puzzle when posting but all tips are helpful.)
44
votes
0answers
248 views
Thank you, Robert Cartaino
For those who don't know, the Director of Community Development at the Stack Exchange company, Mr Robert Cartaino, is no longer employed by Stack Exchange. Tributes are already flowing in on main meta ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Should we have a specific tag for “What is an XYZ Word/Phrase/Number etc.” puzzles? [duplicate]
There is a multitude of "What is an XYZ item™" questions on Puzzling.SE, and although there are some bad ones, most of them are interesting. However, they do not have a tag to be easily searched (...
-8
votes
3answers
240 views
Are puzzles that involve mention of real-world political situation forbidden?
I'm new on Puzzling, so please inform me if such rule (or set of rules) exists.
My puzzle:
What is the maximum number of allies that you can have in this scenario?
Original wording:
Suppose you'...
14
votes
1answer
242 views
Do you ask puzzles only on Puzzling or ask methods of how to solve one?
It is so interesting to witness various people figuring out correct answers to the most complex of puzzles asked. I don't know how to cultivate such technique of solving puzzle. But I want to know the ...
-2
votes
1answer
50 views
Unable to give bounty of lower value after given upper bounty
Example -> See me from your view point - As seen by the rest
After giving bounty of 250, why lower value bounty option is removed ?
It is better to keep all bounty values even after bounty is given ...
12
votes
0answers
153 views
2019: a year in moderation
It's New Year's Day in Stack Exchange land...
A distinguishing characteristic of these sites is how they are moderated:
We designed the Stack Exchange network engine to be mostly self-regulating, ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Should I Post a Variation as an Update or New Post?
I made a puzzle recently (Spelling Beelzebub) that was solved very quickly. In response, I have made a harder version that requires taking into account multiple words.
Should this be posted as an ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Possibility of adding a Morse code tag?
In both my own puzzles, and in other people's puzzles, I have noticed a lot of Morse code. Obviously, going overboard with this or other common puzzle-making devices can detract from how fun the ...
8
votes
2answers
120 views
Number Construction Puzzles: What Constitutes a Duplicate?
User Dmitry Kamenetsky posted some puzzles today (here and here) that I enjoyed working through - they were simple enough anyone could attempt them, but the matter is complex enough that some ...
16
votes
1answer
159 views
After a close answer, should I edit my answer or post a new answer?
I posted an answer to a Puzzling question. My answer seemed like a pretty good guess but still a guess. My answer received some votes. Also, the question author commented on my answer that said I was ...
-2
votes
2answers
138 views
Please reopen my puzzle
Please reopen my puzzle. The goal of the puzzle is clearly defined in the title.
I spent an hour designing this puzzle. I know it's an odd looking puzzle but I assure you that the puzzle is solvable ...
4
votes
1answer
125 views
What happened to Fortnightly Topic Challenges?
We haven't had a Fortnightly Topic Challenge since the Short and Sweet one, and I enjoy reading those puzzles. What happened?
9
votes
1answer
230 views
Are full crosswords allowed here?
I am new here and came across this question. I felt it falls in the category of "too broad" of other sites. Am I right in this conclusion, or is it allowed here?
7
votes
1answer
219 views
Is it OK to use specific users as part of a puzzle mechanism?
I am currently working on a series of mini-puzzles I’ll be posting on the main site, and I have an idea for a mechanism that utilizes features of users all across the Stack Exchange network, ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Interactive puzzles?
Could "interactive puzzles" ever be on topic here?
An "interactive puzzle", can be for example a puzzle that is being run as a HTML5 project inside the web browser. (Or needs to be simulated in some ...
14
votes
1answer
380 views
Best puzzles of 2019 Q3 (July - September)?
This question is part of the best-puzzle award series.
What are your nominations for the best puzzles, here on Puzzling.SE, of the third quarter ( July / August / September ) 2019?
Suggested ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Can we make posts just as parts of a puzzle?
Let's say I want to spread a puzzle into several small parts and want to limit the puzzle to just interactions inside puzzling.SE. For example, players have to use SE's search bar with clues in the ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Meta puzzles that don't state the puzzles they rely on - adding difficulty or just wasting time
I am currently posting some meta puzzles, and originally planned to not mention the previous puzzles. I would then allude to it being related to another puzzle in a clue. Is this just increasing the ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Minesweeper problems
It looks like the minesweeper tag has so many non-puzzle questions.
What shall I do with them?
Also, is this question fit for the "puzzling"site?
1
vote
1answer
60 views
What happens with the questions with no accepted answer?
There are many questions in PSE with a few answers (or sometimes no answers at all) which do not yet have any accepted answer with tick mark even though many weeks or months have passed. Shouldn't the ...
4
votes
2answers
154 views
Is my timing of giving hints good?
Starting with this question, I shall give hints on specific timing.
After 24 hours since posting the question, I give a subtle hint.
After other 12 hours, I give a moderate hint.
After other 6 hours, ...
8
votes
3answers
273 views
Enigmatic Puzzle - Eliminate Wrong Paths
I'm solving an enigmatic-puzzle, in particular, this. If I found routes that ended up in a dead-end, but which I am sure that was deliberately added in by the puzzle creator, should I post them as an ...
12
votes
2answers
226 views
Rules for Using Puzzles Created Here
So I am new here and haven't heard anything about these puzzles being used anywhere else. There are a lot of nice cryptic crosswords and similar puzzles created by people here that would do very well ...
7
votes
1answer
219 views
User names with promotion/spam in them
To my knowledge, questions and answers that contain spam and promotional materials, such as to sell something or advertsting, are forbidden.
But what if someone has a username like somecompany.com ?
...
21
votes
2answers
470 views
Puzzles whose creators have asked them not to be shared
It happens quite frequently that someone posts a question that's taken from, say, an online IQ test. (The most recent example I've seen is from this one.)
Sometimes the question is posted without ...
9
votes
2answers
204 views
What do we do when a question relies on an image that's no longer available?
This question was just bumped to the homepage by a user asking if the image, which was hosted externally and is no longer accessible, could be fixed. This raises an interesting dilemma in that we now ...
11
votes
2answers
297 views
Best puzzles of 2019 Q2 (April - June)?
This question is part of the best-puzzle award series.
What are your nominations for the best puzzles, here on Puzzling.SE, of the second quarter ( April / May / June) 2019?
Suggested guidelines ...
2
votes
0answers
146 views
I can't use Imgur, I have to use Scratch instead
Instead of Imgur mazes, I have to create Scratch mazes because
I can't access Imgur.
However, can I still use imgur-maze in it or may I
suggest another tag?
EDIT: I tried:
5
votes
2answers
290 views
Unsolvable puzzles
I'm curious about people's thoughts on puzzles that don't have a solution. I've seen a couple of these posted in the last few weeks (since I've been on the forum) and they tend to generate a lot of ...
8
votes
4answers
332 views
Google Earth Challenges - Should we keep them?
Background
Welp, @Conifers has come up with a great idea: Google Earth Challenge.
It received pretty good feedback, and therefore the OP went on to post more of them.
@athin went on to post a ...
16
votes
3answers
448 views
About NON-open-ended puzzles with multiple answers working towards an optimum
A while ago, consensus was reached that open-ended puzzles are no longer welcome on our site. That means, if a question has no absolute "best possible" answer, so that any answer could conceivably be ...
-1
votes
2answers
152 views
Are puzzles that overthink their answers appropriate?
I wasn't quite sure how to phrase this, but I stumbled on this puzzle and was surprised to see the amount of thought going into it.
The answer - that suspect 3 must have done it because the murder ...
13
votes
1answer
299 views
Forgot answer…now what?
I have forgotten the answer to one of my puzzles. What do I do?
I find it quite remarkable that a similar post doesn't already exist here.
16
votes
2answers
372 views
Partial Answers and “List-of-Clues” puzzles
Puzzling is unique across the SE network for allowing "partial answers" -- that is, answers that aren't full answers to the questions, but just make some progress towards answering it. But recently, I'...
1
vote
0answers
64 views
Posting a partial answer [duplicate]
I was working on this puzzle which has 10 clues leading to a single final answer:
A puzzle with 10 pieces - 2 days to complete
Over a day had passed with no activity so I posted an "answer" which ...
20
votes
1answer
435 views
Let's write a proper “Read Me First”
Our site has a lot of rules.
One might even say, an awful lot.
It would be a very good idea to list the most relevant of them in one place somewhere (the tour seems like a decent option) so that we ...
9
votes
3answers
186 views
Using images from elsewhere on the web
On PSE it is common for users to create puzzles using photographs or pictures taken from elsewhere on the web (e.g. here and here). Now, I like and enjoy this style of puzzle - it challenges your ...
9
votes
1answer
320 views
Why are IQ test questions received so badly on this website?
I have a question about my Puzzling Stack Exchange post: IQ test matrix: Can you solve it and justify your answer?
I have asked a question about a Raven progressive matrix from an online IQ test and ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Posting a mini-puzzle for a hint for another puzzle
I created a $Word^{TM}$ kind of puzzle, and while trying to create a hint, I ended up with a mini-puzzle.
Is it ok if I post it as a new question, to make it available not just for the people ...
6
votes
1answer
328 views
Use of profanity
This is a question about the use of profanity on the site.
I am sure this must have been specified somewhere else. Obviously, abuse is not allowed. But profanity/cuss words can be used cleverly. I ...
3
votes
3answers
83 views
Are variations on puzzles with an accepted answer acceptable despite the hints they may give?
Assume a puzzle $A$ has an accepted answer. It gives you an idea for another puzzle $B$, in which you would, in fairness, include a sentence like "this was inspired from puzzle $A$". Then of course ...
7
votes
1answer
218 views
What's the difference between the tags [arithmetic] and [calculation-puzzle]?
I was seeking into tags until I found these tags:
calculation-puzzle which states "A puzzle that involves numerical calculations, such as multiplication and addition."
arithmetic which states: "...
8
votes
2answers
226 views
Little Lost Robot Discussion
I asked this question recently. There were many answers, and it was accused of being too broad. I've been over the comments and the answers a few times, now. I'm not claiming it is perfect by any ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Why was my answer severely downvoted?
I posted this answer and it did okay at first, but later, it started to get a whole bunch of downvotes! This is now deleted so only certain viewers will be able to see it but what did I do wrong here? ...
