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.
939
questions
4
votes
3answers
129 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 ...
12
votes
3answers
208 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
113 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 ...
11
votes
1answer
196 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.
12
votes
1answer
191 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
51 views
Posting a partial answer
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 ...
15
votes
1answer
288 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
157 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
296 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
39 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
297 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
77 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
214 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: "...
7
votes
2answers
219 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
96 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? ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Would it be better to break the Grand Grid puzzles into multiple questions?
The first one was put into a single question because all the component challenges are related and are all required to solve it. But is it better to divide them up? Note that the first one was easier ...
7
votes
2answers
198 views
Any advice for these downvotes?
I immediately got downvoted twice and am still downvoted 40 minutes later. I'm new so if anyone can let me know what I am doing wrong I would appreciate it.
The Grand Grid I
8
votes
1answer
193 views
When does a (grid) puzzle genre have its own tag?
So I just realized there is a tag for nonogram. More browsing, there are tags minesweeper, mastermind, slitherlink, and other genres of grid puzzles (a.k.a grid-deduction) as well.
Hmm.. There is ...
6
votes
2answers
100 views
Are puzzle suggestions on topic?
I've looked at the Help Center but I am still unsure about this one:
Is a question that asks for suggestions on puzzles of a specific kind
on topic here?
As an example, the question I have in ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Change 'graph-theory' tag name
We have a graph-theory tag which covers puzzles involving graphs, for example:
Step into the Octagram
but calling it 'graph-theory' is a bit prententious for a site called 'Puzzling'.
May I ...
17
votes
1answer
747 views
Generalist Countdown
Since we are a relatively young site in the Stack Exchange network, we haven't been able to enjoy any Generalist badges at all.
It's not that we don't have people that would qualify (we do), but that ...
18
votes
1answer
257 views
Should we change the [no-computers] tag to [no-brute-force]?
Usually when I see no-computers, it's used to deter people from using brute force. In my time here, I have only seen this tag used to exclude brute-forcing a solution with a computer.
However, the ...
12
votes
2answers
368 views
Beginner: I'm finding most puzzles very difficult, if not downright obscure
Is this site more for a specific niche of people, or can anyone participate in solving the kinds of puzzles I've come across? Most seem to make very obscure references and wordplay that's inaccessible ...
42
votes
0answers
497 views
Congratulations Gareth! and the end of an era
Change is afoot! In the list of all users ranked by reputation.
I've been #1 in that list, the highest-reputation user on Puzzling SE, since early 2015. But it seems the time has finally come to give ...
-1
votes
1answer
48 views
What is the difference between situation tag and lateral-thinking tag?
When looking through the two tags descriptions and related questions, to me they seem to fall under the same category. They both set up a seemingly normal situation with some twist that requires ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Are questions about solution uniqueness or construction on topic?
Most of the questions on the main site are actual puzzles where the answers are guesses to those riddles, puzzles, rebus' etc.
I've become interested in certain puzzles, such as battleships, ...
11
votes
2answers
232 views
Is it acceptable to post puzzles from one's own book?
Last year I published a book of puzzles. I co-own the copyright of the book. Many of the puzzles are adapted from other sources (including some chestnuts) and some are original.
I'd enjoy posting ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Should multiple-answer questions be marked as too broad?
This question is in reference to a question by @JohnS (SafeCracker #3 - We've Been Blocked). Honestly, I don't think it should have been marked as too broad just because there are a couple possible ...
14
votes
4answers
469 views
Best puzzles of 2019 Q1 (January - March)?
This question is part of the best-puzzle award series.
What are your nominations for the best puzzles, here on Puzzling.SE, of the first quarter ( January / February / March ) 2019?
Suggested ...
20
votes
2answers
1k views
The end of open-ended puzzles
Consensus has been reached.
I say this on Rubio's authority - the contents of this post are considered to be a part of the definition of this site's scope.
So, I posted this open-ended puzzle a ...
8
votes
1answer
204 views
Overuse of poor math questions, what can we do?
So I've been noticing ... lazy math puzzles. I thought it was just a fad, but clearly not .Now, I'm not trying to judge, but a lot of these questions are just in this weird gray zone where they're not ...
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Is it acceptable for one user to have multiple answers to a questions?
When I answer a puzzle and am told that I've given an incorrect answer, I usually edit my answer if I want to try again.
However, I saw a comment recently (can't remember where) that suggested that ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Why doesn't Puzzling have a twitter?
According to employee JNat, Puzzling does not have a Twitter:
unfortunately Puzzling does not have a twitter account
Why not? Many of the other SE sites I'm a part of have Twitter, though ...
5
votes
1answer
266 views
Encoded comments
Is that a new mode to write your comments in some encoding? For example, on this question I noticed that there are encoded comments on both answers, both in Rot13(which the commenters state before the ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Should we have a tag for riddles related to tv or movies?
I have recently noticed that we have a "video-games" tag but no "tv-shows" or "movies" tag. Should we have a tag for tv related questions? (e.g. questions found in tv-shows or riddles where you guess ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Should I use a bounty or wait?
A couple of my questions have a good number of upvotes but still no completed answers. I am not sure if people will still see it after it passes the 10 or so most recent questions.
I wondered if any ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
A checkerboard and eight queens
What tag should we use for questions about
A checkerboard and eight queens ?
chess or checkerboard?
EDIT: What does this mean? Should I just use chess?
5
votes
1answer
52 views
What to do with late answers to solved puzzles?
As the title states, I'm looking for some clarity on what to do with answers to puzzles that
have been already answered and
are answered years later.
Specifically this puzzle popped up in my "...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Can we post multi-part story puzzles?
Say that I want to write a small story puzzle for Puzzling. Small sections are given per question and propose a riddle or puzzle in such a way that is not explicit (enigmatic). Depending on the ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Edit rejected because nearly-identical, later edit was done. Why?
I've had this happen twice now. I suggested an answer edit to add the spoiler notation to an answer without it. I find later that my edit has been rejected because of a conflict with another edit, and ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
How to use the enigmatic-puzzle tag
I don't really understand the true meaning of the enigmatic-puzzle tag. Its tag info is:
Puzzles where the genre or solving strategy of the puzzle is not explicitly stated; puzzles where the ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Are “Quizzes” allowed?
Recently, I found a lot of questions that the asker already knew the answer,
which are called "Quiz". Example. Another example. Third example.
Fourth example. Fifth example.
Obviously, the creator of ...
5
votes
3answers
296 views
Community Promotion Ads — 2019
2019 is here! And with the new year, as usual, comes a new iteration of Community Promotion Ads! Let’s refresh these for the coming year :)
What are Community Promotion Ads?
Community Promotion Ads ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Continuously updating a puzzle
I have a number sequence puzzle in mind and I'm so far unsure how many numbers to post. I'll figure something out, but I had also considered just letting my Raspberry Pi update the question every hour ...
13
votes
5answers
297 views
Should the knowledge tag be merged with the trivia tag?
I ran across a puzzle tagged "trivia" recently. Its descriptor mentioned that it required non-essential knowledge of pop-culture to solve. This seems like a slightly narrower version of the "knowledge"...
-1
votes
1answer
62 views
may I post here limericks asking for the last line?
I have a paper pack book with a nice collection of "shocking" limericks (some may be for certain people a little bit obscene. but principle I think this might be a good idea to post a limerick and ask ...
8
votes
3answers
284 views
Best puzzles of 2018 Q4 (October - December)?
This question is part of the best-puzzle award series.
What are your nominations for the best puzzles, here on Puzzling.SE, of the fourth quarter ( October / November / December ) 2018?
Suggested ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Should I add a hint to my question? [duplicate]
I have a puzzle that is months old: Find the hidden message!
The solution can basically be broken down to three steps, the first was already done by Joe-You-Know, the third should be pretty easy. But ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
Should comments that spoil a puzzle be flagged for mod attention?
The comment: Thanks, dad! Never again
Is a big spoiler for the puzzle in the question, I immediately made to flag for mod attention, but couldn't find whether spoiler comments/answers should be ...
9
votes
0answers
124 views
2018: 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, ...
