I feel like Stack Overflow has a few structural issues that are hard to overcome...
They were founded by folks who, for better or worse, liked and encouraged this kind of pedantic nature of "nerds". That isn't to say their views haven't changed over the years or the company is even run by its founders anymore (both have left) but I feel like this laid the groundwork.
Stack Overflow is extremely optimized for SEO— moreso than pretty much anything, including UX of contributors.
Stack Overflow consistently found their answers in modifying the rulebook instead of finding ways to make the rules clearer or getting rid of rules. Kind of like the book of laws in a nation, it can get so lengthy that everyone might be breaking the laws at any time, and it's hard to even predict.
The site is very power-user driven, and I think this might be the toughest part. Power users inherently see things differently than everyday users.
In support of this answer, Joel Spolsky, the founder of SO, is also the author of this:
joelonsoftware.com/2005/12/29/the-... TL;DR, Java is too easy and therefore it is impossible to find smart graduates from CS departments, even from places like MIT or Penn.
(Many of the things he writes are very smart, and I have learned a great deal about how to be a software engineer from his writings, but this article makes me not want to play ping pong with him.)
Helpful explanation Ben, thanks for taking the time to answer.
Stack Overflow consistently found their answers in modifying the rulebook instead of finding ways to make the rules clearer or getting rid of rules. Kind of like the book of laws in a nation, it can get so lengthy that everyone might be breaking the laws at any time, and it's hard to even predict.
Yup, their rule book is way too long and hard to get to know all of them. I read it way back and never found a reference to not being able to ask for external resources, which is the reason why they closed my question.
The site is very power-user driven, and I think this might be the toughest part. Power users inherently see things differently than everyday users.
Excellent point, this is tough to solve, as most power users also have firm opinions and ideals. It's like asking a doctor about a headache. They most likely will ignore you and tell you to take a pain killer.
I think it is probably more like, forgetting that you were once a child / adolescent; not to mention Generation Gap (e.g. Age of Browser Wars and Expensive CPUs).
It's like asking a doctor about a headache. They most likely will ignore you and tell you to take a pain killer.
If it's not a serious disease, like brain tumor or hemorrhage; but doctors can make wrong diagnoses too. (Can't experts fail?)
Also, what do expect? Kindness? Doctors have too many patients to attend to, and humanitarian works are not as same as kindness.
I think it is probably more like, forgetting that you were once a child / adolescent; not to mention Generation Gap (e.g. Age of Browser Wars and Expensive CPUs).
Oh true, that probably is affecting the platform too.
If it's not a serious disease, like a brain tumor or hemorrhage; but doctors can make wrong diagnoses too. (Can't experts fail?)
They can, they do, and they will make the wrong diagnosis, and that is ok. But always with respect, no need to show that they are better.
Also, what do expect? Kindness? Doctors have too many patients to attend to, and humanitarian works are not as same as kindness.
Every human interaction should (but, of course, it does not) have some level of kindness, empathy, or respect for the other person.
I'm a friendly, non-dev, cisgender guy from NC who enjoys playing music/making noise, hiking, eating veggies, and hanging out with my best friend/wife + our 3 kitties + 1 greyhound.
"Every human interaction should (but, of course, it does not) have some level of kindness, empathy, and respect for the other person."
Just to say I really admire this statement. This is such a great outlook. Now if we can just find a way to make this bit ~(but, of course, it does not)~ haha!
I've been a professional C, Perl, PHP and Python developer.
I'm an ex-sysadmin from the late 20th century.
These days I do more Javascript and CSS and whatnot, and promote UX and accessibility.
I'd be more inclined to agree if you changed the and for an or. There are people who are incapable of empathy, but it wouldn't be right to want to exclude them from all interactions, for example. As long as they can be respectful, it's all good.
Good point, yes, I think the most important part for me is respecting each other. I've changed it in the comment and will take that into account in the future.
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I feel like Stack Overflow has a few structural issues that are hard to overcome...
In support of this answer, Joel Spolsky, the founder of SO, is also the author of this:
joelonsoftware.com/2005/12/29/the-... TL;DR, Java is too easy and therefore it is impossible to find smart graduates from CS departments, even from places like MIT or Penn.
(Many of the things he writes are very smart, and I have learned a great deal about how to be a software engineer from his writings, but this article makes me not want to play ping pong with him.)
Helpful explanation Ben, thanks for taking the time to answer.
Yup, their rule book is way too long and hard to get to know all of them. I read it way back and never found a reference to not being able to ask for external resources, which is the reason why they closed my question.
Excellent point, this is tough to solve, as most power users also have firm opinions and ideals. It's like asking a doctor about a headache. They most likely will ignore you and tell you to take a pain killer.
I think it is probably more like, forgetting that you were once a child / adolescent; not to mention Generation Gap (e.g. Age of Browser Wars and Expensive CPUs).
If it's not a serious disease, like brain tumor or hemorrhage; but doctors can make wrong diagnoses too. (Can't experts fail?)
Also, what do expect? Kindness? Doctors have too many patients to attend to, and humanitarian works are not as same as kindness.
Oh true, that probably is affecting the platform too.
They can, they do, and they will make the wrong diagnosis, and that is ok. But always with respect, no need to show that they are better.
Every human interaction should (but, of course, it does not) have some level of kindness, empathy, or respect for the other person.
"Every human interaction should (but, of course, it does not) have some level of kindness, empathy, and respect for the other person."
Just to say I really admire this statement. This is such a great outlook. Now if we can just find a way to make this bit ~(but, of course, it does not)~ haha!
Hehe thanks! I really stand by that and try to implement it on myself.
I'd be more inclined to agree if you changed the and for an or. There are people who are incapable of empathy, but it wouldn't be right to want to exclude them from all interactions, for example. As long as they can be respectful, it's all good.
Good point, yes, I think the most important part for me is respecting each other. I've changed it in the comment and will take that into account in the future.