# About General Questions \[complaint about a warning\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 22, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784 "2020-01-22T04:14:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/1 "2020-01-22T04:14:03Z")
According to the forum description and the FAQ, GQ is about factual information. How do posts that start with “I hope” fit in? Shouldn’t that be in IMHO or MPSIMS? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/2 "2020-01-22T04:26:05Z")
Which thread would that be? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/3 "2020-01-22T04:30:18Z")
[https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22092878&postcount=16](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22092878&postcount=16) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/4 "2020-01-22T04:32:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Which thread would that be? He’s complaining about the fact that I gave him [a warning here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22093361&postcount=21) after two snarky and irrelevant pokes at other posters in GQ. People are not prohibited from making non-factual remarks in GQ, and of course it would be impossible to moderate every such remark. They are, however, prohibited from being jerks to other posters, which is what the OP was warned for. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/5 "2020-01-22T04:34:00Z")
I edited the title to indicate what this is about. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/6 "2020-01-22T04:44:05Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > People are not prohibited from making non-factual remarks in GQ, and of course it would be impossible to moderate every such remark. Then please change the forum description. “I hope” is NOT factual information. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/7 "2020-01-22T04:49:05Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Then please change the forum description. “I hope” is NOT factual information. Neither was your reply ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/8 "2020-01-22T04:51:55Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Neither was your reply You’re right. That’s a fair criticism. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/9 "2020-01-22T04:56:15Z")
You could find a new hobby. You’ve been here 5+ years and still don’t get how the place works? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/10 "2020-01-22T04:56:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Then please change the forum description. “I hope” is NOT factual information. It says the forum is for factual questions, not that every single statement in it has to be factual. And even if a statement is non-factual, that doesn’t give you the right to attack the person making it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/11 "2020-01-22T05:12:51Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Then please change the forum description. “I hope” is NOT factual information. I think the difference is that the “I hope…” poster wasn’t also being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/12 "2020-01-22T11:40:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It says the forum is for factual questions, not that every single statement in it has to be factual. And even if a statement is non-factual, that doesn’t give you the right to attack the person making it. And for the second time in two days I agree with you. My internet router definitely needs a firmware update. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/13 "2020-01-22T12:48:50Z")
To be fair, it took a while for me to “get it” when it comes to “General Questions”. You can give an opinion if it pertains directly to the question and doesn’t push some kind of personal agenda not pertaining directly to the question. On the other hand, some people create posts in “GQ” that definitely belong in “Great Debates” or “IMHO” instead. Best thing to do then in my mind is ask that they be moved. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/14 "2020-01-22T14:04:10Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > On the other hand, some people create posts in “GQ” that definitely belong in “Great Debates” or “IMHO” instead. It can be ludicrous. “Which is better: Pepsi or Coke?” Then you actually get a series of painstaking “objective” explanations until the forum gets changed. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/15 "2020-01-22T15:37:20Z")
Expressing opinions in GQ mainly becomes a problem when it leads to a hijack or debate, or a thread becomes just a bunch of anecdotes or opinions. In such cases, a mod may either instruct that the hijack be dropped (if there is reason to expect that further factual information may be presented), or the thread may be moved to Great Debates or IMHO as circumstances warrant. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/16 "2020-01-22T16:02:58Z")
No complaints about the warning but weeding out of the constant stream of IMHO glurge in GQ would be appreciated, including that “I hope” post. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/17 "2020-01-22T17:57:13Z")
I think part of the charm of GQ is that you get actual people talking about the topic, rather than a dry “just the facts, ma’am” answer or webpage link. In a thread about sensory issues, people mention their own sensory issues, even if it doesn’t answer the specific question, it does provide a broader appreciation for the topic at large. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/18 "2020-01-22T18:02:19Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think part of the charm of GQ is that you get actual people talking about the topic, rather than a dry “just the facts, ma’am” answer or webpage link. > > In a thread about sensory issues, people mention their own sensory issues, even if it doesn’t answer the specific question, it does provide a broader appreciation for the topic at large. We have an entire forum dedicated sharing personal stories. Nobody is stopping them from posting there. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/19 "2020-01-22T18:05:35Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > You could find a new hobby. You’ve been here 5+ years and still don’t get how the place works? He’s been trying to change how the place works since his fifth post or so. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784/20 "2020-01-22T18:48:42Z")
Well, if we’re going to severely restrict the GQ from having non-factual information, from having some opinions or even humor leak in with the truth, then let’s go back and get all of Cecil’s columns edited to reflect that. We can purify not only this board but also the source that eventually evolved into this board. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-general-questions-complaint-about-a-warning/846784.md?page=2)