# I have a question, can I do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893 "2010-04-12T22:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/1 "2010-04-12T22:53:17Z")
I have a lot of niggling questions that I would like to ask from time to time. They are not earth shaking but do require factual answers that I can’t find with my google-fu. I hate to clog up GQ with them and they usually don’t get any traction in MHPSHITIMS. So It seems like it would be appropriate to start an equivalent of the mini-rant threads that appear in the pit in GQ - Mini-questions. Before you say Hell No! think about it for a sec. Frequently in GQ threads the OP is answered and there are spin-off questions and discussions. Also it seems it might keep the thread count low. With the added benefit of placating those have been frustrated lately with peeps who ask easily Googled questions. What say ye? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/2 "2010-04-12T22:56:23Z")
I’ve started a discussion among the GQ moderators. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/3 "2010-04-12T22:59:08Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I’ve started a discussion among the GQ moderators. Thank you for your consideration. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/4 "2010-04-13T00:47:24Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I’ve started a discussion among the GQ moderators. And if you guys would say this more often, I think it would help the malcontent. I know I love it when I get a response even to a report. And, yes, I’m sorry for reporting that personal insult in the Pit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/5 "2010-04-13T00:48:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And if you guys would say this more often, I think it would help the malcontent. Which one? [sub]I keed[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/6 "2010-04-13T01:34:45Z")
My meaningless two cents: Great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/7 "2010-04-14T03:53:26Z")
The general feeling among the GQ moderators seems to be that we’d prefer you to just start a new thread for each question. I’m leaving this thread open so discussion can continue. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/8 "2010-04-14T04:27:49Z")
My main question would be, what would be the motivation of posters to check out such a thread? They wouldn’t be able to see which was the most current question - they would have to keep checking the thread to see the most recent “niggling question,” when there are plenty of other interesting questions on the front page. Besides that, after several questions had been asked, you would have people responding to whatever question they were most interested in, not just the most recent question, so you would eventually have a jumble of posts where subsequent ones might be on completely different questions, which I think might be quite difficult to follow. I think a better strategy is just to open individual threads. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/9 "2010-04-14T05:09:48Z")
I have to say, I almost except tiny mundane Qs in GQ. And if it’s an easy one to answer, all the more reason for someone to pop in answer it, and then the OP can just request to close the thread. No harm no foul. If people are getting upset about too many questions being asked (assuming they’re not questions that are easily googleable), then they’ve got bigger issues than just the policing of GQ- that’s one of the few most logical easily ruled places out here in Doperville! ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-can-i-do-this/535893/10 "2010-04-14T09:42:14Z")
Such a thread would be a nightmare to check or search. I don’t see it getting many good answers. It could be a MMP with Star Trek references in the best of cases.