# Policy on homework help **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 3, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826 "2016-03-03T13:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/21 "2016-03-03T23:05:24Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > was curt, unwelcoming, and left the poster feeling understandably resentful and likely never to be seen here again. He was seen again: he bumped a zombie thread to ask the same question then posted a hissyfit complaint thread when that one was closed too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/22 "2016-03-03T23:25:26Z")
You have to remember that every student at one point does some kind of project that in theorie would benefit from the input from as many respondents as possible. Most people have come to accept that in practice that means your mom, your sister and your imaginary friend “Hans”. If the research is being done as some kind of school project, that is good enough. More serious research tends to have acces to better resources. If we start to accept requests to fill in questionnaires, we could fill 1% of the requests and still spend 40 hours a week doing it. I would propose a sticky in IMHO where would-be researchers can post their requests and really bored dopers can get their fix of badly spelled surveys. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/23 "2016-03-04T00:46:30Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > With all due respect to \*\*ECG \*\*who I think is a very good moderator in general, that was a terrible way to greet a new poster whose first-ever post happened to run afoul of one of our many, many, rules by accident. > > The response… > > was curt, unwelcoming, and left the poster feeling understandably resentful and likely never to be seen here again. Good. Either it was a blatant phishing expedition, in which case fuck them…or they should have known it \*looked \*like a blatant phishing expedition. If the latter, they’re stupid–not a crime. But they also registered for the sole purpose of solicitation, and have no other history. Stupid + not reading the registration agreement + not an existing board participant? Fuck them. In summation, gentlemen, fuck them. Good close. Deserves an instaban AFAIC. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/24 "2016-03-04T01:12:39Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Good. Either it was a blatant phishing expedition, in which case fuck them…or they should have known it \*looked \*like a blatant phishing expedition. If the latter, they’re stupid–not a crime. But they also registered for the sole purpose of solicitation, and have no other history. Stupid + not reading the registration agreement + not an existing board participant? Fuck them. > > In summation, gentlemen, fuck them. Good close. Deserves an instaban AFAIC. **Moderator Note** The poster in question is still a member in good standing of the board. Even if you think they are not coming back, let’s refrain from insulting other members outside of the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/25 "2016-03-04T01:16:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > You really think we had a new poster? One who wanted to join the board and become a part of the community? From the first post it seemed pretty apparent that we were just one of the “message boards” s/he was contacting for help with a project. > The mods could have given this member a golden key to the unicorn lair, edited the post, blessed it with glitter, and that member would have gone on to other things once the questions were answered. That totally isn’t the point. Even if this was 100% for certain, which it isn’t, my suggestion would still have been the better way to go. Close the thread - absolutely, at least pending proper request and approval, and point them to the relevant rules - but no need to be curt to a new poster even if they misunderstood the board’s culture or purpose upon arrival. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He was seen again: he bumped a zombie thread to ask the same question then posted a hissyfit complaint thread when that one was closed too. I know. That’s why I was able to confidently say they were resentful about their reception. > [@andros](#): > > Good. Either it was a blatant phishing expedition, in which case fuck them…or they should have known it \*looked \*like a blatant phishing expedition. If the latter, they’re stupid–not a crime. But they also registered for the sole purpose of solicitation, and have no other history. Stupid + not reading the registration agreement + not an existing board participant? Fuck them. > > In summation, gentlemen, fuck them. Good close. Deserves an instaban AFAIC. The internet has changed a lot in the 17 years you’ve been on the SDMB. It isn’t unreasonable, stupid, or blatant to go to a public forum and solicit help with some project. It is an idiosyncratic rule of the SDMB specifically, and not many other online places. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/26 "2016-03-04T01:16:33Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > You really think we had a new poster? One who wanted to join the board and become a part of the community? In this particular case, particularly given the subsequent nature of his/her behavior, I think we actually had a complete asshole on our hands. But that is not the point. Everyone is a newbie at some point, and having a general policy of being polite when modding them costs us nothing (or I don’t think it does - maybe the mods are required to sacrifice a kitten every time they are actually gracious on line). And responding to newbie posters with a modicum of kindness could indeed lead to the addition of a new poster. We all have to start somewhere. Not that I’m such a valued poster here - I wish to go on record that I’m not! - but take me for example: my first encounter with the Dope was centuries ago when I submitted a Weird Earl’s candidate. I don’t think it got used, but **TubaDiva** thanked me and encouraged me to try again. If she’d written “We don’t use sites like that here” and nothing else, I’d never have given the Straight Dope another look. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/27 "2016-03-04T15:47:56Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The internet has changed a lot in the 17 years you’ve been on the SDMB. It isn’t unreasonable, stupid, or blatant to go to a public forum and solicit help with some project. It is an idiosyncratic rule of the SDMB specifically, and not many other online places. Which only means that the internet is wrong. Whaaaat? :eek: Yes, I said it. The internet is wrong. And has been since [September '93](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_September). So you’re not gonna get any traction here with any argument predicated on “the rest of the intardweb does it this way.” Now get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/28 "2016-03-04T16:19:44Z")
I was gonna say the same thing as **gnoitall** , only much better. Won’t bother now though. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/29 "2016-03-04T18:22:45Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Good. Either it was a blatant phishing expedition, in which case fuck them…or they should have known it \*looked \*like a blatant phishing expedition. If the latter, they’re stupid–not a crime. But they also registered for the sole purpose of solicitation, and have no other history. Stupid + not reading the registration agreement + not an existing board participant? Fuck them. > > In summation, gentlemen, fuck them. Good close. Deserves an instaban AFAIC. Then why are you on a board that has, as it’s number 1 rule, “Don’t be a jerk”? Sounds like you want some place more like 4chan. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/30 "2016-03-04T19:45:29Z")
So banning a jerk is _being_ a jerk? This complicates things. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/31 "2016-03-04T21:33:11Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The internet has changed a lot in the 17 years you’ve been on the SDMB. It isn’t unreasonable, stupid, or blatant to go to a public forum and solicit help with some project. It is an idiosyncratic rule of the SDMB specifically, and not many other online places. We have lots of idiosyncratic rules here. We like it like that. Why would we want to encourage people who don’t like it like we like it? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/32 "2016-03-04T22:47:31Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > We have lots of idiosyncratic rules here. We like it like that. Why would we want to encourage people who don’t like it like we like it? This answer, I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826/33 "2016-03-06T20:47:04Z")
I hadn’t seen the thread being discussed before, but I just looked at it and it sounds incredibly fishy to me. While it’s pretty common for high school students to have an assignment that involves interviewing someone, the topic is typically something like personal recollections of a time period that almost anyone of the right age could talk about. I have difficulty believing that a high school teacher really required students to interview three people about as specific, unusual, and sensitive a topic as custodial kidnapping, or that the place of business (rather than just the occupation) and phone number of the interview subjects would be required. So aside from violating the rule on homework help/soliciting input for off-board projects, this particular request seems suspiciously scammy to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/policy-on-homework-help/747826.md?page=1)