# Rules clarification for posting in GQ **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 20, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014 "2018-01-20T02:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [January 25, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/41 "2018-01-25T05:54:37Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I feel more slighted by the way no one is willing to clarify the actual rules of GQ than I would’ve been if I’d participated in the thread. But more to the point, I would also feel slighted if I’d participated in the thread and it had been presented as something that definitely happened only to later reveal that it didn’t, like the way a few people over the years made up stories about their lives for whatever reason only to later to be outed as liars. But threads like those would be in MPSIMS or somewhere. In GQ people ask a factual question because they want a factual answer. Why they ask should be irrelevant. In this case the OP for whatever reason felt obligated to reveal why they were asking and a poster who had provided an answer felt that reason wasn’t worth their consideration. I still disagree with the notion that answering someone’s question on the internet is some kind of altruistic deed done only out of charity. If someone posted an answer it was because they enjoyed talking about the subject. The OP didn’t claim it was a huge personal emergency or anything - they just asked a question and later said the reason for wanting to know was really silly. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/42 "2018-01-25T06:33:24Z")
We don’t disagree about any of that (I’m the one who started this thread). My point was that I’d understand feeling slighted if the OP of the other thread had pretended she’d inherited money only to later reveal she’d made it all up, which isn’t what happened here. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/43 "2018-01-25T16:01:59Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Well, no, it wasn’t at all clear that the OP was posting hypothetically. It appeared that she had a specific question about the situation. > > If you are posting hypothetically, it is best to be clear about it. The OP was not, hence the note. So can we expect notes and thread closures for the OPs who start off their GQ post with “I am building a tachyon lens …” and not saying it is a _hypothetical_ tachyon lens because I have seen more than a few of those. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/44 "2018-01-25T16:10:09Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I feel more slighted by the way no one is willing to clarify the actual rules of GQ than I would’ve been if I’d participated in the thread. But more to the point, I would also feel slighted if I’d participated in the thread and it had been presented as something that definitely happened only to later reveal that it didn’t, like the way a few people over the years made up stories about their lives for whatever reason only to later to be outed as liars. That is completely different. People passing off their experiences as real to troll is very different than asking “How does voting work in Hungary.” And why does it matter why I’m asking that question? Does it make a difference if I am moving to Hungary A co-worker claims to have lived in Hungary and his story seems a bit off I am interested in different electoral systems of Eastern Europe I am going to a party Saturday night and I need an obscure fact to impress a girl So is the new rule that every GQ posts requires the reason for asking it or the thread is closed and OP noted? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/45 "2018-01-25T16:48:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > That is completely different. People passing off their experiences as real to troll is very different than asking “How does voting work in Hungary.” It certainly is. You’re preaching to the choir here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/46 "2018-01-25T17:21:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > That is completely different. People passing off their experiences as real to troll is very different than asking “How does voting work in Hungary.” And why does it matter why I’m asking that question? Does it make a difference if > I am moving to Hungary > A co-worker claims to have lived in Hungary and his story seems a bit off > I am interested in different electoral systems of Eastern Europe > I am going to a party Saturday night and I need an obscure fact to impress a girl > > So is the new rule that every GQ posts requires the reason for asking it or the thread is closed and OP noted? I’m curious as to what you would prefer: Thousands of rules to cover each and every possible situation, or no rules at all? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/47 "2018-01-25T17:44:22Z")
I’d prefer it if things went back to the way it used to be, but if that’s not an option, then I’d prefer having some updated posting guidelines, the same way they’ve been updated on other occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/48 "2018-01-25T17:48:55Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I’d prefer it if things went back to the way it used to be, When was this? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/49 "2018-01-25T17:50:12Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > That is completely different. People passing off their experiences as real to troll is very different than asking “How does voting work in Hungary.” And why does it matter why I’m asking that question? Does it make a difference if > I am moving to Hungary > A co-worker claims to have lived in Hungary and his story seems a bit off > I am interested in different electoral systems of Eastern Europe > I am going to a party Saturday night and I need an obscure fact to impress a girl > > So is the new rule that every GQ posts requires the reason for asking it or the thread is closed and OP noted? Every GQ posts requires a reason that all members agree is a worthy of their, and everyone else’s time. That’s what kicked this all off, right, some posters feel like their time was wasted. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m curious as to what you would prefer: Thousands of rules to cover each and every possible situation, or no rules at all? Just the two choices? You’re sure you didn’t exclude anything? And who says the internet is polarizing? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/50 "2018-01-25T17:52:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When was this? As far as I recall, prior to 1/19/18. GQ is an outgrowth of the columns that drew a lot of us here, none of which asked people to justify their reason for asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/51 "2018-01-25T17:52:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When was this? [Just then.](https://media.giphy.com/media/UcbqzqqrIfaCY/giphy.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/52 "2018-01-25T17:55:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > [Just then.](https://media.giphy.com/media/UcbqzqqrIfaCY/giphy.gif) Nothing much has changed-just some people disagreeing with a Moderator’s decision…and that’s been that way since day one. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/53 "2018-01-25T18:02:31Z")
ETA: NM. I mistook Czarcasm for a moderator (remembered that one C-name from the past had become a mod again, but was thinking of the wrong guy). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/54 "2018-02-14T14:46:10Z")
So what was the final verdict? We need to post our reason for asking questions to GQ? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/55 "2018-02-14T15:34:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Well, no, it wasn’t at all clear that the OP was posting hypothetically. It appeared that she had a specific question about the situation. > > If you are posting hypothetically, it is best to be clear about it. The OP was not, hence the note. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > _“Let’s say that a U.S. citizen inherits a house and land in Sweden when a relative dies and leaves it to them”_ > > The phrase “Let’s say” is usually used to indicate that a question is hypothetical, and not a real situation. Any question beginning with “let’s say” is one I would assume to be hypotheticall. Several people in the thread agree with me on this. Any response, **Colibri**? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/56 "2018-02-14T15:35:42Z")
Since it was only a Note, I think Colibri acted properly. If it had been a actual warning then, perhaps, your concerns would be more valid. The thinkg is, hypothetical or no, she didnt really want that answer so much as “How do I get out of a gym membership?” And “will this work?” would have been fine. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/57 "2018-02-14T17:03:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Since it was only a Note, I think Colibri acted properly. If it had been a actual warning then, perhaps, your concerns would be more valid. > > The thinkg is, hypothetical or no, she didnt really want that answer so much as “How do I get out of a gym membership?” And “will this work?” would have been fine. Well, not really. We don’t know that she wasn’t interested in the answer but many people decided that for her. Also, I don’t agree with the ‘it’s just a note’ sentiment (something I’ve stated in the past). A note is a precursor to a warning, if someone gets a note, they/we should get an explanation. If there’s not a good explanation then we need to know that the behavior was allowed. Otherwise it’s just mods swinging their authority around. In other words, Anise broke the rules and her behavior was and should have been modded OR Anise did not break the rules and the mod note should be removed. Could someone please point me to the rule that she broke, I haven’t seen it yet. An OP hasn’t broken a rule if you wasted your own time. An OP hasn’t broken a rule if they don’t use the answer the way you want it used. An OP hasn’t broken a rule by asking fact based question. This still comes down to the fact that some people are annoyed that she used the information for something other than they thought she would. And c’mon, if your time was wasted by answering the wrong questions here, then maybe it’s not the OPs fault, maybe you need to spend less time on the internet. As I said earlier, if you only want to answer questions that you feel are worthy of your time, then ask what they’ll be used for instead of getting angry after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/58 "2018-02-14T20:14:20Z")
The centerpiece of the Straight Dope, Cecil’s column, often addresses questions that in other quarters might be regarded as a trivial waste of time. Doing so in GQ certainly strikes me as honoring that tradition. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/59 "2018-02-14T23:25:53Z")
Does anyone think she acted in a jerkish way? That’s why I would give her a note rather than a warning for being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014/60 "2018-02-14T23:27:49Z")
No, I think she acted reasonably. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-clarification-for-posting-in-gq/807014.md?page=4)