30
votes
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
You seem awfully certain that people are asking for these words because they want to use them to hurt others. There are many different reasons why someone might want to learn a particular pejorative ...
- 17.9k
25
votes
Accepted
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
While I understand people may feel icky or annoyed that our language has mean things in it, I don't feel that it is our job to tell people where the line between "not that mean" and "...
- 35.1k
20
votes
“What’s wrong with single word requests?”
TL;DR
Single-word requests are not the problem, they are just the kind of questions where some problems (in particular lack of guidance) predominantly manifest themselves. Only addressing these ...
- 4,181
19
votes
Should I downvote multi word answers on single-word-requests?
I'd venture to guess that 90% of the time when a question is tagged single-word-request, the only reason the phrase-request tag isn't added as well is because the questioner doesn't know that such a ...
- 32.2k
16
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
For the most part, the first-time posters who submit one-word answers followed by a little filler to meet the minimum character count are not interested in anything more than participating in a quiz-...
- 152k
16
votes
Accepted
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
Per Laurel's request, this is one potential wording. The answer is Community Wiki so please feel free to edit for brevity, clarity, and felicity (but if you fundamentally disagree with the listed ...
15
votes
Accepted
Should I downvote multi word answers on single-word-requests?
We already have phrase-requests for users searching for multi-word expressions, so a rename is not in order. The tag single-word-requests really is (supposed to be) about single words, and that should ...
- 74.7k
14
votes
How to answer single-word-request when a single word exists, but a multi-word phrasing is preferable?
Sometimes people ask single-word-requests because they expect there's some easy-to-understand, fairly common word that they just don't know yet or have forgotten. Other times they really need a single ...
- 26.1k
13
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
tl;dr: Leaving these lying around just encourages others to follow their bad example. We don't want that to happen. Deleting is good for the site.
SLAs are NARAs
We used to have “Not A Real ...
tchristMod
- 128k
12
votes
Accepted
Is this forum appropriate for teachers of English as a second language?
It depends. English Language & Usage might be what you are looking for if you are interested in the details and nuance of the language. On the other hand, if you are wondering about how to ...
Kit Z. FoxMod
- 27.5k
12
votes
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
The message needs to be short and easy enough for less competent speakers to understand
To get the best answers, please include the following:
A sample sentence showing how the word would ...
- 86.1k
11
votes
Why is suggesting words on word suggestion questions insufficient?
I see two problems.
(i) Your answer is a list of ideas, suggestions, or opinions, not a definite answer. A Stack Exchange answer answers the question, or at least part of the question, once and for ...
- 27.8k
11
votes
Accepted
Single-word-request rule clarification needed
I agree with Andrew Leach's comment that closure as opinion-based is a bit odd, given that to some degree all SWRs are seeking an opinion on what might be the right word to use. However, I'm guessing ...
10
votes
Word for disrespecting eldest half-sister by referring to her husband as girly-girl-manly-boy though he's amused but the rest of the family isn't?
One passive approach you can take as an individual is to edit your user preferences to add single-word-requests to your list of tags to ignore. You have the option of either dimming them or hiding ...
- 6,867
9
votes
Accepted
How to answer single-word-request when a single word exists, but a multi-word phrasing is preferable?
I've always thought a brief, more-than-one-word phrase ought to be an acceptable answer for a single word request, particularly when the suggestion is, say, a phrasal verb, a multiword expression (MWE)...
- 58.1k
9
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
Sven Yargs points out that the problem is with poorly supported but otherwise correct answers; tchrist advocates deletion of single-line answers (SLAs) because they are not real answers. MετάEd ...
- 37.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Can a newly constructed word answer a single word request?
A question asking for people to coin a word is out of scope for this site. A coinage in an answer might be in scope, depending on how well-reasoned it is.
If the answer is a coinage which follows ...
- 27.8k
9
votes
How should reviewers (and other users) handle SLAs to SWRs?
It is important to get a hopeless answer in the VLQ queue ASAP because: (1) after 7 days, the answer can't be flagged VLQ; and, (2) long before then, it may attract enough undeserved upvotes to be ...
- 26.2k
8
votes
How do you explain why a word phrase is unlikely to exist?
I was one of your downvoters. I can explain why I downvoted that answer. (Italics and bolding mine, for clarity lest you misread.)
First, it was (to my reading) very negative and opinionated. My ...
- 54.7k
8
votes
Word for disrespecting eldest half-sister by referring to her husband as girly-girl-manly-boy though he's amused but the rest of the family isn't?
I just did a quick check of the top 100 highest all-time scorers on EL&U and found that 76 of them have "single-word-requests" listed among their top three tag categories for upvotes. Unmistakably,...
- 152k
8
votes
Against single word requests
I think we should not allow single-word requests for synonyms and antonyms, at least.
Asking for a word that means (or that means the opposite of) XYZ, where XYZ is a description, is typically not a ...
- 14.9k
8
votes
“What’s wrong with single word requests?”
I accept that we see a ton of bad SWRs every day that show almost zero research effort. Those bad apples shouldn't make us ban the "requests" concept entirely.
Sometimes even tech-savvy users like me ...
NVZMod
- 22.4k
8
votes
Three SWRs suddenly closed for being POB
Regardless of one's stance on the desirability of SWRs in general, I cannot see how anyone could fail to agree that at least the first two of the linked questions were unresearched and underspecified, ...
- 58.7k
7
votes
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
Personal opinion here, but I think tagging 233 posts (latest count) Pejorative language is self-defeating your noble argument that we dissuade users from seeking expressions which are used to attack, ...
- 86.1k
7
votes
Single word requests, crosswords, and the fight against mediocrity
Word and phrase requests are the most interesting part of this site in my opinion. It's the only time I see idioms and expressions and words I've never seen before and learn new ones. It's always ...
- 12.3k
7
votes
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
We allow questions about profanity, which are hurtful to some.
I feel like an argument against hurtful terms or pejoratives would work for profanity, too.
So I propose that there's nothing ...
- 69.1k
7
votes
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
I believe @tchrist has a valid point. As a community, we espouse respect and courtesy in all members. These requests have the effect of a drive by maiming. Not only are they ugly and unkind (and ...
- 54.7k
7
votes
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
I have a qualm with this, in that we need to consult a community moderator. That makes altering these rules harder if ever deemed necessary. I dislike that the contextual sentence requirement can ...
- 4,511
7
votes
Why is suggesting words on word suggestion questions insufficient?
I placed those notices. The reason why we’re looking for longer answers that supply your own explanations is perhaps best answered by this recent guidance from the Stack Exchange CM team about this, ...
tchristMod
- 128k
6
votes
Can anything be done about mean-spirited requests for terminology?
From your quote:
"Pejorative language is any language that portrays someone or something in a negative light, no matter whether it is intended to be disparaging and derogatory, contemptuous or ...
- 537
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible