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Hello,
Most of the questions are usually off-topic (which would categorize them as either being too long to answer such as a question for another Tip or another Article as a whole or that they are too beginner-based that they cannot be answered in an easy way) or are a repost to the very same question that was asked before and OP did not even bother trying to search on Google or CodeProject before starting a new thread.
I would like to add a new suggestion to your "Todo" list for CodeProject. I do love the new changes that you are making, probably this one also would be a "worth a shot!". The suggestion was to (since the questions are still available) add a redirect link (above the question's content) to the related article (if article can answer it), tip/trick (if a small code block is what OP wants) or to the previous question (if already answered!). Since OP is able to open the question thread, but comments and other posts are not accessible for him. This link would at least help him to go to the helpful material on CodeProject to accomplish the task.
I already had the same discussion with Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov sir, but I was not able to find to the thread on which we discussed (very old one) so I cannot post it here. The thing was to at least allow the OP to read the material on CodeProject meant for his approach on subject.
There doesn't need to be any more feature. Just add another list item in the flagging options for "Has an answer?" and allow us to vote (5 votes for selection of item might do the trick) for any other article, tip/trick or another question (personal or of a colleague) that would answer the question and close it (optional?). As Sergey has already mentioned in thread[^] that spam is not going down. It cannot, but at least it can be stopped from increasing anymore by adding this feature to stop such questions from getting any more attention by closing them and removing from the recent questions queue.
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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It sounds interesting, but the suggestion itself needs to be explained in more detail. What this item really means, what do you mean by "voting" (didn't you confuse it with posting a report?) what would be the action and how it can throttle the spam.
Also, I believe you don't mean real "spam", but rather the low-value (or negative-value) content, garbage, and so on. Is that what you mean?
—SASergey A Kryukov
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As already posted in the title, the posts which can be categorized in "Off-topic and repost questions" should be the candidates. If a post is spam, then it should be removed right away. As already is being done... So should the account for being a spammer.
This suggestion was for the questions which are off-topic because OP didn't find it necessary to search on Google or CodeProject for a solution. So, instead of answering the question in a very long way (and telling the OP to go and look at other threads) why not humbly add a link to his question where he (or any other user) can find the (already present) answer to the problem. Most of the questions are answered with simply just the URL to answer (Sad, but I have been culprit in this manner also). Which is not what Questions and answers forums should be (IMO).
Questions should only be answered in a manner that they are actually answered. If only the URL to an old article, tip/trick has to be posted then it should be attached to the question itself (and should be closed and removed from questions queue).
I didn't target spam. Spam check is correct (although with more relaxation however) I was talking about questions that are not spam. As already said, "Spam should go away along with the spammer".
Correct. I mean those questions which can be redirected to an already present answer or article. Reducing redundant posts in queue and other forums. Such questions are laziness of OP and should be treated as such. They should not be allowed to float in the queue taking all space of an interesting question that might be helpful to the community. There is a lot of content for beginners on CodeProject, and such questions must be redirected to their related articles or tips or previous questions.
As far as voting is concerned I didn't mean current voting of 5 stars. You're right, I mean the report. To allow user to report a question for being a duplicate (repost) of other question and thus if a number of reports go for that, question should be closed.
The implementation would be similar to ones available right now. Right now, we hover over "Off-topic" and after 3 votes it gets close and next time the thread contains a warning message telling the reader that this thread is closed due to this problem by this user. Similar can be applied to state, this thread is closed because this question already has a solution at this {article, tip/trick, question}. Which would perform similarly, but in a manner that it would also help the OP (if he is really looking for help).
I remember you once also talked about same suggestion to at least allow the OP to read the comments added to the post. Those comments (as far as I have seen) also forward the OP to another thread having a solution, or they ask him for what he has done. Answer on the threads are (similarly) just URLs to other threads (unnecessary).
This is what I meant to implement. It is not about spam, but about those posts which are already answered and are reposted because OP did not search for a solution himself.
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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I would be careful about it.
First of all, as you know, we already have "off-topic", "Re-post", "Not an answer", and so on. First of all, spam "removed right away" can be dangerous, especially in combination with "spam should go away with spammer". We don't have "right away" approach, we have something like "near-consensus" approach. Remember that we all can do mistakes in assessments. Also, I faced with some nastiest abusers who, among other things, report other members for abuse. Even the spam post cannot be removed immediately. Note that we have the status of "closed" question, which is not the same as ""removed". Spam post, closed but not removed, serves as a spam evidence. Say, I can trust some members, those like you, but I cannot trust many other members.
Now, about attaching of the link to the question. Look thoroughly. Some of the "answer" links are total bogus. How it can improve this situation if they are attached to the question (they are already attached, but you suggest attachment in some other way). I think it would be dangerous to classify questions into "actual answers" and "only the URL". Yes, I am irritated by many too trivial answers, but the answers cannot be compared formally, "only the URL" or not. In some special cases, one single URL can still be a real breakthrough, and sometimes the "real" answer of the size of the article could be a total bogus. The answers should be judged subjectively, based in these real value.
—SASergey A Kryukov
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Coming to your dangerous point of view. Yes, I have been through this condition once. Worst condition if I must describe it because my account got locked 2 times due to these users who would report my account. Anyways, (as you suggested me then) I ignore them. Best way to ignore such conditions.  I thank you for that suggestion.
Removing a post would never be a good choice. User must be shown (if he claims to be back on CodeProject) his own posts that he must not post "spammy" posts again. Posts with off-topic and repost types are not a problem which would forward the account into deletion category. They should be just closed. (Already implemented!)
Moving back to above (first) paragraph, I did suggest (quite months ago) that user should be allowed to see how many reports he has been targeted with. So that he can request a review for these flags by other users and that they can be removed before user is removed automatically due to heavy spam reports about him. I hope to see this function soon, because it would help most of us (good members) to be able to prevent our self being blocked due to these spammers and their fellows.
I did not mean to add the URL to the question post itself. I meant the same functionality that is implemented yet. Just to show the message under the closed question, stating that this post already has a solution present there (somewhere). Also classifying the question and "Answered" or "Solved" was not my intention, my intention was to simply close the question and for OP or other visitors, show the message (like it is shown for off-topic or similar questions saying) that this question already has a solution here. Sometimes users ask questions like, "How to draw a curve in Windows Forms". Giving him a simple solution for Graphics would be enough. But posting the same thing under answers (which is possibly already available under Tip or Article) would not be good. Why not credit the author who has already tried his best in solving the riddle? Why not give the link to such questions (that can target the users coming through Google) to the article and tip that can answer to such a question in (best) possible way(s).
My intent is not to simply post a plain URL with HTTP or HTTPS protocol. Instead it is that the OP should be able to see that the solution is present. I remember you saying, "Spoon-feeding members is not good way to help!". Similarly, if a user really does want to learn. He would benefit from that external source (tip or article) also. If he just wanted code dump, then even if we post the answer there (duplicated) he would still not learn anything. You can take that post we started this discussion over. 60+ questions and still he asked such a vague question. Answering him in a non-bogus way would be an injustice to our experience and time we have spent learning these frameworks (IMO).
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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All right, I think your observations are generally correct and valuable, but suggestions need thinking. They should be viewed based on holistic approach. And I would not risk big changes.
So far, the most interesting suggestion is the ability to see the report counts.
—SASergey A Kryukov
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Yes these are just suggestions and I did not mean to do a complete development of everything from scratch, but just "If possible". Even I find that one (flag reports count) helpful, and hope to see that one soon.
Thank you sir.
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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Yes, I know; thank you for the discussion. Apparently, there is a room for many improvements. And the overwhelming number of low-quality or abusive posts in this forum is a big problem.
—SASergey A Kryukov
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Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan wrote: add a redirect link ... to the related article ..., tip/trick ... or to the previous question (if already answered!). Since OP is able to open the question thread, but comments and other posts are not accessible for him. This link would at least help him to go to the helpful material on CodeProject to accomplish the task
Do you mean: have members be able to add a link to the question itself? Or as an answer to the question? Or have the question itself redirect to the "answer" article?
cheers
Chris Maunder
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I am sorry for not fully explaining the suggestion. I did explain it in reply to Sergey[^].
However, let me answer your three questions.
Quote: as an answer to the question?
No, it is (however) already implemented. Not a good way for a question and answer forum. Because it would create a loop where users would answer the questions in a manner to redirect them to another answer. Annoying. 
Quote: Or have the question itself redirect to the "answer" article?
Somehow, but still not the one I am asking. Redirecting the question actually forces the question to loose its actual state. Once the question would be redirected back, user won't actually know whether it is the page he wants to be on or another question. So not.
Quote: members be able to add a link to the question itself?
Exactly. Just the way users see the message saying this thread is closed for not being on-topic by this user. In a very similar way, show the user that this thread already has a solution on this {article, tip/trick, previous question} with a link. Users should be allowed to report the question (just they do so for an off-topic question) and after a number of reports (5?) the question should be closed as a repost of a previously solved problem.
As I have already mentioned, it is not for fighting the spam. Spam should be removed. It is for questions that are repost. Closing the thread is not at all helpful, closing the thread and letting the OP (and other readers) find a solution to the problem would be a good substitute.
I hope it would reduce chances of answers containing the URLs to previous answers or articles (that can be easily accomplished in the comments).
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan wrote: Exactly. Just the way users see the message saying this thread is closed for not being on-topic by this user. In a very similar way, show the user that this thread already has a solution on this {article, tip/trick, previous question} with a link
What is wrong with posting solution to currently open thread? Reposts get closed just because it has something very similar existing.
Programmer : A machine that converts coffee into code !
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Why to redirect him somewhere from closed question when he already has one open thread?
e.g. Q2 is posted same as Q1 while Q1 is still open. Q2 closed due to repost reports. Why not to post solutions on Q1 itself?
Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan wrote: This link would at least help him to go to the helpful material on CodeProject to accomplish the task.
Solutions were meant for this stuff only. Correct me if i misunderstood your post.
Programmer : A machine that converts coffee into code !
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My apologies to you Rohan since you have read the first post only. Please read other threads also. I have explained that I do not want a(n) (actual) redirect from one question to another (I have discussed this one under comment reply to Chris).
See those posts and check if you get my point.
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
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I've studied your suggestions, Afzaal, but I cannot see anything in them that would address the structural problems with QA, which I see as "behavioral."
imho, nothing will ever address the issue of people who are (at best) eager to learn, possibly confused, (at worst) stupid, or shirking homework, etc., posting questions that could have been easily answered by a quick search on CodeProject, or Google. But, I think it's only "humane" we give people the "benefit of the doubt," particularly when they are newcomers to CodeProject.
I observe some CP members (including MVP's) feel fine about answering such questions with a lecture on "homework, or, a link to a search of Google, or CodeProject, or a link to that "let me look that up for you" irritating web-page.
Others, like me, make a personal choice to never post a "solution" which is a "moral lecture," or just has one link to a web, or CP, search.
Some members (including very high-rep MVP's) feel free to cut-and-paste previous answers often full of links to other answers they've given which are irrelevant to the OP's concerns.
Until we, the active CP members choosing to help-out on QA, get our act together, I think it's a waste of time to "fiddle with the dials" of QA as it is now.
Until the "rep-bloat arcade game" aspect of QA is fixed, I think there will be no progress.
imho CP MVP's should lead by example, but we are very far from having any "ethos" that unifies CP MVP's as a group ... again, in my opinion.
Yet, I do think that CP QA, warts-and-all, does provide some value. I know it provides value for me:
Even if those rare moments in responding to QA where I feel I have possibly made a contribution to someone else's intellectual growth are "illusions" ... they still feel good.
I have always found that the best way to learn something new, and/or to revise/refine/increase the understanding of things already (you think) known is ... to teach. And, for me, that is inherently pleasurable, and meaningful: why that is "so" I have no need, at this late point in my life, to analyze
cheers, Bill
«I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center» Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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The plea (on the home page) to vote in the Article Contest contains the word "Catagories". The correct spelling is "Categories".
/ravi
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Seems to be an intermittent bug. I am hesitant to experiment on the site to see if I can reproduce it.
I had to edit one post I made today several times to get the generic parameters properly formatted.
thanks, Bill
«To kill an error's as good a service, sometimes better than, establishing new truth or fact.» Charles Darwin in "Prospero's Precepts"
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That happens because they are sometimes regarded as HTML tags if < and > are not escaped (to < and >), and those are automatically converted to lowercase.
The quick red ProgramFOX jumps right over the Lazy<Dog>.
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Thanks, ProgramFox, but, in this case, I am speaking of code that has been formatted as C# by selecting the pasted-in code, and selecting 'C# from the 'code drop-down menu.
cheers, Bill
«I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center» Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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The vast majority of issues with members are caused by such a vanishingly small percentage of members.
I find it hard to justify taking time away from helping those who come here for the love of programming to help those who come here for the love of stirring the pot.
Regardless: the reports have been reversed. I'm sure in another 3 months or less we'll be discussing this same member
cheers
Chris Maunder
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3 months? You think it'll take that long?
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I was being nice.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: I'm sure in another 3 months or less we'll be discussing this same member
I am sure we will Chris. Its sad isn't it, that people are so vindictive they misuse the abuse/troll button, but what can you do. Perhaps close their accounts for abusing the button! 
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Or just remove the button.
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