73
votes
Physics.SE remains a site by humans, for humans
I firmly applaud the stance taken by the moderators here. AI-generated text has many demonstrated problems that disqualify its use, without significant human intervention, for technical (e.g. physics!)...
- 7,331
27
votes
Physics.SE remains a site by humans, for humans
In a comment, Braiam asks
How many of those users came back after the suspension?
I looked at 16 profiles with a plagiarism mod message since January 1. (One of the suspensions on the list of 17 ...
robMod
- 86.2k
21
votes
Accepted
Users that post every question in their homework/exams
Recently I've noticed a few people posting questions in rapid succession, each with a screenshot of a problem. If you look at the questions as a whole, it's obvious they've split their entire problem ...
robMod
- 86.2k
20
votes
Users that post every question in their homework/exams
To discourage rapid postings of the type alluded to in the question, methinks screenshots of text should be outright banned. I can understand a screenshot of a figure, but if it can be easily done ...
- 45k
16
votes
Where can I find a statement of the Physics SE policy on self-citation?
The main place for this is How do you cite yourself?
It's perfectly OK to use text from previously-published own work in your answers, so long as you (i) cite the source, and (ii) make it clear that ...
- 131k
15
votes
Please use gender neutral language
Thus, my question: do we, as a community, want to discourage gendered language? Or should we just leave it to the discretion of users what kind of language to use?
As I understand it, this proposal ...
- 75.8k
15
votes
Data collection: When should (or shouldn't) we exclude questions from the Hot Network Questions list?
Questions about perpetual-motion machines should meet a stricter-than-usual bar in terms of clarity and prior research to get on HNQ.
Questions about perpetual-motion seem to have a particularly easy ...
- 131k
14
votes
What is our position on answers that consist almost entirely of copied content?
Unacknowledged or unmarked quotes are plagiarism, plain and simple, and they deserve the full weight of community displeasure to be heaved on them: comments, downvotes, and eventual deletion.
On the ...
- 131k
13
votes
Accepted
Using Comments as Answers
Good idea to make this a question so I can post my comment there as an answer: yes, this is fine. Actually, in order to avoid arguments over whether it does constitute an answer or not, I'll say this:
...
- 75.8k
13
votes
Accepted
How to handle references to literature in predatory journals
I don't think we need any additional policies about referring to or questioning about papers published through predatory journals.
Assuming the paper is mainstream...
Well, we don't really need to do ...
- 28k
13
votes
Accepted
Languages of references
Yes, while the language of the main body of a SE post should be in English, non-English references are acceptable for various reasons:
A non-English reference is better than no reference.
It is ...
QmechanicMod
- 196k
12
votes
Does SE allow me to publish my own material (Qs/As) in a peer-reviewed journal?
As mentioned in the comments, the Stack Exchange terms of service speficy that:
You retain the copyright of any content you post to Stack Exchange
When you post, you are making the content available ...
- 131k
11
votes
Meta-commentary in questions should sometimes be allowed
If you're not satisfied with my answer, you're under no obligation or expectation to accept it. We all write answers that aren't accepted all the time, and I've also written many questions to which I ...
- 101k
11
votes
Should we leave technical astronomy questions to Astronomy SE?
Both of the existing answers seem to be based on a mischaracterization of how migration and off-topic closures are related, particularly with things like
I would like to see Astronomy SE added to the ...
- 131k
10
votes
Can moderator or user with high reputation be held to the rules?
The main mechanism for the reversal of serial voting is automated, because the moderators have access only to summaries of inter-user voting, (not to detailed records) even when our tools alert us to ...
10
votes
Asking physics joke questions
Although it is related to physics, I don't think such questions and answers are really useful to the purpose of this site, which is to share knowledge of physics concepts; not to share physics humor.
...
- 55.8k
10
votes
Language that can be perceived as sexist
Any time one finds language that could be considered unwelcoming, I think the right course of action is to edit the post to change or remove it. The usual editing guidelines still apply, so:
Make ...
- 16.4k
10
votes
Should users answer questions that they think should be closed?
I am the (or at least one of the) user(s) in question, and I think that your impression of my motivation is mistaken. Since at least part of your concern is your view of my motivation let me state my ...
- 94.4k
10
votes
Why do we still apply the homework policy even when there are many opposite opinions?
There is in fact massive consensus for closing most homework-like questions. The most recent expressions of this consensus are found in this post and this post.
Every so often someone complains about ...
- 45k
10
votes
Do we have to be nice to chatbots?
I primarily deleted this as it was an answer to a closed question. Comments should be used to suggest changes to a post, not to answer them.
The rudeness did affect my decision somewhat. I was not ...
ChrisMod
- 17.1k
9
votes
Is a moderator's Approach to Delete the Answer Provided When No Comment Was Possible Consistent with a Metrocracy or Hypocracy?
Discussions on meta Stack Exchange sites are discussions, but they are still expected to have some structure. If you post an answer, then just as on the main site, it is expected to address the ...
- 10.8k
9
votes
When should moderators close questions?
I would say that moderators get it right most of the times. But sometimes they err, in which case I can think of four routes you can take:
Vote to reopen. If the question is very clearly on-topic, it ...
9
votes
Allowing questions regarding typos in books
This question is based on a bit of a false premise.
Errata related to the concepts seems to be accepted as on-topic. See here.
The difference in this post is that you're not asking about a ...
- 15.2k
9
votes
What's the policy around a jocular political comment within a post?
We don't really have a policy around jokes - they are, for better or worse, mostly irrelevant. Some users like to include humor in their posts, others don't. In general, this falls squarely under the ...
ACuriousMindMod
- 122k
9
votes
Language that can be perceived as sexist
@tpg2114's answer is the right one from a policy standpoint, but it's worth making an extended comment to observe that "guys," specifically, occupies a strange place at the intersection of ...
robMod
- 86.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Should we leave technical astronomy questions to Astronomy SE?
Thank you for your thoughtful replies.
In view of the current (3) answers and comments let me spell out my suggestion and perhaps clarify a few points first:
Emilio Pisanty already provided an ...
- 12.3k
9
votes
Accepted
Keeping track of “abuse” (or other) flags?
There is no automatic consequence for repeated flags for rudeness or abuse. However, there are automatic flags raised when particular users accrue a number of these flags in a certain timeframe, ...
ACuriousMindMod
- 122k
8
votes
Which duplicated question should be closed?
There are several competing desires for how to close (and possibly merge) duplicates (listed in my preferred order, but that shouldn't be taken to represent official policy):
Priority to the best ...
8
votes
Chat and the moderation thereof
My view is that the h bar should be a place where the users of Physics SE can hang out and discuss any topic under the sun with other users of Physics SE while maintain respect for one another.
...
- 5,541
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible