A forum site I occasionally read, All About Circuits (about electronics), has a forum (section) titled "Homework Help". I propose an analogous section here, titled the same or more
generally "Schoolwork Help". The charter is simple. If you're asking a question because you're in school and need help with course work, the question
goes here. The idea, very simply, is to sequester such questions into their own area where those who are so motivated can deal with them and others
(such as me, usually) can ignore them.
The counter-argument is that "Beginnings" is already there and suffices. The problem is that the motivations of those asking schoolwork questions are
different that those of amateur scientists. Right now, it all ends up in "Beginnings", intermixed. My motivation to participate has been lessened
because I have less information about what motivates people. I have recently found myself not writing when otherwise I might have for this reason.
Furthermore, the kinds of questions that get asked about schoolwork tend to be quite specific, not open-ended, seeking an answer to a question their
teacher has posed them, not one that they have come to wonder about themselves. The quality of discussion that comes from such queries is generally
never as interesting or serendipitous as someone seeking understanding.
The lazy are always with us. I consider their queries a burden and a problem. I believe that I am not alone in feeling that this is a problem. I don't
claim that this idea will eliminate the problem. But it would allow me to deal with it easier. watson.fawkes - 21-6-2009 at 15:52
P.S. If there were an account option that would allow me to filter what fora showed up on the "Today's Posts" page, that would be great. (And not
necessary for the actual proposal.)Sauron - 21-6-2009 at 18:47
How about NO help for obvious homework? The forum is being deluged with such from one or two posters who have nothing to contribute. Warn them off,
and if need be shut them out.
Lazy parastes ought not to be encouraged.kmno4 - 22-6-2009 at 01:55
How about NO help for obvious homework? The forum is being deluged with such from one or two posters who have nothing to contribute. Warn them off,
and if need be shut them out.
Lazy parastes ought not to be encouraged.
This is - generally - also my opinion. Border between advanced and not-advanced homeworks is illusive and very tin.
There are really very large amounts of homework chemistry on internet and there is no need to open such a cancerogenic subforum in THIS forum. Sauron - 22-6-2009 at 02:07
No one minded the occasional pedagogical question but these few people are abusing the forum and worse, they are not learning a damned thing except
how to get others to do their classroom assignments for them. No one who answers them is helping them do anything but shirk.
It's like Fred & George Weasley selling Puking Pustules to help classmates get out of class by feigning illness.DJF90 - 28-6-2009 at 05:41
I didnt realise you were a fan of Harry Potter Sauron. However I have also noticed this problem of excessive homework-type questions being posted,
especially by one certain user. I refrain from answering, but its just really getting on my tits to come on and see a new question posted so often,
and they arent even keeping to the same thread - a new thread for every question it seems.
