Honourable Conduct and The AnswerBank

[AB Editor]

Recently a couple of discussions have flared up in The AnswerBank regarding site rules and uncodified guidelines. Like many sites The AnswerBank has a strict and sensible set of rules which is shored up, as required, by conventions. These are agreed by a majority of the community as to be terms of "fair play."

Yet, some manage to transgress these unwritten laws either by ignorance or by a more malignant pedantry. Crying out "It isn't in the rules!" is little defence against well sustained conventions - and doing so shows a certain disrespect for the community as a whole.

"Honourable Conduct" is required from all members at all times. Of course, we are pragmatic about this and attempt to take all context into account.

For example: In Quizzes and Puzzles we occasionally have users decrying the posting of questions from a Quiz which has not been out very long or where the setter has asked those entering not to use site such as this. It is "dishonourable" to go against the wishes of the setter. However, we will not remove the question. This is a Q&A site after all. It is suggested that those wishing not to know the answer simply do not read the question. If you feel a user is a serial transgressor it may be worth linking to this post so they can get a grip on the nuances of the site. Many of these users may be new – so give them a chance.

Another area this applies to is Radio Codes. We, like many forums, have restricted the distribution of radio-codes as a matter of policy. This is because of a, possibly unfair, assumption that those asking for radio codes may have acquired the radio by less than savoury means. Most manufacturers will sell a radio-code for a small fee. Informing users of this policy is better than assuming them to be a criminal! Posts supplying codes will be removed.

Thanks for your time. Spare Ed

[Katie~77]

Goodness me. Bring back Bob and Brenda I say.x

[AB Editor]

Bob and Brenda?

Spare Ed

[Katie~77]

Those were the days when people behaved themselves. I miss those days.x :o(

[Daily-Editor]

Thanks for the clarification Ed.

For future reference: Anyone who has questions for the Great Brain Quiz or Great Fun Quiz. please feel free to ask here. Hopefully someone will provide you with an answer.

Thanks again Ed.

[DrFilth]

i think the ed would prefer questions like that to be asked in the questions & puzzles
section

[AB Editor]

No problem. I think we will be increasing the size of posts soon. I had trouble cutting all I wanted to say down into a bite-sized chunk!

Spare Ed

[Kakuro1]

It is "dishonourable" to go against the wishes of the setter. However, we will not remove the question.

That is "dishonourable" in its own right. There are enough quizzes out there for those who wish to use answerbank and to allow questions from quizzes where the quizsetter has asked those entering not to use sites such as this makes a mockery of such quizzes. Many good quizzes have been lost because of this attitude and there will be more to follow - shame on you.

[Daily-Editor]

No doubt you are correct DrFilth - however as the Editor's response related to GBQ and GFQ it is also appropriate that reference be made here also.

[cazzz1975]

well its nice to see you are working on the sites niggles all the same

[Panic Button]

Nice logo, by the way

[AB Editor]

It is quite simple - You have a right to ask anything to want here (as long as it isn't offensive and doesn't transgress Site Rules).

Equally you have the right to complain when someone does something you don't like.

Regardless of the wishes of the setter this is the reality of the situation.

Spare Ed

[Kakuro1]

Why ed? The GBQ and GFQ are just two quizzes that are asked very rarely on this site, for the simple reason that the setter has asked that questions are not asked here.

The traffic on the site would barely decrease at all, so if you consider that those who do ask questions here are being dishonourable, what is your rationale for allowing dishonourable people to ruin quizzes like these?

[2planks]

I've noticed that questions from GBQ and GFQ, when asked on AB omit the fact that they are from either quiz which to my mind means that the asker knows that they shouldn't be asking questions and hope that they will slip through without anyone noticing. What I also can't understand is that if one of the harder question is asked and an answer is given, what does the asker gain? Anyone who cares to look is given the answer freely -assuming that the answer given is correct of course.