[PmbPhy (OP)]

I brought this up in the past to admin who I think said they'd think about it or something like that. But I think it'd be a great idea to have a sticky on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) so newbies can check there to see if they're question is already there waiting for them or to give them a starting point to create a new thread on.

What do you think? Should an  FAQ sticky be created for this forum? What about in each forum? I volunteer to do some of the work in the areas of physics I know well.

[Bill S]

Sounds like a good idea, Pete.  In this context, I'm not sure what a sticky is or how it works.   I assume the questions would be answered by people like you, but "hoi polloi", could pick up topics and ask further questions.

[Halc]

What do you think? Should an  FAQ sticky be created for this forum?

One sticky thread for the whole FAQ?
How would a potential poster find their topic in there, or the answer if it isn't close by?
How would all the non-mainstream answers keep from diluting the standard ones?

Some of the other forums might benefit, but probably not new-theories and such...

I think if they want FAQ answers, go to wikipedia first, or a google search maybe, which responds pretty admirably to a query worded as a question.

There could be an entire separate FAQ forum (so the topics are more easily found), and only moderators could create/move threads there, coupled with select posts that they deem to be mainstream views, or at least valid points of view.  So a topic like "What's the correct QM interpretation?" would not have but one 'correct' answer, unless that answer is "Go ask on a philosophy site!".

The posts would need links to original posts since often context is needed for full discussions.  Answers to one question might come from different topics (it was frequently asked after all), so the original question might be worded differently.

- - -

Just tossing out ideas and concerns about how something like that might be found useful.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

One sticky thread for the whole FAQ?

Sure. It could present the questions and a pages can be created under the main webpage for answers like the newsgroup on physics does.

How would a potential poster find their topic in there, or the answer if it isn't close by?

Scroll down the list. It wouldn't be that long.

How would all the non-mainstream answers keep from diluting the standard ones?

There won't be non-mainstream answers. The FAQ answers how mainstream physicists answer the questions. It will be science and not pseudoscience.

I think if they want FAQ answers, go to wikipedia first, or a google search maybe, which responds pretty admirably to a query worded as a question.

The FAQ will answer things that Wikipedia doesn't address.

There could be an entire separate FAQ forum (so the topics are more easily found), ..

The forum admin will have to make that choice.

The posts would need links to original posts since often context is needed for full discussions.

There will be no discussion in the FAQs.

  Answers to one question might come from different topics (it was frequently asked after all), so the original question might be worded differently.

I don't understand. Please give an example.

Just tossing out ideas and concerns about how something like that might be found useful.

Thank you!

[chris]

I think it's a good idea in principle, but we need to work out how to implement it.

Topics benefit from having their own threads; but if we end up with too many thread FAQs then it becomes impossible to find things.

I think there would be enormous value in some individual threads that provide gold standard answers to some basic principles of science, including physics. Contributors could be urged to review those threads before asking a new question.