Hot take: Stack Overflow used to be way friendlier for beginners 10 years ago

I remember back in 2014 when I first started learning Python from a used book I found at a thrift store. I'd ask basic questions like 'why is my loop not working' and actual developers would walk me through it line by line without being rude. Now it feels like everything gets downvoted or marked as duplicate within 5 minutes. Has anyone else noticed this shift, or is it just that I'm asking worse questions now?

3 comments

3 Comments

skyler_jackson2713d ago

Nah man, I had a buddy who asked about string formatting and some dude just copy-pasted the docs link without a single word of explanation. He never posted there again.

lewis.finley13d ago

2014 was 10 years ago, so maybe we're just remembering the good parts and forgetting the bad ones... I've seen @skyler_jackson27's example before, but I still get decent help on niche questions if I phrase them right. People get dramatic about a few bad experiences, but the site still works okay when you follow the rules.

sage_green13d ago

My buddy Mike got roasted so bad for asking a basic SQL question he just quit coding entirely.