Does anyone on this site ever do "Ask Me Anything" questions?

I’m in.

I do that on my website, why not here also. I’m game.

[mod says:] As a mod, we would not condone tons of “Ask me anything” threads coming up whenever a jelly is feeling like being an open book. This is simply because the main point of Fluther still is to ask and answer help-based Qs. So ideally, each Q should serve a purpose of helping someone with something. The “Ask me anything” Qs are better left to the chat room or via PMs. Also, Qs asked could range from intriguing to hurtful (think trolls) and we wouldn’t want to put any user at such ill-ease about feeling forced to answer any Q. If I misunderstood your question, please correct me and I can then respond to that.

No, you answered it well. Thank you.

Guess I’m out.

You can ask me anything. Anything at all. I know how to say “I prefer not to answer that.”

[Mod says]: Remember that the key to the site is the function: a single question “broadcast” to many. As the site’s founders have so eloquently phrases it: you ask questions, we get them to the right people.

I believe what you’re describing may be more suitable and/or functional on a blog format, such as a “Dear Abby” etc. blog.

As my cohort PnL has mentioned, we don’t condone that format of inquiry, not to be mean spirited, but as a means to maintain consistency in the function of the site.

BTW, this type of question has popped up before, and has been removed for the reasons stated. If you’re interested in a specific user, carrying on with them via PM or chat is a great way to tap them individually. Adding these users to your Fluther is another way (adds another layer of functionality) to narrow communication channels if you so desire. I believe that that feature was developed to respond to that basic need of narrowing the communication channel, by allowing you to subscribe to user’s questions.

I hear and respect what PnL and sndfreQ wrote. Still, I love the idea and feel a little disappointed. I think it’d be fun and fascinating. Especially to do as a group. I’m thinking of AstroChuck, heck Andrew, Ben, the mods, it’s endless. Could be really fun.

If this gets the ax, so be it, but I’m putting my .02 in – saying, hell yeah!

Ooh, and I’m an open book. I’d be tickled pink to be the subject of such a question.

Maybe we should plan a ‘chat room event’? I’d be up for that.

@augustlan @trustinglife: that would be an interesting thing to try in the chat room…IMO totally appropriate for that venue, and could be an interesting extension to the other value-added features of Fluther, such as the Fluther interview.

Chat room could be fun, and I’d try to make it. I get your concerns about keeping the integrity of the site. I still think the format of asking and answering questions whenever would work beautifully for the intention behind this – getting to know each other better, personally and as a community. Maybe it’s worth a little test?

You couldn’t just have everyone asking everyone questions, though, right? It’d just be chaos in there!

*In the chat room, I mean.

No, but it could be carried out almost like a “live” version of the Fluther interview, where a designated member was in the spotlight, and with a moderator on hand (conjures image of James Lipton…wait, wipe that image), the party could ensue…

@sndfreQ
james lipton

^^broken link?!?

I love the “Ask me anything” format, but agree that it isn’t really a proper use of Fluther. While I am honest about who I am here, I also keep a certain amount of anonymity (for instance, I used to use my photo as my avatar, but I reconsidered it’s use so I could feel more open and anonymous).

So, in PM, ask me anything,

Yeah.

I’m new here, but I’d LOVE to play ask me anything. It sounds like fun.

I’m always curious about other people, and I think it helps me understand their answers to a question. It would also, if done as a question (not chat) create a permanent record where anyone could go to get perspective on a person’s answers.

We can’t put much in our history, and really, we have no idea what people want to know about us. For folks who are willing to be asked anything, it seems to me like it would be an excellent idea.

To do it in chat is pointless, because if you aren’t there, you don’t learn anything. There’s no permanent record of chats, as far as I know.

I think this would an entirely appropriate use of fluther. Obviously, I’m in the minority on this one, but I do think it would add a lot of value to the site. It would help build community and ties between people, which would keep people coming back here and build their loyalty even more. I guess if I want that, though, I should go build my own site. Sorry for annoying you.

Good points about doing it in chat, Daloon. Maybe the Fluther gods would allow say, one question of this format per week? They could even pick the users if they wanted to…

One thing/idea that could be interesting would be for an enhancement to our profile page where we could choose to link “favorite” or “feature” questions that highlight our interests. That way, if a user clicks on your profile, they would see a list of questions/topics where you have provided knowledge in your chosen area of interest/expertise. The content already exists, and would require no “production” coordination beyond the programming to set the feature up.

I keep seeing references to a chat room, but I have not been able to find my way there. Does it exist, and if so, is there a secret passageway?

You have to ask a mod for the entrance code that particular day. It’s too much trouble for me.

daloon – no no! you just have to PM one of us for a chat room link once! it doesn’t change daily. We would love to have you in there sometime!

Jeruba – I would be happy to PM you with the link, if you like.

Hmmm. I wonder why my link doesn’t work.

daloon – check your PM