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Should we merge the scope, on-topic and off-topic meta tags?
This question is based on Ooker's comment:
I suggest us to merge/synonymize the
scope,on-topic,off-topictags
Should we merge these meta tags? I am thinking of merging all of them into the scope one.
2 answers
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"Scope" is too broad in that it has other definitions that would cause confusion. For example, "scope" often refers to when a variable in a computer program is accessible to the code at a particular location. On and off topic don't have that problem.
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Different tag sets per category
It is important to be aware that the Q&A category and the Meta category have distinct sets of tags. This question is about the Meta tags only, which cannot be used in the Q&A category. They simply do not show up there.
Specifically, the following are different (as you can see by following the links):
- The "scope" tag in the Q&A category[1].
For questions about the scope or context that encompasses values and expressions in a programming language.
- The "scope" tag in the Meta category.
For posts that ask about content being on-topic or off-topic for a non-meta category (Q&A or Code Reviews).
This generally prevents confusion about what "scope" refers to.
The tags already recommend scope
Note that the question proposes merging tags into Meta's "scope" tag. Those tags already recommend using "scope" instead, so the merge would simply be automating what is already recommended by the tags themselves.
- The "on-topic" Meta tag.
For questions whether something is on-topic or not. Consider using [scope] instead.
- The "off-topic" Meta tag.
About posts being off-topic, Use [scope] instead.
If there is reason to change those existing recommendations, I recommend that be raised as a separate Meta discussion, and that the merging be delayed until that discussion has been resolved one way or other.
Unless someone comments below this post linking to such a discussion, I suggest we go ahead with the merge, because it is already consistent with the wordings of all of the tags involved.
Related tidying
There is also a Meta tag that is a typo of "on-topic" and could be either deleted or merged into the correct spelling:
-
For questions or discussions about the scope of the site (i.e. if a question topic is fit for this site or not).
-
Note that this tag can be used in either the Q&A or the Code Reviews category. The two categories share a tag set. The "scope" tag in the Code Reviews category shows the same posts as the "scope" tag in the Q&A category. ↩︎
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