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It's an excellent idea for a Stackexchange site. I just wonder what Discovery, Inc. will think about us stomping on their trademark site, HowStuffWorks.com. Suggest changing the name to "How does that work?" or "What Makes it Go?" – Robert Harvey Jul 26 '10 at 3:47

Good point. I like your suggestion "What Makes it Go?". I would like to add some names to the suggestion list "How Things Work?", "What makes it tick?" and "How Everyday Things Work?". Lets see if the site gets some significant following, then we can give it a new name. – ianjorgensen Jul 26 '10 at 6:48

Could this happen to be similar to Popular Natural Sciences? IMHO all current questions would be on topic there, too. – Tobias Kienzler Jul 26 '10 at 8:46

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16 Closed Questions (show all)

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up vote 3 down vote

added by Sniffer Aug 31 '10 at 19:29

closed as off topic by Tim H, deceze, Barthelemy, Ryan Berger, Stewbob Oct 22 '10 at 19:25

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

	This is a good question and certainly is on topic, but I want to caution people from asking questions that state a precondition like this. (I'm referring to the fact that the question assumes that the ozone does protect us from the sun's rays.) Although in this case, it is true - I think the question could be worded differently. – Nathan Osman Nov 25 '10 at 23:27
	I agree with @George Edison, and as such am voting this "not a good example". – lindes Dec 11 '10 at 20:58
	@George I think you are fussing too much on this. If the ozone isn't protecting us, then an Answer can state that, problem solved. – Tshepang Dec 13 '10 at 0:44

up vote 1 down vote

added by Wikis Jul 26 '10 at 7:31

closed as off topic by Nathan Osman, ianjorgensen, Conroy Whitney, Tim H, Brad Mace Oct 7 '10 at 3:44

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

This question is to show how an "every day thing" can still produce a difficult question. How can someone answer this? Is the question about fuel, steering, electrics, road use, traffic, ...? That is, I think some guidelines are necessary on asking questions - on specific they should be. – Wikis Jul 26 '10 at 7:32

Off-topic - too broad. – Nathan Osman Jul 26 '10 at 18:17

The answer will either have to be an essay, or overly simple. – Mild Fuzz Oct 17 '10 at 12:55

A good answer to this question would be a simple overview that named specific components (as Pavel Radzivilovsky suggested: engine, braking, steering systems, etc.). Each component would merit its own question: "how does a gas engine work?", "how does ABS work?", etc. I would hate to see the car question thrown out just because it contains too many sub-components. – e.James Nov 14 '10 at 18:18

Great on-topic example. Many of you are insisting one should just ask about the individual parts, but an explanation of the individual parts cannot replace an explanation of the whole. You can tell me how engines, steering, exhaust, drive shafts etc can work, but you can never tell me how a car works without some simple explanation linking the components together. There is nothing wrong with simple explanations if you can tell someone "I recommend you ask separately about the specifics of how engines, steering, exhaust etc works." – doppelgreener Dec 22 '10 at 11:07

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up vote 1 down vote

added by Pavel Radzivilovsky Aug 31 '10 at 10:49

closed as off topic by Refael Ackermann, Lacek, Brad Mace, Ryan Berger, NinjaSquirrel117 Nov 17 '10 at 1:00

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

up vote 1 down vote

added by Jeremy, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 19 '10 at 20:52

closed as off topic by Greg, firedfly, solomongaby, Regent, Nate Dec 20 '10 at 17:10

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

Stock markets are such fundamental instruments of economy I think they deserve a good explanation to those who understand their purpose but don't understand their operation. The term "stock market" hides a wonderfully complex system of commodities, futures and gilts trading, never mind the interconnected nature of markets and the rise and rise of microtrading... – Christopher Woods Dec 20 '10 at 23:35

up vote 0 down vote

added by gkrogers Oct 28 '10 at 13:00

closed as off topic by HoLyVieR, Nathan Osman, Greg, Kaji, lindes Dec 11 '10 at 20:58

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

	This is a good example of off-topic example since it's too localized. – HoLyVieR Nov 9 '10 at 4:03
	It would be a useless question if it were not localised, though – johnc Dec 12 '10 at 22:32
	Which of Stack Echange sites is this question suitable? – Tshepang Dec 13 '10 at 0:40

up vote 0 down vote

added by Chris Taylor Nov 20 '10 at 15:49

closed as off topic by Greg, NatFan9, Tshepang, PearsonArtPhoto, gingerbreadboy Dec 22 '10 at 15:41

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

This would be more fitting for a financial Q/A. – Greg Nov 22 '10 at 1:27

up vote 0 down vote

added by NatFan9 Nov 26 '10 at 19:32

closed as off topic by gkrogers, Dean, Kaji, ianjorgensen, Marek Grzenkowicz Dec 22 '10 at 7:25

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

up vote 0 down vote

added by Jumhyn Dec 13 '10 at 9:12

closed as off topic by Lukas, PearsonArtPhoto, Doc Walker, nocley, cbrandolino Dec 22 '10 at 21:39

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

up vote -1 down vote

added by Conroy Whitney Aug 24 '10 at 5:36

closed as off topic by In the Booley House, deceze, Barthelemy, Stewbob, johnc Oct 24 '10 at 21:18

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

Too general. Different organisms reproduce is different ways. Also some non-organisms (like viruses, and prions) reproduce, in even more different ways. – Refael Ackermann Aug 31 '10 at 13:01

up vote -1 down vote

added by Pavel Radzivilovsky Aug 31 '10 at 10:55

closed as off topic by Refael Ackermann, Tim H, Lacek, HoLyVieR, Ryan Berger Oct 20 '10 at 16:32

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

There's another question about how the sun produces light, which is more specific than this... what's the question here, exactly? How do they create light? How are they formed? What causes their apparent movement in the sky? I think this needs more detail to be an example, either up or down. – lindes Dec 11 '10 at 20:57

up vote -1 down vote

added by e.James Oct 14 '10 at 4:04

closed as off topic by Christian, milesmeow, Ryan Berger, Stewbob, RavenM Oct 26 '10 at 14:39

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

Too speculative. – Greg Nov 22 '10 at 1:26

Too ridiculous. – Nathan Osman Nov 25 '10 at 23:25

up vote -1 down vote

added by e.James Oct 14 '10 at 4:04

closed as off topic by Christian, Ryan Berger, Stewbob, deemar, johnc Oct 24 '10 at 21:18

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

I agree this should be off-topic. But the site description must be changed to make this known to users. "the principles of how things work" is too general and one can argue that this question is on topic based on this description. – Louis Rhys Dec 21 '10 at 9:51

up vote -1 down vote

added by Stewbob Oct 22 '10 at 19:26

closed as off topic by RavenM, The Josenator, Nathan Osman, Brent Warner, woodchips Nov 24 '10 at 23:14

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

	Not only that, but its too localized. – Nathan Osman Nov 16 '10 at 1:17
	And can be answered with one word, "Poorly!" – Greg Nov 22 '10 at 1:30

up vote -2 down vote

added by Conroy Whitney, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 19 '10 at 20:55

closed as off topic by deceze, Christian, johnc, SurDin, NinjaSquirrel117 Nov 17 '10 at 1:00

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

up vote -2 down vote

added by gkrogers Oct 28 '10 at 13:02

closed as off topic by The Josenator, Nathan Osman, woodchips, Dean, firedfly Dec 9 '10 at 15:00

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

Belongs on Apple SE. – Nathan Osman Nov 16 '10 at 1:17

Well, definitely belongs somewhere else... – gkrogers Nov 16 '10 at 6:45

up vote -6 down vote

added by Conroy Whitney Aug 24 '10 at 5:35

closed as off topic by Refael Ackermann, deceze, Christian, HoLyVieR, Brad Mace Oct 15 '10 at 21:30

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

I've voted this question as "not a good example" because the premise that it does help save the environment is so strong in the question. That's not to say that I think it doesn't help, but... somehow, it just doesn't strike me as a good example question for how things work. Perhaps something like "What really happens to things that get recycled" would be better? – lindes Dec 11 '10 at 20:51