Stack Overflow used to feel like a helpful library now it's like a locked vault

I remember back in 2013 when I was learning Python I could ask basic questions on Stack Overflow and people would actually explain things step by step. Fast forward to last month and I posted a simple question about a for loop bug and got hit with "duplicate" flags and downvotes within 5 minutes. The culture shifted hard around 2017 when the mods started cracking down on "low quality" posts. New users basically get punished for not knowing things which is wild for a site meant to teach beginners. Has anyone else noticed this shift or found a better place to ask rookie questions?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren_thomas1616d ago

That "locked vault" feeling is real since now even good answers get buried under close votes.

betty_park6216d ago

The quality bar being high is actually a good thing since it forces people to do basic research first. A locked vault keeps the valuable stuff safe from getting buried in junk.