I'm aware from this previous question: Are questions about specific plot details on topic? that discussions on specific plot details in a movie are acceptable.
I also know from this highly useful post: Yes, that was a plot hole, and? that pointing out obvious plot holes is not acceptable (Although there is a highly upvoted dissenting opinion).
I've also read this post: Let's nuke [plot-inconsistency]! which suggested getting rid of all plot inconsistency tags (and it cited the second post I've included). The suggestions was that the tag was in fact useful.
As a fairly new user to the site, I do enjoy plot inconsistency questions. However, I do have to wonder how long they should be open for. For example, take this question: Where does the barrel come from in which Bombur jumps in The Hobbit: DoS?. It has 19 upvotes and has largely been agreed by everyone in the comments section to simply be indicative of a movie mistake, as opposed to something happened off screen that needed to be explained to the OP.
Part of me at this point wants to jump in and answer the question. But by saying what? I could claim it's a movie mistake, but I can't cite anything to demonstrate that (except other websites where people have reached same conclusion, but without evidence). So short of Peter Jackson himself coming here and accepting it's a mistake, the answer will simply be an statement that it is a plot hole without any citable evidence. But if that's all there is, should anyone be gaining reputation for it? Or should it instead be closed by a moderator after a certain period of time (or flagged up by other users on the site, similar to closing a post) if it becomes obvious that it is a movie mistake and nothing more - because otherwise, that particular question will stay open indefinitely.
Other posts which I feel are in similar vein are posts like these:
Where did they get all of the gum from?
Complaints about "Pati Sudharo Sansthan"?
I'm aware that the Unanswered count of the site will also raise if questions like these remain.
So my post can be summarised as follows:
Should there be an automatic time limit on all questions which are plot inconsistency, which users of the site, if they feel its appropriate, can vote to overturn?
Should there be an option for users to close these questions before the time limit and confirm there is simply a plot hole by voting, similar to how we currently vote to close a question?
If the above two are both rejected, should there be any reward in reputation for someone (like myself) who answers a question by simply saying "This appears to a plot hole".
plot-inconsistency
as an explicit tag andplot-explanation
's expansion onto those questions, does this question lose its premise or is it still relevant for those kinds of plot explanation questions that are conceptually about inconsistencies? (Though, in the latter case, the base for a purely technical solution would be lost with the explicit tag anyway.)