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128 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

Just an observation; Walt was recently lauded for hitting the 100K mark here in terms of rep. Take note that 67% of his posts are in identify-this-movie and another I'm-not-really-sure-how-many are ...
82 votes
Accepted

Shall we ban identification questions?

No, we should not ban identification questions as off-topic! They do fit the Q&A format and should be allowed here. And the situation still can work well if we go by the current rule of closing ...
  • 118k
54 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

I think one option we could do is create a meta post detailing the avenues/resources that our experts would follow in order to identify movies and tv shows. This way we can at least point users to a ...
  • 33.4k
32 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

Identification questions is what introduced me to this site. It is also why I got addicted to it. It is really a shame to see it go away. Especially when there is no other site that provides such ...
  • 6,346
24 votes

Shall we ban identification questions?

Yes, we shall ban identification questions as off-topic! They are just not a good fit for this site and I see them as the bane of this site for all the reasons mentioned in the question, but ...
  • 58.4k
19 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

Not sure if this should be an "answer" or a comment, but I think that the tags should still show up in the selectable list when someone is asking a question with a warning of not to use the tags. If ...
  • 695
17 votes

Shall we ban identification questions?

I'm not here to there you what you should and shouldn't do, but rather share with you the perspectives of another SE site that dealt with a similar string of questions for over three years. What ...
  • 133
15 votes
Accepted

Why are identification questions not allowed here, but allowed on the Science Fiction & Fantasy site?

Science Fiction & Fantasy mod here, and also highish-rep Movies & TV user and meta contributor. A bit of both. The "decision makers" (active community members including moderators ...
  • 8,304
14 votes

Are questions requesting that pornographic films be identified on-topic here?

I don't think we should allow questions about pornographic movies here, for one simple reason: They don't meet the quality standards of content we discuss on this site. I think the same argument ...
  • 15.4k
13 votes
Accepted

Why `identify-this-movie` questions are always downvoted even if perfectly valid?

Well, you address a very interesting and important point in general here, even if the particular question with which you do so is a bit wrongly premised. But let's try to look at the whole thing with ...
  • 58.4k
13 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

It sounds like there is enough support for a Movie/TV Trivia SE. Seems odd to create what will essentially be a competing group, but other areas of SE have branched apart, so it's not unprecedented.
13 votes

How do we handle interactive films?

I think interactive films should be, in general, on-topic here. I would however narrowly define them, and limit them to something like: A full-motion video with an interactive element allowing the ...
  • 51.1k
13 votes
Accepted

Asking old or obscure TV and movie questions

Practically, there might not be too many people who have seen some obscure Armenian TV show from the 1930s...but noone in their right mind would tell you to just "not bother" asking your questions. ;-)...
  • 58.4k
12 votes

Are questions about viewing parties on topic?

As far as I'm aware, without the audience participation, the popularity of Rocky Horror Picture Show would be non-existent. There may still be a small audience who appreciates watching the film on its ...
  • 26.4k
12 votes

Do we allow character identification questions?

NO Identification questions have an understandably bad reputation here on Movies and TV for a good reason... It's incredibly hard to write a good one and incredibly easy to write a bad one. At best ...
  • 131k
11 votes
Accepted

Is "the Homestar Runner series of animated Flash web cartoons" on-topic?

Despite the linked actual question quality (and I think it deserves to be closed) the answer to this Meta question is... .. YES The first bullet point of our on-topic list is: Analysis of ...
  • 131k
11 votes
Accepted

Questions about coronavirus & film/tv production?

My interpretation of TV news, sports and current affairs being off topic, is that this means "TV news shows, sports shows and current affair shows" are off topic. I don't think that a ...
  • 51.1k
10 votes
Accepted

Are game shows on topic here?

We don't get many questions about them, but yes, game/quiz shows are on topic here.
  • 51.1k
10 votes

Are questions about a movie's source considered on-topic?

Asking if a movie is based on some pre-existing material and which works specifically seems to be a totally viable question. While the question touches upon (and ultimately asks for) external non-...
  • 58.4k
10 votes

Are legal questions on topic?

As you can see from the copyright tag, there are a number of questions about that subject. It is important to note that you should not seek, and should not trust, legal advice here - this is a ...
  • 51.1k
10 votes

Why an off-topic question would be put on hold and not closed?

It's the same thing, functionally. Questions are put on hold for the first couple of days, then the name changes to closed. The reason for this is to show that closure is not a permanent state. Users ...
  • 5,767
9 votes

Are we here to identify the random stuff that people use in films or TV shows?

I would go so far as to say that unless the item has some bearing on the plot, period accuracy, meaning (including symbolism, etc), character motivation and the like then these questions are off topic....
9 votes

Are questions about viewing parties on topic?

Reasons the OP thinks these questions don't fit the site: It has nothing to do with the film itself. False. Audience participation is the reason for the film’s success and longevity, and has ...
  • 11.7k
9 votes

Is it on topic to ask questions about the private life - movie character connection of actors?

That's a very borderline question. If it is phrased differently, like how did the characterization affect the actor, and in return how did that affect the show (cancellation, recasting, story changes, ...
  • 67.3k
9 votes
Accepted

Is this an appropriate site to ask about the plausibility of Avengers fan theories?

I'd say it's...difficult. It's not as if there's no value in properly analysing a fan theory for its plausibility, and I certainly wouldn't call that off-topic per se. It's very much about the film's ...
  • 58.4k
8 votes

Why `identify-this-movie` questions are always downvoted even if perfectly valid?

Your question was not downvoted by a troll (or I doubt it). There's very specific guidance on the "Ask a Question" page about what info should be included in an answer. It's possible that you missed ...
  • 26.4k
8 votes

Do we want practical questions about movie production?

It depends I agree that: This is for enthusiasts for finished movie and TV works. However, that should not mean that all practical production questions are categorically off-limits. Plenty of ...
  • 3,574
8 votes
Accepted

Should we move the canonical top-bar image identification question to the main site?

As requested, I'm posting this as a separate answer: I suppose the only way to handle it is to respond with a link to the Meta question in the comments. Because it's really not a main site question.
8 votes
Accepted

Is having watched the movie required to ask about it?

No, you can ask about a movie without having seen it. I speak from personal experience, since I haven't seen Star Wars. (Different site, but the principle should be the same.) But be careful what ...
  • 8,304
8 votes

We are discontinuing support for identification questions

Very dissatisfied with the disappearance of these questions, which I loved and kept coming back for. Would it have taken a coding wizard to send an actual email to everyone who ever interacted with ...
  • 3,701

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