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I've closed a question: Software that will print everybody related and unrelated -- what should I look for? that is a 'shopping list' question as it stands, although I think it stands a good chance of being improvable, if the OP responds with her real problem. I'm hoping this will make a good test of our capability to close-improve-reopen questions, so please don't pass over it on the assumption that it's closed so it's unsalvageable.

Edited to add: One reason I've taken this approach is that I've noticed that the community seems to have stopped casting 'close' votes. It's one of the important mechanisms for maintaining quality around here, so I'm curious why we're not using it.

Also edited to add the exchange of comments on the OP (which I've now deleted so as not to confuse the OP):

@ColeValleyGirl I'm curious about the closing of this question. Did you want to give the OP a chance to improve upon it first? – fbrereto

@fbrereto, I've closed it (as per my comment) to give the OP a chance to improve it with my and others help. As soon as it's not a 'shopping question' I'll re-open it. – ColeValleyGirl

@ColeValleyGirl While I understand that intent, there is a sense of finality to closing a question (especially to someone browsing the main page) that restricts the attention or editing that it may need to become a valuable question. I defer to the decision you have made, but am reserved about how closing the question will contribute to making it better. – fbrereto 53 mins ago

@fbrereto Shall we take this to chat or meta? – ColeValleyGirl

Edit again to add: After changes by lkessler (Thank you!), I've re-opened and tidied the comments up. Also made a suggestion to the OP that -- if the updated Q doesn't address her real problem -- she raise a second Q that focuses n what she's trying to do, not software selection.

I've closed a question: Software that will print everybody related and unrelated -- what should I look for? that is a 'shopping list' question as it stands, although I think it stands a good chance of being improvable, if the OP responds with her real problem. I'm hoping this will make a good test of our capability to close-improve-reopen questions, so please don't pass over it on the assumption that it's closed so it's unsalvageable.

Edited to add: One reason I've taken this approach is that I've noticed that the community seems to have stopped casting 'close' votes. It's one of the important mechanisms for maintaining quality around here, so I'm curious why we're not using it.

Also edited to add the exchange of comments on the OP (which I've now deleted so as not to confuse the OP):

@ColeValleyGirl I'm curious about the closing of this question. Did you want to give the OP a chance to improve upon it first? – fbrereto

@fbrereto, I've closed it (as per my comment) to give the OP a chance to improve it with my and others help. As soon as it's not a 'shopping question' I'll re-open it. – ColeValleyGirl

@ColeValleyGirl While I understand that intent, there is a sense of finality to closing a question (especially to someone browsing the main page) that restricts the attention or editing that it may need to become a valuable question. I defer to the decision you have made, but am reserved about how closing the question will contribute to making it better. – fbrereto 53 mins ago

@fbrereto Shall we take this to chat or meta? – ColeValleyGirl

Edit again to add: After changes by lkessler (Thank you!), I've re-opened and tidied the comments up. Also made a suggestion to the OP that -- if the updated Q doesn't address her real problem -- she raise a second Q that focuses n what she's trying to do, not software selection.

I've closed a question: Software that will print everybody related and unrelated -- what should I look for? that is a 'shopping list' question as it stands, although I think it stands a good chance of being improvable, if the OP responds with her real problem. I'm hoping this will make a good test of our capability to close-improve-reopen questions, so please don't pass over it on the assumption that it's closed so it's unsalvageable.

Edited to add: One reason I've taken this approach is that I've noticed that the community seems to have stopped casting 'close' votes. It's one of the important mechanisms for maintaining quality around here, so I'm curious why we're not using it.

Also edited to add the exchange of comments on the OP (which I've now deleted so as not to confuse the OP):

@ColeValleyGirl I'm curious about the closing of this question. Did you want to give the OP a chance to improve upon it first? – fbrereto

@fbrereto, I've closed it (as per my comment) to give the OP a chance to improve it with my and others help. As soon as it's not a 'shopping question' I'll re-open it. – ColeValleyGirl

@ColeValleyGirl While I understand that intent, there is a sense of finality to closing a question (especially to someone browsing the main page) that restricts the attention or editing that it may need to become a valuable question. I defer to the decision you have made, but am reserved about how closing the question will contribute to making it better. – fbrereto 53 mins ago

@fbrereto Shall we take this to chat or meta? – ColeValleyGirl

I've closed a question: Software that will print everybody related and unrelated -- what should I look for? that is a 'shopping list' question as it stands, although I think it stands a good chance of being improvable, if the OP responds with her real problem. I'm hoping this will make a good test of our capability to close-improve-reopen questions, so please don't pass over it on the assumption that it's closed so it's unsalvageable.

Edited to add: One reason I've taken this approach is that I've noticed that the community seems to have stopped casting 'close' votes. It's one of the important mechanisms for maintaining quality around here, so I'm curious why we're not using it.

Also edited to add the exchange of comments on the OP (which I've now deleted so as not to confuse the OP):

@ColeValleyGirl I'm curious about the closing of this question. Did you want to give the OP a chance to improve upon it first? – fbrereto

@fbrereto, I've closed it (as per my comment) to give the OP a chance to improve it with my and others help. As soon as it's not a 'shopping question' I'll re-open it. – ColeValleyGirl

@ColeValleyGirl While I understand that intent, there is a sense of finality to closing a question (especially to someone browsing the main page) that restricts the attention or editing that it may need to become a valuable question. I defer to the decision you have made, but am reserved about how closing the question will contribute to making it better. – fbrereto 53 mins ago

@fbrereto Shall we take this to chat or meta? – ColeValleyGirl

Edit again to add: After changes by lkessler (Thank you!), I've re-opened and tidied the comments up. Also made a suggestion to the OP that -- if the updated Q doesn't address her real problem -- she raise a second Q that focuses n what she's trying to do, not software selection.