Here's the question that triggered my asking this: Why does Turanga Leela and her family put their surname first?
I've included other examples at the end of my post. In those, there are answers to the closed question that provide information not included in the other question - and information that the other question never asks for, nor needs.
The asker already knows the information in the duplicate question listed: namely, that "Turanga" is the character's surname, and that some cultures put the surname first and the given name last. He is asking if there is any authoritative information on why, specifically, her family does put the surname first. An answer to this would include an episode where the character's family talks about coming from an area of the world where this the norm, or possibly something in the commentary on an episode.
This isn't about the specifics of the question, though. It's about the rationale given for why it should be closed as a duplicate.
A high rep user (Valorum) states this:
The issue (which I've now pointed out twice) is that if such a canonical answer existed, it would also be applicable to the existing dupe, would get added there and again render this question invalid
If I'm reading this right, then this means:
- Question A deals with topic Q in a general fashion, and has some entirely satisfactory answers.
- Question B deals with the same (or a closely-related) topic, but has a more specific point not currently covered by any of the answers to Question A.
- Question A cannot be modified to include asking Question B without losing the point of Question A, and potentially invalidating existing answers.
- Question B should be closed as a duplicate, resulting in the text: This question already has an answer here: and a link to Question A, which doesn't have an answer to Question B.
I understand Valorum's point - that any answer to Question B would answer Question A as well. However, since no answer currently answers Question B, it doesn't seem right to close B yet.
If B gets an answer, then the two questions would be dupes. However, since Question B would have a more specific answer, I would think Question A is the one that should be closed. This can't be done now, because there's no answer to Question B. And, I can't see anyone who might know the answer to Question B going and posting it as an answer to Question A; the current answers are adequate for that question.
Changing Question A so it asks Question B as well wouldn't work here: Question B is built on the answer to A, and would make the current answers seem pointless or invalid; it would certainly change the OP's intent.
Adding a bounty to Question A doesn't seem like a great solution either; again, the current answers to Question A are adequate for Question A, just not for Question B.
Perhaps the best solution really is to close Question B in every case; however, this seems likely to prevent a true answer to Question B from ever seeing the light of day.
Nothing currently seems to invite people to add answers to Question B under Question A, which might resolve this (those see my second additional question below, where an answer to Question B could legitimately be deleted from Question A as "not an answer").
Is there another solution?
Other questions I've found closed as duplicates, where the specific question is not answered in the duplicate. Neither is quite the same, as answers to the closed questions directly would not necessarily answer the duplicate question.
What Star Wars canon works relate to the time period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens?: All current canon works are listed. By default this would include works set in the timeframe requested, but none of the current answers include which works are set in which time frames. This could be added to the existing answers - but there's nothing in the original question that demands that it be added. And, several of the works listed do not take place in the specified timeframe (In particular, at least four of the comics series: Kanan the Last Padawan, Lando, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca).
Game of Thrones' real world inspiration: At the point the other question was selected as the one this question was a duplicate of, one answer referred to something other than the Wars of the Roses as a real-world inspiration. The answer under under this question itself provided more info. (Since then, two other answers provide much more general info regarding other real-world inspirations).
Note that, in this case, an answer that the American Civil War (for example) was an inspiration for the series could legitimately be deleted as "not an answer" to the other question, but would definitely be an answer to the closed question.
Currently, Martha's answer covers my personal feelings on the specific question I originally raised. However, it doesn't necessarily address the question in general. I've made a suggestion.
