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This question is about IPv9, asking specifically if there is a history for the famous April Fool's joke and the Chinese adoption story. It was closed as off topic in a surprisingly short time by a number of users and no one actually had the politeness to take a little time to comment why they downvoted or voted to close.. I really think the community negative interaction is a very good indication of the bad quality of the question, however, I thought it may be more appropriate to close as not constructive or something of the like. Why it was considered off topic? I've read through the FAQ and reviewed some meta question but I really don't get why a question asking about a network protocol history is considered off topic here? What exactly makes it off topic? Isn't not constructive more appropriate? (actually I was ready for the not constructive with all my arguments!)...

EDIT: I think the question was moderated out of the site.. Thank you all for your interaction...

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    If you are ready for not constructive, then make your argument here. Please tell us why this is a good question that will result in useful information. Tell us why this is a question for professional system administrators to answer. (We are not usually protocol designers, that is often developers). Tell us why this is practical and answerable, and about a problem you face. I will easily agree, that maybe another close reason may have been better choice, but I do not agree that this is a useful question for this site.
    – Zoredache
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:33
  • I'm trying to update the question but it fails.. moments...
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 1:03
  • If you've read meta then you should be aware that we're well and truly fed up with people thinking that we have an obligation to explain down or close votes. We have no such obligation, either morally or due to site rules.
    – John Gardeniers
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 2:06
  • I'm voting to close this. It's not a real question. The OP is just arguing the absurd.
    – John Gardeniers
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 2:10

2 Answers 2

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"What is the history of IPv4" would be equally off-topic here because its not related to a practical technical problem you'd be facing as an IT professional. This is a good example of the sort of thing that might get some takers for a discussion in chat but which simply isn't going to ever be a good on-topic question for the main site.

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Because questions are meant to be based on real problems. This is not a real problem at all, it was a joke and a mistake.

There's nothing to be solved here. The same should apply to "why no ipv5".

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    Actually I think both IPv5 and IPv9 are valid questions here.. It is on the topic of the site obviously, it deals with the history of a well known network protocol.. Your argument stands if you were talking about not constructive, although I can argue more there.. But isin't that on topic anyway??
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:05
  • @amyassin - so, wait, your problem is the reason that was selected when the question was closed..?! If it had been closed as "Not Constructive" you wouldn't mind?
    – Mark Henderson Mod
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:17
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    @amyassin - also, questions about IPv5 are not really on-topic. What problem is there that needs fixing? It would go like this: "Why do we use IPv6 instead of IPv5" Answer: "Does it matter?" - there's no technical problem to be solved. It's not within the realm of the site.
    – Mark Henderson Mod
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:19
  • No, if it was Not constructive I would say something too.. I'm trying to get there...
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:21
  • So asking anything about history of a protocol or anything not used is off topic on serverfault?? I think that should be clear in the FAQ.. Per the FAQ, my question is On topic; it is about network routing, the history of the most popular network routing protocol..
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:24
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    @amyassin: Right under the section "What kind of questions should I not ask here?": You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. It's even highlighted.
    – user62491
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:29
  • @kce I actually saw it seconds before you post, and deleted my comment accordingly.. You are right, but still, it is answerable, and it is a problem of understanding.
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 0:30
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    @amyassin I'm not sure what part of this is not getting through to you, so I'll offer you an out: Rewrite your question to clarify exactly what technical problem you, as an IT professional, currently face and I'll give it honest consideration for reopening. Note that intellectual curiosity, while admirable, is not enough to make a question on-topic for Server Fault -- that is the purview of a research librarian, or Google.
    – voretaq7 Mod
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 4:13
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    You are right, but still, it is answerable, and it is a problem of understanding. yes - your understanding of what is and is not on topic. "What is the history of IPv4" would be equally off-topic here because its not related to a practical technical problem you'd be facing as an IT professional. This is a good example of the sort of thing that might get some takers for a discussion in chat but which simply isn't going to ever be a good on-topic question for the main site.
    – Rob Moir
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 9:24
  • Thank you @RobM, that actually answered my question.. If you would form it as an answer, I would accept it..
    – amyassin
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 14:10

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