user254: This topic on the main site, Studying and practicing Buddhism, which asks ...

What is the most important thing, truth, lesson, you have learned so far?
  And what would be the thing you most desire to learn?

... is a "polling question" as described in the Moderation policies for Questions ...


"Polling questions" which only ask "What's your experience?"
For example, this
  question was closed by
  yuttadhammo and it's a type of question which he regularly closes. The
  question asked this, after describing an experience,

Has anyone ever experienced anyone like this off or even on (!) the mat? It was most striking...

I gave the following comment as an explanation for closing this
  question:

I think a problem with a question that is phrased like, "Has anyone ever experienced anyone like this?" is that it could attract an
    unlimited number of people each answering "Yes, me!". Each new answer
    would be a bit new (different from previous answers) and as valid as
    any previous answer. There's no obvious way to select any best answer
    to that question, no way for any answer to finish answering or to
    provide a complete answer to the question. And it doesn't seem to
    describe any practical problem you have, so there's no way for anyone
    to help to answer/fix that problem.
Crab bucket's question is modified
    (a sufficiently different, on-topic version of the same question):
    it's different/better because in particular it identifies a problem to
    be solved, and it asks for advice (on how to deal with this problem).

The site's format and strategy is not designed for long discussions.
  Its strategy is to serve for Q+A (answering questions) now, and for
  previously answered questions to remain in a clean format which works
  well for reference (so that future readers who find the topic using a
  search engine can read simple Q+A).
If people wanted long unfocused discussions, an option would be to
  use of a 'Chat' room.


Is it nevertheless a good question?
Is it likely to help readers? Likely to harm the site?
Should we close the question, keep it open, wait to see whether the question is up- or down-voted, allow it (exceptionally) once?
I'm not sure what the historical reason is for closing "polling" questions on Stack Exchange, beyond a general feeling that "this isn't the kind of personal question that we ask here." Maybe it comes from the Help's What types of questions should I avoid asking? which includes,

To prevent your question from being flagged and possibly removed, avoid asking subjective questions where …

every answer is equally valid: “What’s your favorite ______?”



user-1: I think the question should be closed due to the already cited SE-policy, "What types of questions should I avoid asking?"

To prevent your question from being flagged and possibly removed, avoid asking subjective questions where …

Every answer is equally valid: “What’s your favorite ______?”


Such questions/topics are better suited for the Chat-rooms.

254: <p>This topic on the main site, <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/23629/254">Studying and practicing Buddhism</a>, which asks ...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What is the most important thing, truth, lesson, you have learned so far?<br>
  And what would be the thing you most desire to learn?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>... is a "polling question" as described in the <a href="https://buddhism.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1558/254">Moderation policies for Questions</a> ...</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol start="2">
  <li><p><strong>"Polling questions"</strong> which only ask "What's your experience?"</p>
  
  <p>For example, <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8763/254">this
  question</a> was closed by
  yuttadhammo and it's a type of question which he regularly closes. The
  question asked this, after describing an experience,</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Has anyone ever experienced anyone like this off or even on (!) the mat? It was most striking...</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I gave the following comment as an explanation for closing this
  question:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>I think a problem with a question that is phrased like, "Has anyone ever experienced anyone like this?" is that it could attract an
    unlimited number of people each answering "Yes, me!". Each new answer
    would be a bit new (different from previous answers) and as valid as
    any previous answer. There's no obvious way to select any best answer
    to that question, no way for any answer to finish answering or to
    provide a complete answer to the question. And it doesn't seem to
    describe any practical problem you have, so there's no way for anyone
    to help to answer/fix that problem.</p>
    
    <p><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8784/254">Crab bucket's question</a> is modified
    (a sufficiently different, on-topic version of the same question):
    it's different/better because in particular it identifies a problem to
    be solved, and it asks for advice (on how to deal with this problem).</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The site's format and strategy is not designed for long discussions.
  Its strategy is to serve for Q+A (answering questions) now, and for
  previously answered questions to remain in a clean format which works
  well for reference (so that future readers who find the topic using a
  search engine can read simple Q+A).</p>
  
  <p>If people wanted long unfocused discussions, an option would be to
  use of a 'Chat' room.</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>Is it nevertheless a good question?</p>

<p>Is it likely to help readers? Likely to harm the site?</p>

<p>Should we close the question, keep it open, wait to see whether the question is up- or down-voted, allow it (exceptionally) once?</p>

<p>I'm not sure what the historical reason is for closing "polling" questions on Stack Exchange, beyond a general feeling that "this isn't the kind of <strong>personal</strong> question that we ask here." Maybe it comes from the Help's <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask">What types of questions should I avoid asking?</a> which includes,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To prevent your question from being flagged and possibly removed, avoid asking subjective questions where …</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>every answer is equally valid: “What’s your favorite ______?”</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>
 -1: <p>I think the question should be <em>closed</em> due to the already cited SE-policy, <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask"><em>&quot;What types of questions should I avoid asking?&quot;</em></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>To prevent your question from being flagged and possibly removed, avoid asking subjective questions where …</p>
<ol>
<li>Every answer is equally valid: “What’s your favorite ______?”</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>Such questions/topics are better suited for the <a href="https://chat.stackexchange.com/?tab=site&amp;host=buddhism.stackexchange.com"><em>Chat-rooms</em></a>.</p>
