This is an interesting example. Here’s a thread where “this is my setup…” is being asked. 60+ posts later the answer is “there’s no one rule, you have to learn it”.
The poster and everyone in that thread would have been better served had they asked “How do you deal with balanced cables?” given that’s the question we ended up answering, anyway.
The work slack is a very different dynamic, though. You’re literally being paid to do what needs. And any request is under the implicit threat of being fired if you refuse. So small talk and pleasantries can feel like wasting time or even disingenuous — I‘m doing this because I’m obligated, don’t pretend like we’re friends.
But social communities of casual participants are rarely so results-oriented. This is especially true of communities built around learning. There’s a certain amount of “If I knew enough to ask a specific question, I wouldn’t need to ask” baked in. Asking open questions is easier for someone learning.
And, perhaps more importantly, being able to read the wider range of responses solicited by open vs. closed questions is just better for the education of the community. If that’s what one’s going for (which I believe is the case with this new Bitwig forum).