The last new off-topic reason here was added on January 14, 2014 - one year ago today. So now is a good time to review how these have been used over the past year, and consider if changes are necessary. I pulled together some basic information to further this discussion:
Off-topic reasons
Active OT reason excerpt Created By Created Approved Deactivated
------ ------------------------------ ---------- --------- --------- -----------
* it requires step-by-step instr iKlsR 12/8/2013 1/14/2014 null
* is too localized in its curren Gwenn 7/8/2013 7/8/2013 null
* it is a bug report and not an iKlsR 6/26/2013 6/26/2013 null
does not appear to be about Bl Community 6/24/2013 null null
belongs on another site in the Community 6/24/2013 null null
Other (add a comment explainin Community 6/24/2013 null null
(6 row(s) affected)
Outcome of questions closed, by close reason
Name Closed Closed->Edited Closed->Reopened Cl->Ed->Re
------------------------------------------ ---------- -------------- ---------------- ----------
duplicate 471 68 29 17
off-topic 4 1 3 1
off-topic - Other (add a comment explainin 112 13 8 2
off-topic - it is a bug report and not an 156 11 6 1
off-topic - it requires step-by-step instr 64 14 6 3
off-topic - belongs on another site in the 7 0 0 0
off-topic - is too localized in its curren 109 13 12 3
primarily opinion-based 26 5 2 1
too broad 61 15 9 7
unclear what you're asking 215 49 28 21
(10 row(s) affected)
Outcome of questions closed, by close reason, percentages
% of Closed Name Closed->Edited Closed->Reopened Cl->Ed->Re
----------- ------------------------------------------ -------------- ---------------- ----------
38.4% duplicate 14.4% 6.2% 25.0%
0.3% off-topic 25.0% 75.0% 100.0%
9.1% off-topic - Other (add a comment explainin 11.6% 7.1% 15.4%
12.7% off-topic - it is a bug report and not an 7.1% 3.8% 9.1%
5.2% off-topic - it requires step-by-step instr 21.9% 9.4% 21.4%
0.6% off-topic - belongs on another site in the 0.0% 0.0%
8.9% off-topic - is too localized in its curren 11.9% 11.0% 23.1%
2.1% primarily opinion-based 19.2% 7.7% 20.0%
5.0% too broad 24.6% 14.8% 46.7%
17.6% unclear what you're asking 22.8% 13.0% 42.9%
(10 row(s) affected)
(Note that the last column is the % of closed questions edited that were then reopened - if it isn't significantly higher than the second-to-last column, something is badly wrong)
"Other" values used by multiple people when closing questions
Questions Custom OT Reason (other)
--------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 it is not about blender.
6 it asks about adding features not yet in Blender. These should instead be posted on the [requests section of the blender wiki](http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Requests) or in the [bf-functionality mailing list](http://lists.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/bf-funboard).
4 it is about Blender C/C++ source code.
These questions are considered outside the scope of this StackExchange as [defined in the help center](http://blender.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic). Development questions should be asked of the developers directly instead, see the [contacting developers page of the blender wiki](http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Doc/Contact).
6 it is not about Blender.
2 This question belongs on another site in the Stack Exchange network: Video Production
5 it is a feature request.
1 This was a feature request plain and simple. I should not have posted it here.
1 it seems to be about hardware manufacturing.
1 it isn't about Blender.
1 it is not about using blender.
1 it is not about blender. Possibly moved to graphic design.
1 it is not about Blender usage itself. You should post to the Blender forum here : http://blenderartists.org/forum/
1 it is about unity, and not blender.
1 it is about Unity and FBX, not blender
1 it is about Ubuntu rather than Blender. It could be any application that you would like to manually install.
1 it is about software other than Blender.
1 it is about python module / package organization and nothing blender-specific.
1 it is about pure Python.
1 it is about operating system configuration and driver setup, which is not fit for this StackExchange. Try asking on [Unix & Linux](http://unix.stackexchange.com/) or [Super User](http://superuser.com/).
1 it is about licensing. See https://blender.meta.stackexchange.com/q/422/599
1 it is about legal/licensing issues.
1 it is about legal advice, which is "banned" because of issues it can cause. see:http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/25363/is-there-a-stack-exchange-site-for-law-questions-if-not-why-not
1 it is about installing missing dependencies.
1 it is about hardware issues/a bug.
1 it is about GPL license conditions. Better ask a lawyer for a profound answer.
1 it is about general file I/O in Python, not Blender.
1 it is about general 3D business, not about creating things inside blender.
1 it is about extracting tar files in linux, not blender.
1 it is about DirectX, not Blender.
1 it is about compiling blender. See https://blender.meta.stackexchange.com/q/399/599
1 it is about compiling Blender
1 it is about building Blender.
1 it is about an OS/environment issue which doesn't relate to blender directly.
1 it is about an issue in Unity.
1 it is about an error with a three.js script.
1 it is about adding normal maps in Unity.
1 it is about a survey
1 it is about a kitchen implement, not the software package.
1 it is about a hardware/driver configuration issue.
1 it is about a feature request
1 it is about a 3rd party addon. Please report to Three.js bug tracker: https://github.com/mrdoob/three.js/issues
1 it is about a 3rd party addon. Please refer to Three.js bug tracker: https://github.com/mrdoob/three.js/issues
1 it is about .net
1 it is a job offer and to a question.
1 it is about operating systems and not in scope.
1 it belongs to Blender Meta Stack Exchange
1 isn't about Blender.
1 duplicate of http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/13655/how-to-render-texture-image-with-object-in-opengl-es
1 Described behavior couldn't confirmed, see [T39798](https://developer.blender.org/T39798).
1 Closed because unicorns...
it is not a real question. It was a Apirl first joke, and there is no unicorn primitive operator in blender.
1 it should be on another SE:
Video Production
1 it is too long for this format for a scripting question.
1 it is not about blender.. Anyway, [he's using licecap](http://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/8888?m=14935365#14935365) :)
1 it is not about blender specifically.
1 it is not about blender
1 it is mostly about linux, not blender
1 it is about unity, and the settings in unity.
1 it is about the Three.js addon, which is not developed by Blender coders.
1 it is about Autocad.
1 it is way too general
1 it is very low quality and a duplicate of http://blender.stackexchange.com/q/23199
1 it is not specifically related to blender, rather a compiler issue.
1 it is not about blender as defined in the [help center](http://blender.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic)
1 it is in French, not English, and seems to be about an installation problem which is off topic.
1 it is does not pertain to blender.
1 it is asking for a model and not about blender
1 it is about non-blender issue.
1 it is about hardware problems and should be asked on the blender artists forum or the ubuntu stack exchange site.
1 it is about DVD mastering try http://video.stackexchange.com/
1 it is about downloading a specific model, not about using blender.
1 it is about compiling blender.
1 it is about building blender.
1 it is about Adobe Premier Pro.
1 it is about a community project.
1 it is about a community addon.
2 it is a localized technical question.
1 it is a known issue and will be fixed in the new manual.
1 This question appears to be off-topic as it does not fit into the site's scope as defined in the [help center](http://blender.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic).
1 Hardware question, this belong at blenderartists.org
1 doesn't appear to be about Blender
1 Welcome to the site :) it is about the operating system, hardware, performance, or compatibility. These questions are considered off-topic because there is often no definitive answer, so they tend to require too much discussion to be suitable for Q&A format. Try asking on [BlenderArtists](http://blenderartists.org/forum/forum.php) for support instead.
1 This questions appears to be off-topic because it is about the operating system, hardware, performance, or compatibility. These questions are considered off-topic because there is often no definitive answer, so they tend to require too much discussion to be suitable for Q&A format. Try asking on [BlenderArtists](http://blenderartists.org) for support instead.
1 This question is old and low-quality
1 it resembles a feature request.
1 it is outside the scope of this site as defined in the [help center](http://blender.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic).
1 it is not about it's a limitation of current Operating Systems.
1 it is does not appear to be an issue with Blender.
1 it is asking others to write their code.
1 it is asking multiple separate questions, which should be asked individually.
1 it is asking if a website exists and not about blender.
1 it is an incorrect use of the tool, not an issue with the tool itself.
1 it is about video editing procedures and not Blender.
1 it is about using git, which is not specifically about blender.
1 it is about the mathematics and timing of rendering in general, not specifically Blender.
1 it is about something other than the blender software or python for blender.
1 it is about php, and not about blender.
1 it is about outside of the scope of the site. It should be asked on StackOverflow instead.
1 it is about licensing, see: https://blender.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/422/are-licensing-questions-off-topic/423#423 and http://www.blender.org/about/license/
1 it is about hardware.
1 it is about general game engine terminology and technology. This may be better suited to a Stack Exchange like http://gamedev.stackexchange.com
1 it is about downloading someone else's blend file instead of a question related to the functionality of Blender.
1 it is about developing blender, not about using it.
1 it is about compiling Blender.
1 it is about an issue relate to specific hardware/driver/configuration of the operating system unrelated blender...
1 it is about acquiring resources and not about Blender.
1 it is about a problem in second life.
1 it is a tutorial request.
1 it is a request for help on a project. The 'Volounteer work' forum on blender artists is a better place for this: http://blenderartists.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?53-Volunteer-Work
1 This post appears to be off-topic because it is not a question
1 Source code questions
==
it is about Blender C/C++ source code.
These questions are considered outside the scope of this StackExchange as [defined in the help center](http://blender.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic). Development questions should be asked of the developers directly instead, see the [contacting developers page of the blender wiki](http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Doc/Contact).
1 It's about the operating system and should be migrated to [http://askubuntu.com/](http://askubuntu.com/).
(111 row(s) affected)
My thoughts
The "too localized" reason suffers from poor guidance. The asker is instructed to "broaden the scope" and given a link to... the default How To Ask page, which has about one sentence relevant to this. The stats reflect this: questions closed as OT->Too Localized are rarely edited and even more rarely reopened.
The tutorial reason suffers from trying to cram too much into one reason. Is the question too specific? Too broad? Both? Unclear which? A duplicate? The actual guidance linked to on meta is pretty good, clarifying that the real meaning of this reason is roughly the same as "Too Broad" - but this calls into question whether this reason is needed at all. Note that the Too Broad reason is used almost as much as this OT reason, while the proportion of questions edited and reopened are noticeably better.
Bug reports and "OT->Other" questions are almost never reopened, which is fine considering most of them are likely questions that cannot exist here in any form.
My recommendations
Better guidance for "too localized". If, as the reason currently suggests, the goal is to motivate askers to break out their problem into something that can potentially be re-used, then offer some instructions for that. Stack Overflow has MCVE, TeX has MWE, you need... Something to succinctly express what your expectations are here.
Get rid of the tutorial/"step-by-step" reason. Too Broad means the same thing, is more effective, and one less click.
Go through the 100 or so "Other" reasons listed above & see if you can identify a common problem that could save a bit of effort for closers if it was written up as a site-specific OT reason.
Thoughts?
not about blender), are 1.Feature request2.legal/licensing3.Source code. (These results were gotten mostly from just looking, no real scientific analysis..) Perhaps a close reason could be made which covers both 1 and 3? $\endgroup$