I also had the issue of questions being closed on the English Language and Usage version of StackOverflow at the whim of the moderators. What was infuriating was that the moderators were supposedly speaking on behalf of what other user might find (or not find) interesting, but the other users themselves got no opportunity to respond before the question was closed. So I stopped using, or even visiting, the site.

As for programming, I still find SO a wealth of information when I go looking for (e.g.) Python questions. And plenty of the discussion is collegial, even during disagreements. But the points listed in the article suggest that the site is gradually losing its cred, if that’s measured by whether knowledgeable people want to visit or contribute.

When Joel and Jeff created the site, they were trying to solve the problems that had plagued every other online community. Will their great site ultimately fail to do that? That would be a shame.