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The tag is used on questions relating to issues to do with USB ports on consoles, or peripherals such as headphones that use the USB standard.

However, unlike other hardware types, such as , / (which has its own problems which I wont get into), it doesn't specifically relate to a type of peripheral that could be used for gaming.

Also:

  • It isn't being followed (Not useful as a filter)
  • Every question under the tag can stand on its own without it. (It doesn't disambiguate the question)
  • It's a port & a format for transferring data & powering devices. The devices themselves are what we should be concerned about, not specifically.

So, I'm all for nuking it from orbit (its the only way to be sure), but it could also find a new life as a synonym of . Thoughts?

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  • 5
    Let's just kill all those tags
    – user9983
    Oct 17, 2013 at 4:44
  • 6
    @OrigamiRobot - graphics-card yes, mouse/keyboard meh, controllers no. controllers I think is a large enough field to deserve its own tag
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 17, 2013 at 4:51
  • 1
    I agree with @OrigamiRobot
    – shanodin
    Oct 17, 2013 at 4:52
  • @Robotnik A large field is not necessarily a reason for a tag. Genres are large fields but we don't have tags for them. A tag should represent an area of expertise. Think of it this way. How many people do you think subscribe to controllers?
    – user9983
    Oct 17, 2013 at 5:08
  • 3
    We allow questions about game specific hardware and utilities. It's right there on our about page. However we don't need a tag for every variation of a controller out there. Can you imagine? [logitech-gpro-920sx-gamepad], [revolution-sim-pro-joystick] etc. This is why the [controllers] tag exists. to logically group an area of expertise (troubleshooting controller & joystick issues) into one tag. Anyway that's another issue entirely, lets keep focused on the [usb] tag in this meta.
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 17, 2013 at 5:09
  • @OrigamiRobot - also, 10 people subbed and 232 questions. I checked beforehand when researching for [usb]
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 17, 2013 at 5:10
  • Saying it doesn't need a tag is in no way saying the questions shouldn't be allowed.
    – user9983
    Oct 17, 2013 at 5:10
  • 1
    @OrigamiRobot - Proving that they're allowed is a superset of 'they should be grouped together because...'. It seems we've had this discussion before, if you feel that strongly about it, make a meta. Also, here's the post where meta decided on [controllers] over a broader [peripherals] tag.
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 17, 2013 at 5:20
  • 2
    someone with a usb related problem might not think of the word "hardware", so maybe it could be a synonym
    – user41651
    Oct 17, 2013 at 12:54
  • how about stuff like [framerate]? (closely related)
    – 3ventic
    Oct 17, 2013 at 16:10
  • @3ventic I think that's getting rather far afield from the subject of this meta. (But, to answer, I believe framerate is a) a concern of especial interest to gamers and therefore b) an area of expertise game players have. Whether it needs a tag or not is debatable, but it's more likely to survive such a debate, I think.)
    – SevenSidedDie
    Oct 17, 2013 at 17:16
  • I am currently making a game where you have to shoot down bits of the USB Standard to stop hacks, so I suggest you keep it.
    – user57112
    Oct 28, 2013 at 5:45
  • @JohnDoeSanta - When you release your game, we can re-jig the tag description to match, and only use it for questions about the game. (A tag cannot exist without a question, so it will simply be created the first time someone has a question about your game)
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 28, 2013 at 5:51

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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It isn't an area of our expertise, and it doesn't usefully categorise anything. The exception is that it seems to categorise external USB storage (sticks, drives), but that's not a useful category of expertise here – if it's actually a meaningful tag on a question, that's probably a sign that the question belongs on SuperUser or elsewhere.

doesn't even have utility as a synonym, since none of its existing (and therefore, likely future) uses benefit from replacing it with something else like .

I'm convinced. Please enter your nuclear armament authorisation codes, Mr. President.

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  • An interesting game. The only winning move is... Not to play
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 17, 2013 at 20:31
  • Noone? wow that makes me feel old. youtube.com/watch?v=NHWjlCaIrQo
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 18, 2013 at 10:43
  • 1
    I swear, it's on my to-watch pile! I just don't get to see movies often.
    – SevenSidedDie
    Oct 18, 2013 at 14:52
  • 3
    @Robotnik I got it, I just didn't see the comment until just now. Also, you're not old compared to a lot of other site users. No-one in mid-20s gets to call themselves old.
    – shanodin
    Oct 18, 2013 at 17:24
  • It is done
    – Robotnik Mod
    Oct 21, 2013 at 23:06

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