In the context of *http://communitybuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/1054/is-there-a-pan-community-reputation-service*, related to this meta question: *http://meta.communitybuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/7/should-this-site-cater-to-those-trying-to-build-community-platforms*

The question listed above I closed a few days ago as *off topic* because of the technology element. We have always discouraged technology based questions. I will admit that this question does seem a bit different than all of the other questions closed for technology reasons, but I still am not sure how this isn't primarily technology based? Am I taking the verdict of "no technology" the wrong way? At the end of the day, it's asking for a platform to link two communities.

Even if we did deem this on topic, should we allow these "shopping questions?" Other SE sites have mixed opinions views on them; it works well for some and not well for others. When will a shopping question be too technology based?