<p>These are all on-topic and already included in our FAQ.  We decided this a long time ago: <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/16/is-machine-learning-a-part-of-statistical-analysis">Is machine learning a part of statistical analysis?</a>.  It is one of the most popular tags on the main site: <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/machine-learning">https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/machine-learning</a>.  Plus three of the four moderators have already said the same in comments on the machine learning proposal.</p>

<p>Our community will really benefit from this merger, and I believe that they will also benefit from the strength of the existing community here.  </p>

<p>In order to entice that community further, I would be quite happy for @hadronzoo (the creator of that proposal) to take over my role as moderator (or to become a 5th moderator).  <a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/users/3992/hadronzoo">http://area51.stackexchange.com/users/3992/hadronzoo</a></p>
