<p>This issue arose with a <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/q/7778/919">question about gathering web page viewing statistics</a> which was closed by three high-rep users and a moderator.  There were legitimate reasons for voting to close (it was not well formulated), but it makes me wonder: </p>

<ul>
<li><p>Does this community consider questions about collecting data to be germane?</p></li>
<li><p>If such questions aren't welcome here, then where should they appear?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My own opinion is that designing data-collection activities as well as the practical and logistical details of collecting data are a traditional (and important) part of the statistical profession, so I am inclined to use a very light hand in moderating such questions, but I would like to know the sense of the community.</p>
