Answered/unansered sign for threads...

[Cobra]

I often feel bad about replying to threads that have gone a while without any answers, and only asking for more information so that I might be able to work it out and help. I do wonder how much of an impact that one reply will have on the number of times people who might know a lot more than I do would click through on it.

Would it be possible to make a signal that sits by all on-topic threads that is "Unanswered" by default and can be changed to read "Answered" or "Resolved" once the person who asked the question feels they have reached a solution?

This might help us to cover questions more effectively on these forums, and help new users feel more confident that their question will be answered. It might even reduce the temptation to cross-post a bit.

How would everyone feel about this sort of system?

Cobra

[daamon]

Sounds good in principal.

How do you propose the change to "Answered" or "Resolved" be achieved?

You're either relying on the OP to bother to be helpful themselves and change the flag, or you're gonna have a significant increase in the work for the Admin / Mods.

[thecoalman]

There's a mod for that that specifically adds a (solved) to the topic title. There's alos another mod that adds additional icons next to the post icons, not sure if that has one specifically for solved or unsolved......

Biggest trouble with thatidea is that 90% of the people that post rarely even say whether or not it worked let alone are they going to go through the trouble of changing the title to solved........

[daamon]

You're either relying on the OP to bother to be helpful themselves and change the flag.

Biggest trouble with thatidea is that 90% of the people that post rarely even say whether or not it worked let alone are they going to go through the trouble of changing the title to solved........

Ban them if they don't! Get hardline on them - zero tolerance!

Seriously though, it'd be nice if people would play along - maybe it's a case of institute it and people lead by example and, hopefully, it'll catch on. Regular devotees and / or mods could provide gentle reminders too.

I vote for implementing it, and actively promoting compliance. Not everyone will do it, but even if a few do it'll be of use.

[Cobra]

Maybe it could time out and switch from "Unanswered" to "Unknown" after a week from the last post should the original poster not take the time to switch it over.

[abc-123]

Here's an idea that just occurred to me 30 seconds ago so I haven't really thought it out....

You know how when you add smilies to a post it inserts code? Well what if Baldrick added 2 new smilies, one that says solved and one that says abandoned. That way anyone who stumbles across a finished thread could use it (most likely a veteran member) to put in a closing post. (Maybe the smilies could be invisible so only a select few could access them?)

Anyway, this smiley would not produce a picture, but just insert a really long password instead. For example: A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8I9J10. It could even be in text characters not found on keyboard. Just something that even by accident nobody would ever type or have generated by some kind of error message from their encoding software.

Then a mod could be implemented where the icon next to the thread on the forum would change color or picture or something. Like you know how boards have the dancing icon when it's a "hot topic"? Once there is over a certain amount of posts the icon changes (not on this board I don't think, but it's the same principal). Anyway, what if that code could be modified to pick up any post containing the password A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8I9J10 and automatically change the icon of the thread? Like this:

Abandoned


Resolved


Whaddaya think?
(If you don't like the pictures suggest something else and I'll make it.)

EDIT: Thought about it some more and changed the icons.

[thecoalman]

That way anyone who stumbles across a finished thread could use it (most likely a veteran member) to put in a closing post.

.

Now that's a pretty good idea and should be easily implemented in phpbb. You wouldn't nedd passwords and such, the availability of being able to mark the thread as solved could be based on the amount of posts you have made.

[daamon]

Now that's a pretty good idea and should be easily implemented in phpbb. You wouldn't nedd passwords and such, the availability of being able to mark the thread as solved could be based on the amount of posts you have made.

I agree, but I can see a problematic flaw with basing it (automatically) on the number of posts an individual has - what if most of them are in OT and individuals have a high post count but haven't contributed a proportionate amount to the "video" part of the forum?

Maybe regulars could volunteer / be approached and receive the ability to mark posts based on the final nod from the Mods / Baldrick? I believe that there are a sufficient number of trustworthy and reliable regulars who could assist in this role.

[abc-123]

Thank you, but I don't believe in giving anyone special powers over anyone else. The ability to close out a thread should not have anything to do with post count. It should be accesible to everyone, just not explained anywhere so the newbs don't know how to use it or what it means.
And if they do figure out how to use it, that's even better if they co-operate, don't you think?

I see lots of posts I don't have the skill to help with, but this is something I can do when I run across finished threads. Look at my post count though.... and I'm not exactly a newb, I've lurked forever.


EDIT: On second thought, maybe it could be explained somewhere, to let people know how long to wait before marking a thread abandoned. Like maybe if the op hasn't come back in two weeks? That way everyone would mark the same and not some too soon or some too late?

Ok, maybe a third code is needed for those who return, so they can change the status back. The phpbb mod would then have to recognize the most recent code posted by timestamp.

[daamon]

Thank you, but I don't believe in giving anyone special powers over anyone else. The ability to close out a thread should not have anything to do with post count. It should be accesible to everyone, just not explained anywhere so the newbs don't know how to use it or what it means.

I think you may have misread my post - I wasn't suggesting those with a high post count get the ability, but instead that regulars recognised by the Mods / Admin do.

Whatever it ends up being, if at all, it needs to be simple and, as you say, following laid down guidelines so all posts are treated the same way.

[thecoalman]

Thank you, but I don't believe in giving anyone special powers over anyone else. The ability to close out a thread should not have anything to do with post count. It should be accesible to everyone, .

Can't do that, wouldn't take long for someone to figure it out. Suppose someone gets banned, they could easily create a new account, from another IP if necessary, and completely screw the system.

[abc-123]

They can do that now. Just come back and start flaming or giving bad advice. They just get rebanned. If a person goes around closing out too many false threads, I'm sure others would spot it.

Say you have a newb that posts a question.

Next poster is a banned troublemaker back to mess things up and posts the smiley ABC which makes the thread look SOLVED.

The original poster comes back and asks why nobody has answered him. This will turn the checkmark red. The newb can then also post the smiley XYZ that will change the thread back to normal.

----

Say a newb asks a question and then splits for a while.

Someone comes by and posts the smiley 123 which makes the thread abandoned.

Newb comes back after a while and posts XYZ to change the thread back.

---

Ultimately, the system relies on a certain amount of self moderation, with the mods handling the troublemakers, but that's sort of how we do it now. There will always be the curious bored pro's that will look at new posts just for something to do so they'll end up catching some of the mistakes.

Plus, the newbs (OP's) first question will be why did my thread icon change? This might even make the system popular.

But like I said, it's just an idea. Has a 50/50 chance of actually working.

EDIT: changed the word closed to solved. That's what I meant but just mispoke.

[thecoalman]

They can do that now. Just come back and start flaming or giving bad advice. They just get rebanned. If a person goes around closing out too many false threads, I'm sure others would spot it.

It would get spotted but how long? Someone with a fast connection could literally do that to every post made, if they were persistent and had a little knowledge they could even make a script to do it.

It would be too vulnerable to abuse if it was avaialble to anyone. If Baldrick implemented something like that it would have to be available to the OP, Mod or possibly some of the regular posters.

[abc-123]

It would get spotted but how long? Someone with a fast connection could literally do that to every post made, if they were persistent and had a little knowledge they could even make a script to do it.

Possible, but not probable.

EDIT: Afterthought: Wouldn't it get spotted right away if all the top threads in a forum were a checkmark and timestamped relatively closely, all by the same last poster? Then you could sort them by date and ANYBODY could go around and fix them. (end edit)


I just hate the idea of a bunch of new minimods to have to deal with. There are enough overinflated egos around here already. (Present company excluded, of course.)

Besides... this is strictly for the comfort of the regulars. They do a pretty good job of keeping things in check. And if the system does go to pot, Baldrick can always just reverse it. It's not like any thread is getting locked, we're only talking about changing an icon for Pete's sake.

[lordsmurf]

A lot of this sounds nice in theory, but a pain in the butt in application. Failure to follow-up is just a general problem of life, and translates onto Internet forums.

While it could be better, I don't see this as a major issue. Not to mention one person's fix may not be the fix for somebody else anyway.