[wp-forums] Outstanding Forum Problems

[Scott Merrill]

Kaf Oseo wrote:
> Podz wrote:
>> The argument that "it helps users get help" can be easily countered with
>> "install a forum".
> 
> It's valid to demand plugin developers shoulder some responsibility
> by providing forums or other tools of support is valid (free support
> for free plugins...tiring!), but users are and will continue to come
> to the forums for help, and often only find it there.

Consider the other side of the coin, though: wp-plugins.org provides 
free hosting for plugins, specifically relieving some of the 
infrastructure burden from the plugin developer.

Consolidating support in a single forum also helps people know where to 
look.  If every plugin author hosted their own forum, it might be a real 
challenge to discover specific plugin incompatibilities.

Personally, I try to resolve all my support issues in my own comments 
and by direct email.  There are a few times, though, when I do send 
people straight to the forums, because they need more general help with 
something outside my expertise (like CSS styling for gravatars, for 
example: if the plugin works, but doesn't look the way you want, I'm not 
going to help).

-- 
skippy at skippy.net | http://skippy.net/

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