[wp-forums] The "moderator" hat

[it's EMG]

And without the whole, "I'm being brushed off," feeling?

On Thursday, April 24, 2014, it's EMG <its.emg at gmail.com> wrote:

> Related, I was wondering if there might be a way for us to help tag/prefix
> threads (is that what it's called?) with better tags.
>
> For example - and I have noticed this a lot - we will have people posting
> a question about images not showing up and it's posted in one of the
> general forums... And it turns out the issue is related to either a
> specific theme or plugin or both.
>
> If I can still help regardless of the specifity of the question, I will of
> course try, but what is frustrating is when I know a theme or plugin author
> could probably better help...
>
> But because the thread doesn't have a better label (eg: posted to the
> theme's own support area), it tends to be overlooked by the people who
> would best suited to help.
>
> I can't wave the person(s) over, so I've been tagging the threads using
> the tag-tags in hopes of adding specifity and just trying to help in
> general.  If applicable, I also link them to the better-suited section
> (like, plugin specific) and some similar threads... But it feels rather
> inadequate.
>
> Of course, it would help greatly if the people asking help would prefix
> their threads by themes or plugins etc but a lot of the times, they
> themselves don't realize it is a very specific issue likely isolated to
> their particular theme or plugin.
>
> In such a case, is there a better way to help these people get the help
> they need?
>
>
>
> On Thursday, April 24, 2014, andrew nevins <andrew.nevins.misc at gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','andrew.nevins.misc at gmail.com');>>
> wrote:
>
>> Sounds cool
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 7:10 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I think a per-thread "This affects me too" toggle (sort of like
>> > "favoriting" or "starring" a Plugin or Theme)  would put an end to the
>> "me
>> > too" replies, and would have the added benefit of providing a measure of
>> > weight of a given, reported problem.
>> >
>> >
>> > On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 2:04 PM, andrew nevins <
>> > andrew.nevins.misc at gmail.com
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> > > Can I ask, what happens when people don't create their own threads? Do
>> > you
>> > > let the OP know that it is fine if he/she can start a new thread? I
>> think
>> > > what we are trying to do in the majority of cases is to keep threads
>> on
>> > the
>> > > no-replies list, and by telling people that you do have to sacrifice
>> the
>> > > thread you're in to save other threads.
>> > >
>> > > It's not always clear when should moderators not moderate, and I know
>> > there
>> > > are not clear-cut guidelines for this, but I would definitely benefit
>> > from
>> > > being told what's not okay and when (before it gets to this stage on
>> the
>> > > mailing list).
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Also, while we're having this conversation, can we lighten up on the
>> > > whole
>> > > > "Please start your own thread" thing?
>> > > >
>> > > > Okay, yes, they should start a new thread. But seeing that exact
>> same
>> > > stock
>> > > > reply 8 times in the same thread isn't helping anybody.
>> > > >
>> > > > Let it go. Just ignore them and focus on providing help to the
>> original
>> > > > poster. Eventually, the person butting into your thread will either
>> go
>> > > away
>> > > > and start their own, or shut up, or maybe even help out. It's fine.
>> > > Ignore
>> > > > it.
>> > > >
>> > > > It's also not a great intro to the forums for somebody to make their
>> > > first
>> > > > post and invariably get told that they asked the question in the
>> wrong
>> > > > manner. They'll figure it out, we don't need to stock-reply
>> everybody
>> > to
>> > > > death.
>> > > >
>> > > > As moderators, let's focus on cutting out the spam and keeping
>> > > > general order, and helping as many people as possible. These are
>> > > > support forums, if you're making a post that isn't somehow providing
>> > > > support, you probably should not be making it.
>> > > >
>> > > > -Otto
>> > > > _______________________________________________
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>> > > >
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