Add a solved option to the threads

[hortstu]

At another one of my favorite forums, ubuntuforums.org, you have the option of marking your own thread solved if someone helps you solve your problem. Let me tell you, when you're searching for an answer to a problem and 20 threads pop up but only 2 or 3 are marked solve it's an easy decision to decide which ones to open first. "SOLVED" shows up in the title of the thread forever after that.

Unfortunately not everyone takes advantage of this feature but I'm sure moderators can pick up the slack when they see a thread clearly solved, or other members could suggest that a thread be marked solved.

 

[NightAngel79]

If i'm not mistaken the OP has the option to edit thread title. Or any can request a mod/guide to edit title for them. Will say that if this option was well know that MAYBE more people would take advantage of it

 

[Xyro]

No, normal members don't have the option to edit their thread titles.

 

[NightAngel79]

hmmm, could of sworn i saw where a OP comment that they had changed the threads title before.... no first hand knowledge though.

Either way, easiest (imo) would be for ANYONE who see's a thread that has obviously been 'solved' to pm a mod/guide and ask that the title name be updated.

 

[Xyro]

Just report it, it's faster

But yeah, as far as I'm aware, normal members can only edit the title of their first post, but not the actual thread.

 

[NightAngel79]

That makes sense. Also i was hesitant to suggest using the report for something like that, (god knows I use it all the time, lol). Will suggest that from now on.
Thanks Xryo

 

[Xyro]

Unless it's something private/only one mod could deal with, a report is almost always better than a PM. That way every mod has access and you get a response quicker. We'd rather have you reporting too much than too little

But whether or not we could handle an entire forum's worth of [SOLVED]s is another question...

 

[NightAngel79]

Unless it's something private/only one mod could deal with, a report is almost always better than a PM. That way every mod has access and you get a response quicker. We'd rather have you reporting too much than too little

But whether or not we could handle an entire forum's worth of [SOLVED]s is another question...

Well you know that now that you have opened that can of worms that is exactly what you will get

 

[Xyro]

Well you know that now that you have opened that can of worms that is exactly what you will get

I had to drop that last disclaimer in there

I'm sure we'd end up recruiting the guides too if this ever became policy, so you'd be dealing with them too

 

[NightAngel79]

I had to drop that last disclaimer in there

I'm sure we'd end up recruiting the guides too if this ever became policy, so you'd be dealing with them too

Well i never!!
LOL

 

[hortstu]

Well if you'll take a look at the forum I'm talking about...

Ubuntu Forums
this is a list of my threads, the first two are marked solved.

[SOLVED] how do i make use of a tar.gz file? - Ubuntu Forums
Here's one I marked solved. In the thread tools menu at the top of every thread you have a 4th option, "mark this thread as solved."

Seems to take a bit of the burden off the mods for future threads and I don't think it would be abused if only mods, guides, and OPs could mark a thread solved. I imagine since these are both v-bulletin boards it isn't a difficult thing to change? Maybe I'm wrong about that.

I know when I discovered the feature I went through all my old posts and marked the solved ones as such. I'm sure some here would be willing to do the same thing.

 

[hortstu]

Oh yeah I forgot another option. When you search you can choose to search only threads marked solved. Pretty convenient.

 

[NightAngel79]

Oh yeah I forgot another option. When you search you can choose to search only threads marked solved. Pretty convenient.

That is a handy option indeed. Always kinda slow on the weekends but rest assured come the work week the powers at be will see this. Have no idea if this would even be easy to implement or not but ya never know. It definitely has merit though

 

[hortstu]

No feedback from the power? This really is a useful idea if you'll only look at the other forum I mentioned. It will save people searching a great deal of time once it is implemented which could stop multiple posts on the same topic.

 

[NightAngel79]

No feedback from the power? This really is a useful idea if you'll only look at the other forum I mentioned. It will save people searching a great deal of time once it is implemented which could stop multiple posts on the same topic.

I think it has been a very busy week for the 'powers' that be
With all the maintenance that has been going on, new button graphics and over all site improvements I would hazard to say that phases/shivers/rob have had their plates pretty full. Not to mention when they see an idea they like, realistically, depending on the degree of difficulty, it would be something implemented over time. Weeks, months even.....
Again I have no idea and don't want to speak out of turn, just throwing it out there. Ultimately I say be patient, perhaps attract other members here to see their opinions on the matter. The more support the more an idea is worth IMHO

Just my couple pennies

 

[Phases]

It's a decent enough idea, I've always liked the solved plugin - but I'm not sure. We will talk on it.

 

[Phases]

This idea has been nixxed after discussion with Rob. Long story but we don't think the benefit will be enough to outweigh the potential confusion/work involved.

It was a great thought though!

 

[SUroot]

Thats a real shame.

Out of interest, how does one measure the benefit?

 

[Phases]

Well. I would bet not half are threads are question = answer threads, so it wouldn't even be useful for half our content. Then the other half we'd be introducing a new way to do things when we're already about to shake things up a bit. Half our users wouldn't bother with it and it would require more work from our staff.

Feel free to keep the discussion going. We've been convinced before.

 

[SUroot]

If you deem it more effort than worth, I'm happy with that. Its a "nice-to-have" but not essential

Id rather have permanent search result links and a black theme

 

[johnlgalt]

At the Windows Seven forums, where I'm a mod, they have the Solved option enabled site wide - and it really comes in handy. See System Security - Windows 7 Forums for an example of it (should be the first or second post in ht thread that is not a sticky)

Here, I can understand why it would not need to be used everywhere - but how about enabling a Solved option specifically for all the Troubleshooting subforums for all the phones? Having a nice big green check mark beside a thread will help avoid unnecessary OT posts (which I seem to do every now and again when bored) as well as help gravitate n00b users to read the threads as opposed to just one or two posts for answers....or, at least, that is what I believe would happen.

 

[woop]

I'm gonna have to agree with Rob/Phases and say it won't be useful here. Considering people already ignore the subforums anyways (and just post their help related threads wherever they want - main forums, Tips forums, etc.), the issue would be that no one would utilize that option once it is solved. So if the OP didn't change it, you'd have a thread there that seemingly looks like it isn't solved when it is - thus relying on the mods to change it. We have alot on our plate and that is one less thing to worry about as it isn't extremely vital.

Another thing to keep in mind is that forum you linked has 1/4 the members and half the amount of posts/threads we do. That is a telling point, as less traffic makes that "Solved" option much easier to implement.

 

[Frisco]

+1 (Woop, Phases, Rob).

 

[hortstu]

ubuntu forums

Threads: 1,543,001, Beans: 9,818,692, Members: 1,229,505, Active Members: 56,399


android forums

Threads: 222,834, Posts: 2,142,777, Members: 405,875, Active Members: 62,786



Actually ubuntu forums has more threads by far and a similar number of active members.

 

[woop]

ubuntu forums

Threads: 1,543,001, Beans: 9,818,692, Members: 1,229,505, Active Members: 56,399


android forums

Threads: 222,834, Posts: 2,142,777, Members: 405,875, Active Members: 62,786



Actually ubuntu forums has more threads by far and a similar number of active members.

I was actually referring to that Windows forum that someone posted above. However, in your situation, having looked at that forum, there is alot less break down in terms of subforums so again, it is much easier to implement. Having things grouped within 15-20 forums versus what we have here (and the multitude of increase here is enormous so it isn't even close) is simpler to maintain. Imagine we utilize this; and for whatever reason a less-trafficed support subforum in a device forum has a thread with a support question that is eventually solved, but the OP doesn't change it. How long would it take for a moderator to take notice? We aren't able to check EVERY thread of EVERY support forum to make sure things are maintained correctly; it just isn't possible. Now if we had what Ubuntu had where its only a few forums, I can easily just scroll down the list in one large forum. Also, with that said, members here would have to make sure they're actually posting their support threads in the support subforum in order to have that Solved option available. Unfortunately this does not happen as much as it should - so it essentially would defeat that Solved option as now you have support threads in the main forums where that feature isn't available. Lastly, from what I can tell, that forum has been in existence almost a full year before AF, so the amount of threads in terms of quota over time is actually less (same situation with that Windows forum someone posted above).

Its very difficult to compare features of two different forums that are structured differently as there are just too many variables to take into account.