Solved: Re: Marking a Message as Accepted Solution

Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

I have noticed lately that a number of contributors have added to or amended their "signatures" with reminders to posters that if they find a reply helpful they might consider marking it as an "accepted solution". That is fair enough, but three things occur to me. (1) Many replies contain helpful information though they may not in fact actually SOLVE whatever problem the OP raised. (2) Presumably only the OP (or perhaps a Mod.) can mark a message as an accepted solution. There is no way that other readers can indicate a post has been helpful to them other than posting another message to say so. I don't think the Kudos system covers that scenario. there. (3) Finally as signatures appear under every message they turn up in the off-topic board as well where reminders to mark a message as an accepted solution is somewhat irrelevant.

I have come to the view that the signature area really ought to contain some useful information (for example the links that some users have) rather than merely humourous remarks or mottoes so I will in future refrain from using it in that way.

@Toby @Anonymous might include some consideration of these points in any review or redesign of the forum.

Gerry

Toby · ‎01-07-2014

Hi guys,

Thanks for all of your thoughts on this!

I did indeed ask members if they did not mind adding a solution prompt in their signature as I wanted to see if a gentle reminder might inspire more members to hit the button when they get help. From observing the community since, it has definitely made a difference. I wanted to try out the idea because you are all so helpful and I wanted to make sure members were giving credit where its due

There's no obligation to do so of course, but its been a big benefit so far.

There are some interesting thoughts on help discussions too. I'm in 2 minds about this. As some of you say, once a member's query is solved, one can argue that the thread should be shut down, as the OP has been helped fully. At the same time however, it is often useful to piggy off of another related discussion.
This can happen very often, as new members are not sure as to where to post. Its up to myself and the team to ensure that new members know how to ask a question in the correct way.

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Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

Hi

Recently Toby asked if we could add this to our signatures to help keep the forum tidy and when someone looks for similar issues they can see a solution exists in that thread.

Yes only a Mod and Original OP can accept as a solution.

The Kudos work for themselves to show a post is of sound advice and helpful to either the OP or another member that has come across it.

jonsie · ‎29-06-2014

Yes we were asked to add this as a signature, hence the sudden interest in HTML coding. Not everyone likes the Kudo system which is why we don't have them displayed on our name tags.

But we are all individuals with our own preferences and so it should be

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Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

@Anonymous My points were that a helpful message may not necessarily be the solution and the signature may appear below a message for which the accepted solution feature is not relevant (as in the off-topic area.

Also according to the Guidelines "You can thank people for help by giving them 'Kudos' " - so it seems the Kudos attaches to the person and is indeed a nice way of acknowedging their efforts to help rather than indicating that a "post is of sound advice".

Gerry

MI5 · ‎29-06-2014

I added it too at the request of admin, however, I don't actually like it and have been considering removing it from my sig.
As you have reminded me I shall do so now

I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.
Please select the post that helped you best and mark as the solution. This helps other members in resolving their issues faster. Thank you.

Cleoriff · ‎29-06-2014

However, as it is only the original poster who can mark a post as an accepted solution we MUST presume it has worked for them.

The one thing that gives me concern is when a thread is ongoing. It may lie dormant for a few weeks then someone NEW comes on for advice. There is no way that anyone else (except the OP) can mark as a solution.

In a way I feel that makes a mockery of the system. We seem to be encouraging everyone to mark it solved, whereas, in actual fact ,only the person who started the thread can do that.

Veritas Numquam Perit

Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

Oh dear! Didn't expect that @MI5 Perhaps the same thing could be achieved by including suitable words at the end of a message (rather than in the signature). It would be a simple matter to create a few well crafted phrases in Word or Notepad and then copy and paste as required, leaving the signature freee and unclutterd for worthwhile info - i particularly like the links that @jonsie has so expertly displayed in his messages.

Gerry

MI5 · ‎29-06-2014

jonsie's links are excellent, but as we've seen many times in the past, no one actually reads them 😞

I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.
Please select the post that helped you best and mark as the solution. This helps other members in resolving their issues faster. Thank you.

Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

@Cleoriff wrote:
We seem to be encouraging everyone to mark it solved, whereas, in actual fact ,only the person who started the thread can do that.

@Cleoriff Not so long ago one of my messages was marked as accepted solution but not by me and it definitely was not a solution. I am not even sure how one finds an accepted solution.

Gerry

Anonymous · ‎29-06-2014

Ones signature brings individuality.

Some like to list their present and past devices.

Some inspiring quotes.

Some direct links to O2 pages.

It's all good.