Duplicate posts due to no update/response from authors

[gemz4the1]

In my opinion, the whole point of the O2 Community pages is for users to communicate with eachother.  The community is split up into sections to ease the use of the site.

Members post random discussions or problems that they are facing and other members respond.

It is slightly annoying to me (I don't know about anyone else) when members respond to a post to try to help them out, and then they don't reply.  I think that this causes a few issues as :-

1- We don't know if our suggestion worked and if that is the solution to the problem (if so then it would help other users).

2- Other members may have the same problem and as there is no definite solution for the post, they create a new post and therefore numerous duplicate posts will be here and this would cause confusion.

I would suggest that if you make a post, particularly if it is not in the 'off topic' section, then you should go back on the post to update other members on whether the suggestion has fixed the problem or if the problem is still occurring.

Please help other members 🙂

** P.S I did check on the boards for a duplicate prior to posting this **

[Bambino]

It's an age old problem, and one that isn't specific just to this forum. It would be nice if people came back and said if their problem was solved, or if they found the answer elsewhere, but sadly, many don't. I don't think you'll ever change that.

[adamtemp64]

all covered in the guidelines sort of  (do people read them?)

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/Community-Guidelines/m-p/487846#U487846

Could do with the use of mark as solution in the guidelines not just kudos @toby maybe an edit to add say 3.1 mark as solution etc

[gemz4the1]

I know it is a common problem not just on here.  It is just a nnoying that it could be solved quickly and easily.  It is not too hard to just check back on here and tell other members if their suggestion worked or not.  It would help a lot of other people.

Members easily just create a new thread without even checking and if all threads on this site were browsed i'm sure there would be many duplicates.

I admit myself I have duplicated threads a handful of times but that was due to there being no solution on the thread and no response from the original author.

[perksie]

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@gemz4the1 wrote:
I would suggest that if you make a post, particularly if it is not in the 'off topic' section, then you should go back on the post to update other members on whether the suggestion has fixed the problem or if the problem is still occurring.

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Just the nature of forums I guess, we often put a line asking for posters to return and let us know how they get on, and many do.

[gemz4the1]

Good idea - I never thought about that.  In future I will write that on all of my suggestions.

The only other alternative, which would be a hell of a lot of work, is to go through the threads with no response on and post a new message on the thread or contact the original author directly.  Things like that should not have to be done though. 

If I have any free time I will browse through some threads with no solutions and ask if a solution was found.

[Bambino]

Have you got a spare year or two? 

[gemz4the1]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!! I would of estimated at least 5 years lol

[jonsie]

It's a fact that some posters do get the resolution they require but are quy that their problem is solved but don't bite happother to post back. Most of the time we know that the answer will fix the problem but a simple response is beyond some people.

We don't ask for an update for the sake of it but hope that a thread that is resolved and marked as such will help others. Easy to ask for help but it seems that updating threads is too much trouble. But we come to accept that this is the norm in most cases.

[Toby]

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@adamtemp64 wrote:

@Could do with the use of mark as solution in the guidelines not just kudos @Toby maybe an edit to add say 3.1 mark as solution etc

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Good idea Adam,

How about something like, "3.1: If you are able to, please report back to members to respond to your issue on your forum thread. This lets other members know if you still need help, or if your problems are resolved"?

The only issue with this in my eyes is that it is unrealistic to punish a member for not doing so. There are thousands of reasons that would stop you from coming back to the forum and it would be unfair to expect it at all times. Does that make sense?

Thanks for raising this gemz4the1!