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 **

[gemz4the1]

Here's where we all get court orders from @Toby through the post.......

[Toby]

There'd be no point, it wouldn't reach you before Xmas

In all seriousness though, thanks for starting this discussion. Its something that has been on my mind regularly too. If you have other ideas that you think would help the situation, by all means let me know.

I even considered creating a widget for members to get a solution prompt email after a response (like a subscription), but I think it could be a little intrusive to many members. What do you think?

[adamtemp64]

@toby it is up to the member.

Have you noticed on other forums the admin have that sort of prompt in there sig.

The mark as solution is the way forward kudos just gets abused and is of minor importance over solution

[gemz4the1]

It's not too late if you deliver them by carrier pigeon (or by owl if you want to deliver them in Harry Potter style).

I agree with @adamtemp64 - the kudos system is good however it is abused a lot by people who simply press it for something that they like or find funny and not necessarily a comment that is helpful.  I am finding that a few people also use the kudos button instead of using the 'accept solution' button.

I don't understand the way that you see it @toby but could a report be generated for posts older than a certain period of time so that an automated message could be sent to the original author to ask them to confirm if the suggestion made by another member was the solution? 

Or could you make it possible for other members to report a post that does not have it marked as a solution even if you think it is.  Sometimes the original author responds and says the suggestion was the solution, however they are not heard from again.

[davethorp]

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@gemz4the1 wrote:

I know we cannot force people to respond/accept solution and it is apparent that people come on here as a one off to vent or ask a question and then they never come back on it.

It is a shame but there's nothing we can do about it.

@Toby cannot send law suits to everyone forcing them to respond or threaten to take them to court......yet LOL 

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You will mark posts as solutions to your problem or you DIE!!!! :robotfrustrated:

[gemz4the1]

Hahahaha very good and to the point @davethorp

[gemz4the1]

Sorry to open this thread up again but as I'm quite new and still working my way around the site and learning, it's becoming obvious and a pattern that I am seeing with new users. People sign up as members, ask a question about their issue, numerous people respond with possible solutions and the original poster is never heard from again. Fair enough if they found their solution and do not have any problems and no other need to use the site, but they could at least respond to say if the suggestion worked so that it helps other members.

In my opinion it seems a little selfish but, as previously said, it's a problem on all forums and nothing can be done about it.