"Sticky" thread as FAQ on main forum?

ajj3085 posted on Friday, September 08, 2006

I know I've posted about this before, but the thread is gone.  Anyway, CS can do sticky threads.  Maybe its a good idea to create a FAQ sticky thread which people will hopefully read before posting.  The FAQ answers could even point to threads which answer the question.

Here's how to make a thread stick (has to be done by a forum admin):
http://communityserver.org/forums/permalink/535873/536018/ShowThread.aspx#536018

RockfordLhotka replied on Sunday, September 10, 2006

Fair enough, I agree it sounds like a good idea and now we know how.

The remaining question is how to populate this new thread, without it becoming full of actual discussion, which would render it useless...

Ideas?

Brian Criswell replied on Monday, September 11, 2006

I would still prefer that the wiki was populated instead of a series of FAQ threads.  There could then be a single FAQ sticky thread pointing to the wiki.  When someone did not find what the wanted on the wiki, they ask a question in the forum.

ajj3085 replied on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Well I always forget there is a Wiki.  While I agree that would be nice, the problem is that many people come here first and post away.  The idea behind the Faq thread was to put the answers as close to possible to the people coming to the forum, with the hope that they'll be more likely to read it (instead of posting the same question as everybody else).

Brian Criswell replied on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

But you could just as easily put a link to the wiki in a sticky thread.  Frequently asked questions could be added to the post with links into the wiki.  It would keep everything cleaner.  I see the sticky threads as potentially becoming unmanageable.

RockfordLhotka replied on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The problem with leaving the thread unlocked is that it would be used for actual discussion - and thus would be rendered useless. At least that's my prediction.

In other words, I think that thread needs to be kept in check - moderated even though the rest of the forum is not moderated. So I locked it.

I'm quite happy to entertain ideas on how content can be added to the thread, or how that top-level post can be improved to better point people to a more vibrant FAQ list or something like that. But I can't see how an open thread would be a good or beneficial idea...

ajj3085 replied on Thursday, September 14, 2006

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear.  I think it should remain locked.  Forum users should discuss in this forum what should go in there.. so we'll generate the content, and then send it to you so you can update the FAQ thread.  I don't think it should be open at all.

RockfordLhotka replied on Thursday, September 14, 2006

I'm totally happy with that.

For that matter, if someone (you? ) wanted to own the FAQ, I'm happy to figure out how to grant permissions so that could happen.

(as you can see from the existing post, I don't actually know how to do that, so I just used the admin account, but I'm sure it can be done)

ajj3085 replied on Friday, September 15, 2006

Well, it was my suggestion.  I'd like some help creating it, but I wouldn't mind taking responsbility to keep it up to date.

RockfordLhotka replied on Friday, September 15, 2006

I've added you to a role that allows you to edit that sticky post.

fyi, it also allows you to do other moderator/editor tasks, including editing and removing the posts of other people, but it is the most restrictive level I can find that does what's needed for the sticky post.

ajj3085 replied on Friday, September 15, 2006

Cool.  I won't touch anything except my posts or the sticky thread.  Must not be very observant though; didn't notice the new buttons when I was browsing the main forum before coming here. 

cmellon replied on Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Hi All,

Might be worth putting a link to rockys solution to the Identity issue and GetId, I think it would help with the second FAQ.

http://www.lhotka.net/Article.aspx?area=4&id=252e4f20-f202-4ba5-b6ff-4d629a2b7dcc

ajj3085 replied on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Rocky,

Looks like the tread is already locked.  Instead of quote / reply, i see a button Locked, which, when clicked, tells me its locked and can't be posted to.

So perhaps you can amend that post, and have users come to this forum to discuss which questions (and answers) should be on the Faq.  Once we agree, you could then copy the content to that thread.

Sound workable?