Want advice on the board? You must answer this?

Oldernotwiser

It falls very much in line with the DFW policy of asking people to complete an SOA before giving advice. In both case, getting necessary information from people can be like pulling teeth!

vegankris

woodbine wrote: »

Excellent idea,I did suggest something simlar a few months ago and nothing came of it.I do wonder if people posting often for the first time feel happy giving so much detail,but as you say without detailed background we cant give definitive answers.

Perhaps suggest in the OP that people create a more anonymous AE for the purposes of asking these questions if privacy is a concern?

dmg24

vegankris wrote: »

Perhaps suggest in the OP that people create a more anonymous AE for the purposes of asking these questions if privacy is a concern?

Creating AE's is against forum rules, so not the best to actively suggest it.

bestpud

SuziQ wrote: »

I think it's great.but often people asking these types of questions are totally new to the board and may not immediately fill out any template. Of course if the first poster asks them too it would savea lot of hassle.I think it looks professinal amd may stop the snarking that seems to be happening more often about benefit claiments.

I guess, if there was a template, we could just copy and paste it into the reply and then it is up to them to decide if they want to complete it or not. Much easier all round.

As for it being open or closed, I'd say lock it because it will get out of hand otherwise and that may put new people off looking at it.

An example: On the techie forum, they have a thread about removing nasties from your pc, but then pages and pages of discussion about it. I know it is relevant to some, but I imagine many non-techies just want a list of thigs they can do and a link to the discussion if they want to follow it up?

It needs to be short and sweet imo. Quick description of the benefits, and a link for further info, if required, and what information is required to work out entitlement.

zappster1966

Think it's a very good idea ... suggested it myself in Sept 08 but it came to nought. Might save so much question asking & guesswork. So yeah it's the way ahead.

Only thing I'm having problems with, Bozo, is your ... um, how to describe ... "enthusiasm". I think going out of your way to research someones posting history to find flaws, only to tear them to shreds on this board, isn't necessarily the way to go. It's making me feel a bit uncomfortable.

vegankris

dmg24 wrote: »

Creating AE's is against forum rules, so not the best to actively suggest it.

Fair enough, never knew that as I always see posts that say "I am a regular poster but this is private" especially in the relationships board so I'd always thought it was okay so long as people were open about it.

bestpud

vegankris wrote: »

Fair enough, never knew that as I always see posts that say "I am a regular poster but this is private" especially in the relationships board so I'd always thought it was okay so long as people were open about it.

I believe it is quite a recent rule?

SomeBozo

bestpud wrote: »

I believe it is quite a recent rule?

Speaking to a board mod on another board, you need to approach the mods first.

Bozo

dmg24

bestpud wrote: »

I believe it is quite a recent rule?

It's not a new rule, a well respected Benefits regular got PPRed as a result of having an AE (IMO for good reason, but I don't make the rules! ).

Edit: I meant they had a good reason to have an AE, not to be banned!

dmg24

SomeBozo wrote: »

Speaking to a board mod on another board, you need to approach the mods first.

Bozo

There are no mods on MSE, and I am not aware that an exception to the rule has ever been made. I know of someone that has asked a member of the MSE Team, for this type of reason, and the rule was simply reiterated to them.