Question:
I have asked ZZ to go a bit easier here on the QM forum with regards to locking and editing posts.
I explained that we have about half a dozen folks that regularly contribute to answering postings and have been at the site for several years. I think most are well aware of what are critical pleas for help and what is grandstanding. I also told him in the QM forum we don't get the large number of postings that other forums get and so having posts with URGENT in them doesn't really much affect us as far as reading them or not.
I think even some of these marked urgent can be valuable postings for us and continues to add to our knowledge base. Locking the posts seems to chop the poster, (usually a newbie) off at the knees and they hesitate to repost the question.
I think those of us that answer a lot of the questions here have our own ways of dealing with people who repeatedly violate rules or post inappropriate questions.
So I've asked him to take a little more light handed aproach. Please add your thoughts to this topic. If the group feels differently, I'll retract my request to ZZ and ask him to continue on.
Thanks,
Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
zz, Snowy, and myself are simply trying to get everyone to play pretty in the same sandbox. I would think asking a user to re-post a message with a "legal" subject would be far preferable to loosing a posting by someone who is truly experiencing an urgent situation.
Without these rules, the moderators and users may very well skip by a message that would have gotten our attention if the rules had be followed. None of us like locking messages.
Answer:
I don't feel there's been a problem in the QM forum, so for the time being, I feel that there's no need for locking entries here.
Hopefully this poll will also help making people aware, thus preventing the usage of 'Urgent' and CAPS.
Answer:
When I asked zz about this, he told me that if that "urgent" thing is not monitored, then everyone would start using "urgent" in their posts since almost all problems are urgent. I took the point, but then when I went through most of the subject lines, I saw that very few people actually used the word urgent.
I think that would vouch for the fact that people here are handling things ok. So, I guess things were goin' fine as they were.
Answer:
When I asked zz about this, he told me that if that "urgent" thing is not monitored, then everyone would start using "urgent" in their posts since almost all problems are urgent
You will find that 99% of URGENT topics are really not urgent. People will use this as a trick to attract attention to their topic. I feel that this unfair to other. And as ZZ said, everyone could start posting URGENT! ! !
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Answer:
Since all the references relate to me here is my 5 cents:
I still think we should control the Forums to prevent some issues from happening, but on the other hand I understand Craig, Tanuj and others point of view. Specially regarding the QM forum and some of the others too. With a small number of posts in these forums we might be over-killing if we implement the same levels of control we have in Forums like General Discussion or Financials.
I rather in cases like QM to let the local members to tell us moderators if they need any help.
Of course we'll continue monitoring (we are trying to be pro-active) to prevent any major issue.
Please remember a couple of months ago we had a guest that was posting a topic in all Forums to sell trainning materials. For these I'll not wait for users to complain. They will be deleted!
Cheer up!
PS: I also have to say that Craig has lots of credit with me since we were SAPFans first two moderators (he was the first!) andgave it up because of other commitments.
Answer:
Thanks
I did mention it to ZZ in my PM to him, but I should mention it here as well. NO ONE appreciates the work the moderators do here more then me. Having done it for quite a while, I understand the time it takes and some of the fine lines that must be walked. Especially when dealing with such and international group of folks that frequent these forums.
I don't want anyone to think this was a personal thing with ZZ specifically.
I understand the feelings about Urgent.. but then folks will just use ASAP.. or CRITICAL or Help ME!! It's hard to define exactly what should be edited and what shouldn't.
Also, knowing the time demands on the moderators, I'd like to think we can moderate the forum with the regulars here and we'd all let the moderators know when we see a posting that should be locked or edited.
Fortunately, we are a technical forum and so we don't have as many 'sensitive' discussions as found in the general discussion area.
But ZZ.. if you or the moderators do cruise through our QM room at times, feel free to delete any training posts, ads, etc.. when ever you see them. If it ain't QM stuff... we don't want it!!! And if we see them, we'll be sure to let you and the others know.
And thanks again!
Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
Dear folks,
I fully understand that URGENT draws attention but i also feel the users don't do it on purpose. Newbies by now must have understood how it affects people. But I very honestly feel that this forum is of great help to everyone new or old. Whoever has been regular and serious in this forum would understand what the moderators really wish to do and their efforts are appreciated but i request the moderators to be a little more considerate and magnanimous because chopping off the posting would only demotivate the learners.
Thanks and regards.
Answer:
What if we create a new forum for all URGENT postings. That way 1) people could look there immediately in order to assist others, and 2) it would keep this whole lock issue out of the main forums.
Anyone have an opinion?
Answer:
Should we create a new poll with this question?
Answer:
When I asked zz about this, he told me that if that "urgent" thing is not monitored, then everyone would start using "urgent" in their posts since almost all problems are urgent
You will find that 99% of URGENT topics are really not urgent. People will use this as a trick to attract attention to their topic. I feel that this unfair to other. And as ZZ said, everyone could start posting URGENT! ! !
If this is a problem, wouldn't everyone then just start posting in that forum? And then what sort of editing would you be looking at there?
Answer:
It might work Jo. But I doubt if many of the specialists would check it frequently. I.e. if I go a month without seeing an urgent QM request I'll probably stop checking after a while. Then that kind of defeats the purpose of it. Plus I'm afraid a lot of folks will post things that really aren't urgent cause they'll think that it'll get faster response.
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
I have to assume that at least the moderators would check it a couple times a day. It at least gives a user a shot at being helped quickly.
Answer:
I.e. if I go a month without seeing an urgent QM request I'll probably stop checking after a while.
Well, just got a very very urgent message:
re: /forums/viewtopic.php?t=99963
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