I keep seeing an increasing number of users asking for support and not bothering to respond when someone gives them a solution, and I find it extremely upsetting.

I'm personally far more likely to give users future support if they have the common courtesy and manners to respond by at least saying thanks or whether it worked or not. It only takes a few seconds of your time when it has possibly taken the person helping you hours looking into your problem.

Manners go a long way and it shows your appreciation and encourages members who do take the time to give support to carry on doing so.

A slightly discouraged Derek.

I agree with both of you, and I most definitely appreciate the support you give; not just to me when it's been needed, but for others as well.


People asking for support should always reply back; not just to give thanks, but also to help others who can benefit from the result, be it successful, or not.

Having stated the obvious, I think it can be helpful to understand why this happens.

I think many people are afraid to be chided or "attacked" for trying to get help to problems they're not able to solve on their own. Not so much here anymore, but trying to get support can be a rude awakening in a support forum, especially when there's such a difference in the level of knowledge between those asking for support, and those giving it.

So generally speaking, if a person is bold enough to ask for help, it's not uncommon for them to suddenly disappear after that help is given.
They want to get out when they're still alive!   

This is just a weird part of human nature, but from my perspective, it's also understandable.

For the help and support I'm able to give, I just give it because it makes me feel good. So I'm already ahead of the game even if nobody cares to acknowledge it.

No reply's happen on a regular basis, I am not looking for thanks but do get a sense of achievement when my advice works. It is nice when you get an update  and it helps others.

I will take that under consideration.  The reason we had to set a number was that spammers were using the PM system. The 5 post count was set originally by myself and Cap'n John. We can't really use an alert moderator button.

However, I am already considering two tweaks to privileges that would ONLY be applicable here. I have not yet talked to Dandello because (please note Bill) we are readying a replacement for this forum.  It is a ways off because it has to work just like this does from a data point of view.  That is also why we are not going to fix the breadcrumb navigation here.  There is zero point in making trivial or cosmetic fixes to a forum that will be replaced.

There have also been some other good suggestions that really only apply here.  When we have the new features set for our next release and tested, we will address our 'tweaking' that we would need to make it work here.  

It is not announced yet (now it is I guess) but we are working on an open bug-tracking system (plus other 'stuff').  How bug tracking works will affect how we run support.  I'm not going to announce or prognosticate on what we are going to do until our assessment and testing is complete AND I have discussed it with Corey and the host.  We may have to host some of these services  We will have a replacement for the Codex also, it all takes time/  Thusly my comment about trivial fixes applies to all of YaBBForum.com

When xnoddyx said we were working on many things he was not kidding. Please allow our tireless workers a chance to get all these things in place.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Bill Myers wrote on Dec 19^th, 2012 at 8:24pm:

Bill
You will love the sub-boards, sweet 

Miss Emily wrote on Jan 6^th, 2013 at 1:42am:


Patience young grass hopper. It sometimes takes time.

I understand. We all need help with one thing or another, and can't please everyone so I'll try to be more patient.

As for people not responding after help is given, you can't really blame them though. Sometimes the response is slow, they believe it will go unanswered so they forget about checking back to the actual thread.