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I tried launching a forum, I spent a _lot_ of time setting up Discourse and proper CDN/uploads etc. I didn't go all out, only a few categories based on what was

by Operyl 3y ago

I tried launching a forum, I spent a _lot_ of time setting up Discourse and proper CDN/uploads etc. I didn't go all out, only a few categories based on what was commonly needed (like 5?). I did this _before_ I resorted to Discord as the only point of help. People begrudgingly used it... It got to the point where I was asked "why aren't you using Discord like everyone else in this space?" enough that I asked my power users on the forum, and the broader internet via other channels, and most people overwhelmingly wanted Discord. In particular, of note, my power users on the forums wanted it. After switching, the number of people asking for help significantly increased, and we gained a fair number of new power users willing to help those people out too.

Denote6737 3y ago
Here is the thing. You may be seeing more people seeking help because they are repeating the same questions again. Where as before they found the thread with the answer. To me this is the biggest drawback for discord over forums.
- Operyl 3y ago
  From my experience it happens just as much on forums. Hell, just take a look at Stack Overflow! If someone is wanting to reanswer a question for the nth time, I have no problem with that, and the helpers in my community don't either. As another poster said, as well, sometimes "repeat questions" age out after a certain point, where a newer method is actually more appropriate than an older one anyway.
  - hutzlibu 3y ago
    "As another poster said, as well, sometimes "repeat questions" age out after a certain point, where a newer method is actually more appropriate than an older one anyway." I rather like the approach of editing the original question/solution or posting the latest solution there as otherwise this just creates fragmention.
    - skydhash 3y ago
      > I rather like the approach of editing the original question/solution. I believe we need the history, especially when dealing with legacy versions. The first thing I usually check is the date or contexts to infer it.
    - naniwaduni 3y ago
      Editing is somehow even worse than doing support on Discord, where at least there is a history and the (bad!) search or one of the regulars might remember something to find it.
  - xigoi 3y ago
    > If someone is wanting to reanswer a question for the nth time, I have no problem with that But I do have a problem with having to ask a question that has already been answered a hundred times, instead of being able to search for the answer.
- petee 3y ago
  This is a great point, especially since its a metric thats extremely difficult to track, if at all

by Operyl 3y ago

Denote6737 3y ago

Here is the thing. You may be seeing more people seeking help because they are repeating the same questions again. Where as before they found the thread with the answer. To me this is the biggest drawback for discord over forums.

Operyl 3y ago
From my experience it happens just as much on forums. Hell, just take a look at Stack Overflow! If someone is wanting to reanswer a question for the nth time, I have no problem with that, and the helpers in my community don't either. As another poster said, as well, sometimes "repeat questions" age out after a certain point, where a newer method is actually more appropriate than an older one anyway.
- hutzlibu 3y ago
  "As another poster said, as well, sometimes "repeat questions" age out after a certain point, where a newer method is actually more appropriate than an older one anyway." I rather like the approach of editing the original question/solution or posting the latest solution there as otherwise this just creates fragmention.
  - skydhash 3y ago
    > I rather like the approach of editing the original question/solution. I believe we need the history, especially when dealing with legacy versions. The first thing I usually check is the date or contexts to infer it.
  - naniwaduni 3y ago
    Editing is somehow even worse than doing support on Discord, where at least there is a history and the (bad!) search or one of the regulars might remember something to find it.
- xigoi 3y ago
  > If someone is wanting to reanswer a question for the nth time, I have no problem with that But I do have a problem with having to ask a question that has already been answered a hundred times, instead of being able to search for the answer.
petee 3y ago
This is a great point, especially since its a metric thats extremely difficult to track, if at all