Legend

Question

Marking a topic as "resolved"

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
July 18, 2012
7 replies
23101 views

One of the positive sides of using the "Correct" link on a post is that the topic gets marked with a green bullet; indicating that we don't need to look at it again.

However, doing so inserts the "correct" answer into the original post, even if it does not contain any info how the original problem was resolved.

An example: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1036936

Now I am wondering, what is more important

to mark a topic as "resolved", even if it does not contain an actual resolution?
to mark a real resolution as the "correct" answer?
or leave a topic that is resolved, but without an actual resolution, as unresolved?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

I agree with John about the importance of ownership.

Basically the OP should have full ownership of the thread, for better or worse.

As mentioned a few times, I believe that wrong designations should be left as they are, not only because of the amusement value, but also for the sake of that ownership.

It will also allow moderators to limit their special tasks to other issues where their action is necessary/crucial, and otherwise be able to participate just like the rest of us, as equals.

Claudio González

Legend

Jacob, I am amazed. I think I had never seen in this forum a thread that has received such a wide spectrum of varying opinions. The funny thing is that everyone of us seems to think thaty one's opinion is "the" Correct Answer -at least I know that I do . Fortunately, I was taught to respect the opinions of others, specially when one is on the verge of becoming a minority of one, as I seem to be in here...

Unfortunately, it also seems that there is no Correct Answer to this dilemma. Which would explain why nobody is convincing any other participant of his/her views .

Phillip M Jones

Inspiring

I say add a choice. If one finds no answer to fit or you found the correct answer. You be required to Mark as End Thread. A peson should be forbidden from marking his/her own reply as the answer.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Claudio,

No, there is certainly no pleasure in a thread like the one you linked to. I have never seen anyone like it before. The OP is obviously convinced of the Correct/Helpful markings.

Any OP can mark own posts as Correct/Helpful, in which case(s) no ponts apply, regardless of posts by others. It may may sense to mark in that way.

The amusement value comes in threads where the mistake/misunderstanding is obvious.

pwillenerAuthor

Legend

Thank you for all the replies. I would like to add that it was I who marked the topic linked in my original post as resolved, which directly resulted into my question if that was actually a useful thing to do.

A further question should be asked: who should benefit from topics marked as resolved

the forum regulars ("helpers"), who would see a topic as resolved, and therefore won't need to look at it again?
the forum visitors, who are looking for a resolution for a problem of their own?

In the best case, both should benefit, but that is not possible with the options we currently have.

For both types of forum users, topics marked as resolved is not 100% ideal.

for forum regulars, how many times have we seen a topic that was resolved for the original poster, then a new poster comes and adds "I have the same problem; please help"? In these cases we have to look at the topic again, anyway.
for forum visitors who are looking for a solution, topics that are marked as resolved, but do not contain any actual resolution are less than useless.

In this light I think it is best to only mark a post as "Correct" if it actually contains the solution for the initial problem. Anything else does not serve any useful purpose.

Any additional thoughts and comments are welcome.

A

Anonymous

"many times have we seen a topic that was resolved for the original poster, then a new poster comes and adds "I have the same problem; please help"? I these cases we have to look at the topic again, anyway." MANY TIMES we see this, so this is not really a useful statement that we can now ignore "correct or resolved".

Even if a topic is marked CORRECT, or RESOLVED, I have seen many times where a solution for one does not work for the next person. Have to chalk this up to different hardware and software combinations on computers.

As I wrote many moons ago I think correct or resolved are too specific a category. I thought the posts should be labeled "Worked For Me" when the OP finds a thread that solved his problem. Claudio should like this as it is not THE correct answer, but one that solved OP's problem.

To make it shorter maybe just use WORKED and HELPFUL.

A

Anonymous

In my post above I was thinking mostly of solving operating problems. There is also the issue of editing procedures, and there the CORRECT is even more IN-correct. There are many ways to achieve similar results, which can result in many CORRECT answers, as Claudio observes. What is correct for one may not be correct for another as the technique may be too advancved for their knowledge level, or they may not need the higher quality output that the complicated proceedure requires.

So, marking the post "works for me" or "works" signifies that they can achieve a result that is satisfactory to them.

P.S. Normally I would have added an edit to my post #11, but for those wacos that use e-mail they would not get the added info in this post.

A

Anonymous

I like the Correct, although it is dissappointing that the OP frequently marks his own post that he has it figured out. But no solution, and just thanks people for their help.

Perhaps they think they can gain points this way.

The Correct and Helpful marks helps in long threads, especially now that one can only view 15 threads per page, so one can hone in on answers the OP thought were helpful.

Claudio González

Legend

Curt,

The original poster is often the less qualified person to judge an answer as "correct", especially in the case of newcomers in a hurry. All they want is results; and if their problem happens to disappear after following advises of the type "press the Esc key five times in rapid succession, and then three more times, while you touch the point of your nose with your left hand idex", they are bound to mark such answers as correct. Imagine the frustration of those who face the same problem later, when they find that the prominently displayed "correct" answer does not work in their cases...

the_wine_snob

Inspiring

Pat,

I have puzzled over that too.

Your example is a good one. I have seen similar, where the Reply, asking for information (just as Reply #1 did here), was marked as "Correct."

Once saw a thread in the Premiere Forum, where about 3 Replies gave resolution, just worded in slightly different ways. Any could be logically marked as "Correct," and the other two "Helpful." Reply #4 basically said, "You're too stupid to even use "professional" software, so give up on it... " That was the one, that the OP marked as "Correct!" The three good answers, did not even get "Helpful."

Though Adobe is using the "Correct," "Helpful," and the "Was this helpful Yes No?" to gather data, and some searching forum subscribers would like to know that there was some form of resolution in the thread, I lean to your #3 answer: Leave it as unresolved. Though the OP might have resolved the issue, there is nothing in the thread to help someone coming to it later on. I always try to request that the OP share WHAT the resolution was, whether the answer came from the forums, Adobe Support, a friend in a bar or from another forum. Sometimes they do, but not often enough.

Just my thoughts,

Hunt

Claudio González

Legend

Bill,

I have said several times that I am against the marking of "correct" answers (as well as to any points system). In my opinion, there is no such thing as the correct answer, except perhaps in the case of very trivial questions. You may remember how in the "fair forums" many non-trivial questions originated long interchanges between the most knowledgeable participants, interchanges that poked in depth in complex matters and were true and elightening lessons on difficult subjects. Which one should be marked as correct? Which one when two or more participants post basically the same answer at the same time? Which one when two or more participants post completely different solutions to the problem in question?

I wouldn't object too much to marking as correct posts that really respond to the original question, provided that the marking is correctly done based on how useful such posts can be for future participants facing the same issues. I do object, and strongly, to the present indiscriminate way that this done, and to the exposition of such posts in a prominent position and with a completely different background, making them stand out as if it was God himself who had spoken. Unfortunately, too frequently they are messages that are not answers to anything.

the_wine_snob

Inspiring

Claudio,

I am not sure how having the "Correct" and "Helpful" markers would dissuade discussions, irrespective of any "points" at play. I still see many threads with very meaningful discussions, that continue beyond the OP getting some resolution for their immediate problem. Often, a solution will be forthcoming, to get their Project finished, but then discussion goes on, adding useful background information.

As many come to the forums to Search for a resolution to their problem, or answer to their question, knowing that Thread A has an answer, can be helpful to them. With some Searching are reading, they might never need to post at all.

Just my thinking on this,

Hunt

Claudio González

Legend

I see this like one more effect in the change in the directions and goals of these forums (see http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1037298?tstart=0). I think that now a post is marked as "the" correct answer if it indicates in any way that the OP no longer is experiencing the problem s/he is asking about. Naturally, I disagree with this concept of a "correct" answer.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Pat,

I believe that I remember my having seen threads marked as Answered but with no Correct Answer, at least a while ago, maybe before the latest changes.

I have seen a thread like the one linked to now and again, and assumed that it was another one of the (more frequent kinds of) mismarkings.

Are you sure this is not one of those?

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