Community Professionals Get their Own Style?

[#1]

So, in a thread, a Community Professional gets a style that looks identical or at least very similar to a correct answer and they get their name in red.

Accepting any reasons that a CP might need to be distinguished in some way I don't like the implication that an answer is a correct answer simply because a CP offers it.  OK, so style them differently but not it like this.

Sometimes a CP might be contributing to discussion where an answer isn't needed or they may be asking for a bit more clarification.

There, I said it!

Martin

[#2]

So, in a thread, a Community Professional gets a style that looks identical or at least very similar to a correct answer and they get their name in red.

Accepting any reasons that a CP might need to be distinguished in some way I don't like the implication that an answer is a correct answer simply because a CP offers it.  OK, so style them differently but not it like this.

Sometimes a CP might be contributing to discussion where an answer isn't needed or they may be asking for a bit more clarification.

There, I said it!

Martin

[#3]

I am with Martin on this, hi Martin.

The threads have become rather messy, with both time and effort being wasted on our having to disregard, or should I say undistinguish, what should not be distinguished from the rest in the first place.

The same applies to Employees.

Whatever anyone wants to obtain, the text under the Avatars must be quite sufficient.

[#4]

That's not actually the case. A correct answer within the thread is marked with green side borders, but is not filled in white unless the answer was provided by one of us. The quoted correct answer within the question is always filled in white, irrespective of who it came from, but that's simply because the Adobe corporate styling keeps everything in shades of gray. Usernames don't change, but we do have colors for the classes of membership.

See http://forums.adobe.com/message/4395537#4395537 (correct answer from a normal user) and http://forums.adobe.com/message/4394216#4394216 (correct answer from an ACP).

[#5]

Nit picking the terminology aside, Martin is right - there is a SIGNIFICANT differentiation and in fact a Community Professional looks just like an Employee.

No disrespect intended for the Community Professionals, who do a great job, but maybe a slightly lighter shade of gray than we peon users get would be more appropriate, not employee orange and white.

-Noel

[#6]

To elaborate on the first post, I believe the least messy and easiest read is obtained by avoiding differently coloured posts as distinction between posters, in other words no special background colour, neither for employees nor for community professionals, nor for silly posters, nor for ...

As has been said many times, these are user forums, and both employees and community professionals, at least predominantly, partake on a voluntary basis.

As I said, all we need to know (and maybe more) is already shown in connexion with the avatar.

[#7]

Jacob Bugge wrote:

To elaborate on the first post, I believe the least messy and easiest read is obtained by avoiding differently coloured posts as distinction between posters, in other words no special background colour, neither for employees nor for community professionals, nor for silly posters, nor for ...

As has been said many times, these are user forums, and both employees and community professionals, at least predominantly, partake on a voluntary basis.

As I said, all we need to know (and maybe more) is already shown in connexion with the avatar.

I couldn't agree more withi this. And I do hope we'll soon get back what used to be connected to one's avatar...

[#8]

The new typography in that forum is atrocious.

The so-called Community Professional decoration is ludicrous.

Adobe, Adobe …

[#9]

Hi Kurt.

[#10]

I'm not bothered that ACPs get some kind of way of distinguishing their posts.  What I don't like is that the default styles give an impression of superiority to other posts.  If a post has prominence in a thread it has to be based on the accuracy of its content, the contribution to discussion and/or the value to the OP.

Traditionally forums are places that are Egalitarian.  An environment where people are encouraged to participate in discussion on the basis that they are prepared to share knowledge, discovery, skill and ideas.  What sets people apart is open contribution to the community and the value of what is said.

Whilst I don't like the way that ACP post appear to have an elavted status because of the styling, I o appreciate the comments they make which are often authoritative.  I prefer to make my own mind up on that.

I think that one way that I fiund helpful to identify and way the potential contribution of a poster was to note the time on the forums and number of posts.  So now the ACPs have this special position emphasised by a unique style and others have no immediate way of emphasising their own commitment to the community.

I'm not knocking ACPs.  I just think that if the forums represent the Adobe Community why not make every effirt to maintain a sense of community across its membership?

Martin

[#11]

I agree with Martin's points. The previous way of distinguishing "community professionals" was about the right level and did not give undue visual preference to their comments over those from other frequent posters who have equal or greater knowledge.

For a few reasons, whoever approved this redesign needs to think again.