Forum that allows members to talk with staff

[Gio]

I've seen on a few forums where Admins create a private forum that allows members to communicate with the staff team. All staff can see all the topics, and members can only see their topics. I've found this useful for like staff applications, appealing warnings, and the like.

What do you think about them?

 

[HyperActive]

That's a pretty interested and unique way to contact staff. Not sure how to make it so you can view your threads only and the staff's threads.

 

[pandaa]

I've never really seen it used all that much. It's a cool concept, but I think PM's work just as well. From a personal perspective, I really don't think there is too much to talk about, considering that I don't like appeals and I like to personally select my staff.

 

[Gio]

That's a pretty interested and unique way to contact staff. Not sure how to make it so you can view your threads only and the staff's threads.

http://community.mybb.com/thread-146065.html

https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=543859

Just two ways there. 😉

I've never really seen it used all that much. It's a cool concept, but I think PM's work just as well. From a personal perspective, I really don't think there is too much to talk about, considering that I don't like appeals and I like to personally select my staff.

Yeah I see what you're saying. Even then, you could use it for private support, the list goes on. 🙂

 

[VirusZero]

I've seen this mod before (on MyBB for certain, not sure if others have it or not) and it has some nice uses that give it an advantage over just using PMs.

Like sometimes you want multiple staff to be able to see a topic and give input on it.
Like for a technical issue, this way it's not a long chain of sending PMs to get help but all support staff check one area. Since some forum software don't have conversation style-PMs like IPB3.x does.
Or on roleplay sites where someone is submitting a character. This way they can submit their character for review without showing everyone (since it may have things they don't want revealed yet but need to be mentioned in order to get approved). This also allows multiple staff to weigh in on a profile to mention things that need fixing/altering. (Since some sites don't let a character get accepted unless two staff review the application. This, according to the theory anyway, prevents some issues.)

 

[Gio]

I've seen this mod before (on MyBB for certain, not sure if others have it or not) and it has some nice uses that give it an advantage over just using PMs.

Like sometimes you want multiple staff to be able to see a topic and give input on it.
Like for a technical issue, this way it's not a long chain of sending PMs to get help but all support staff check one area. Since some forum software don't have conversation style-PMs like IPB3.x does.
Or on roleplay sites where someone is submitting a character. This way they can submit their character for review without showing everyone (since it may have things they don't want revealed yet but need to be mentioned in order to get approved). This also allows multiple staff to weigh in on a profile to mention things that need fixing/altering. (Since some sites don't let a character get accepted unless two staff review the application. This, according to the theory anyway, prevents some issues.)

Exactly, doing group PM's can be a pain.

 

[VirusZero]

Exactly.

Not every forum needs this feature. But having it can really make things a lot easier in the right situation.

And it's better to have the option to use this but not need it than to need this option but not have it. (Since workarounds can be really annoying and not as effective.)

 

[Migi]

I actually quite like the idea for staff applications, appeals, private support, or other fun events if necessary. I'd say PM also works, but sometimes you need a place to discuss it more openly but still rather private. Sounds pretty handy although it may not necessarily needed for day-to-day management.

 

[Gio]

I actually quite like the idea for staff applications, appeals, private support, or other fun events if necessary. I'd say PM also works, but sometimes you need a place to discuss it more openly but still rather private. Sounds pretty handy although it may not necessarily needed for day-to-day management.

Yep it's a big help, one of the small things that can go a long way. 🙂

 

[NoLifeNerds]

I've seen that feature before, it was with a forum that was coded entirely from scratch.

They had a "Support" category where users could create a thread and only them and the Administrators could see and reply. Really useful actually.

 

[juststeven]

Most forum software' have a perfectly good private messaging system and adding an extra forum unless it's a sub-forum adds extra length to a forum and let's say extra long boards aren't exactly the easiest to navigate.

 

[Ashley]

Exactly.

Not every forum needs this feature. But having it can really make things a lot easier in the right situation.

And it's better to have the option to use this but not need it than to need this option but not have it. (Since workarounds can be really annoying and not as effective.)

I've seen this implemented on business type forums like advert forums and some support forums. One site that I remember doing this was phpBBCommunities. I personally liked this feature because as was said, it's much easier to create a topic and have just the person posting and the staff see it rather than, say, 50 people who probably shouldn't see the topic. I've used it on phpBBC a couple times and I really liked this feature. It beat waiting for a response to PMs, and only the original poster and the staff could see the topic in question.

 

[R44]

I've never really seen it used all that much.

Talk with a Mod on Whirlpool works pretty well for that purpose and is implemented perfectly. It is a hidden forum with a link in the sidebar, unless you're a Moderator.

 

[Migi]

Most forum software' have a perfectly good private messaging system and adding an extra forum unless it's a sub-forum adds extra length to a forum and let's say extra long boards aren't exactly the easiest to navigate.

It can be viewed that way. However if such feature/forum is open only for certain days/weeks (e.g. staff applications don't go on forever, or for warnings appeal only banned members can see the section), I suppose it won't be too troublesome. 🙂

 

[Deleted member 7467]

We use this for appeals/major bug reports/player reports and the system works great.

 

[Nebulous]

It seems like a waste of time because there is a perfectly good PM system already in place on most forums.

 

[Lorcan]

I have seen this method being used on larger forums, however I have also have found that some really large forums have the appeals process being publicly open, you can view it but you can not post anything, only the OP and the moderators, I think they use this method to keep everything transparent, as this forum has over 630,000 members so I think try and keep everyone happy which is a hard task.

 

[Gio]

It seems like a waste of time because there is a perfectly good PM system already in place on most forums.

Yes, but what if someone happens to leave the conversation on accident, or something like that? Having it in a central forum is easier in my opinion and a lot cleaner.