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Beginners => How to Use RootsChat (Please don't post requests here) => Topic started by: MaxD on Thursday 18 January 18 15:58 GMT (UK)

Title: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: MaxD on Thursday 18 January 18 15:58 GMT (UK)
The subject of folk not returning to their threads to acknowledge answers has been brought up in many a "rant" thread.  This is not one more but rather an query/suggestion.

I have currently 7 threads to which I have put a lot of work and time into and given answers and to which reaction has come there none!  5 of the seven are queries by newbies who have not visited the site since posting the query.  I understand that this may be because they haven't set up their notifications properly on joining.
Query - should I perhaps send a PM or post again a polite "why the sam hill haven't you replied"  - which works best?
Suggestion, why not make Notify the default?  Do people really post and not want to be notified?

Only asking.

MaxD
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: hallmark on Thursday 18 January 18 16:47 GMT (UK)
The subject of folk not returning to their threads to acknowledge answers has been brought up in many a "rant" thread.  This is not one more but rather an query/suggestion.

I have currently 7 threads to which I have put a lot of work and time into and given answers and to which reaction has come there none!  5 of the seven are queries by newbies who have not visited the site since posting the query.  I understand that this may be because they haven't set up their notifications properly on joining.
Query - should I perhaps send a PM or post again a polite "why the sam hill haven't you replied"  - which works best?
Suggestion, why not make Notify the default?  Do people really post and not want to be notified?

Only asking.

MaxD

You get many who post expecting all their family tree to be done for them,  and they just read responses without acknowledging.

I've plenty like yours too....many of which I had further unposted information to add, but they never responded!

Best to just move on and ignore them if there is no response within a month or so as it looks like they are not really interested.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: MaxD on Thursday 18 January 18 17:10 GMT (UK)
True but in the case of new folk, I lean towards it not necessarily being their fault and wondered whether the system could help at all?

MaxD
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Jebber on Thursday 18 January 18 17:13 GMT (UK)
Notifications can  also depend on their internet provider, I am set up to receive them, but despite Sarah's help which improved matters temporarily, after a couple of days they stop again. I have given up now, I periodically look for replies by going into my profile and checking my posts.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: iluleah on Thursday 18 January 18 17:22 GMT (UK)
I would agree with you, it is always nice to receive a simple thank you.

What I will say is, many especially those new to rootschat, if they have used other forums especially US ones will know that answers or rather add ons ( as most have nothing to do with the question originally asked) can take years to arrive.
Rootschat is one of a very small number is very different and you can almost 'expect' to get someone answer the query within minutes if not an answer, an encouragement or a signpost, rootschat is a very different 'animal' a community, supportive and specific
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 18 January 18 17:36 GMT (UK)
I don't go in for notifications. I use the New Replies and Unreads at the top of the Index page. Maybe it might be worth drawing more attention to those.

Gadget
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Erato on Thursday 18 January 18 17:42 GMT (UK)
"Do people really post and not want to be notified?"

You bet they do.  It's much easier to just look at 'New Replies' at the top of the page.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: josey on Thursday 18 January 18 17:45 GMT (UK)
Perhaps when we welcome a new poster it could be worthwhile to gently remind them to have notifications turned on - or as has just been suggested look at new replies - so that they can respond to the information given in replies. They obviously do want to have answers. Many of us have discovered that there are ways to tactfully request a thank you, although it is frustrating having to winkle it out.

rootschat is a very different 'animal' a community, supportive and specific
Wholeheartedly agree with this. We become blasé about instant answers from search engines; this cannot be applied to all knowledge & disciplines, genealogy being one of them.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Jebber on Thursday 18 January 18 17:49 GMT (UK)
I don't go in for notifications. I use the New Replies and Unreads at the top of the Index page. Maybe it might be worth drawing more attention to those.

Gadget

That is what I do now, I  just check via my profile periodically to see any I may have missed.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: mazi on Thursday 18 January 18 17:59 GMT (UK)
One possible reason is that the notification contains a link to the reply.

As a rule clicking on links in an email is not recommended,  so you delete the email and come back on rootschat and you cannot remember which of the multitude of boards and sub-boards you posted on.

Maybe the notification would be better without the link, but with a reminder what board the post was on.

Mike
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: rosie99 on Thursday 18 January 18 18:03 GMT (UK)
"Do people really post and not want to be notified?"

You bet they do.  It's much easier to just look at 'New Replies' at the top of the page.

I  hate to think what my email 'in box' would be like if I received notifications.  I always go straight to 'new replies' when I come on here.  :)
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Sinann on Thursday 18 January 18 18:14 GMT (UK)
One possible reason is that the notification contains a link to the reply.

As a rule clicking on links in an email is not recommended,  so you delete the email and come back on rootschat and you cannot remember which of the multitude of boards and sub-boards you posted on.

Maybe the notification would be better without the link, but with a reminder what board the post was on.

Mike
Take your point but I do use the link a lot, I do wonder if the new poster sometimes just uses the link without logging in.
That way they can read the reply without appearing to have come back, I think it would be better if the link brought you to the log in first than the thread, at least we would know if they come back even if they don't reply.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Sinann on Thursday 18 January 18 18:16 GMT (UK)
"Do people really post and not want to be notified?"

You bet they do.  It's much easier to just look at 'New Replies' at the top of the page.

I  hate to think what my email 'in box' would be like if I received notifications.  I always go straight to 'new replies' when I come on here.  :)
Mine go to the 'Forums box' so don't clog up the 'in box' at all.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: heywood on Thursday 18 January 18 18:17 GMT (UK)
Me too  :)
First thing I do is check the New Replies, then I go to Unread.
I agree it is a good idea to point this feature out to new users.
I must say, I can’t understand why someone wouldn't come back to check. It is so exciting to get information.  :)
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 18 January 18 18:41 GMT (UK)
The subject of folk not returning to their threads to acknowledge answers has been brought up in many a "rant" thread.  This is not one more but rather an query/suggestion.

I have currently 7 threads to which I have put a lot of work and time into and given answers and to which reaction has come there none!  5 of the seven are queries by newbies who have not visited the site since posting the query.  I understand that this may be because they haven't set up their notifications properly on joining.
Query - should I perhaps send a PM or post again a polite "why the sam hill haven't you replied"  - which works best?
Suggestion, why not make Notify the default?  Do people really post and not want to be notified?

Only asking.

MaxD
Yes of course they do, for instance I still have my wits about me, perhaps not for much longer but for now I have. ;) When I post I know I can always check the new Replies option to see if anyone has responded with having Rootschat notifications adding to the two to three hundred emails I get everyday.
Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: MaxD on Thursday 18 January 18 18:48 GMT (UK)
With respect, those who say they check the new replies are saying that because they have experience of the way Rootschat works..

My focus was the newbie and josey's suggestion that the first reply to a newbie could gently include a "don't forget to hit Notify or check new replies" reminder is a very good one.  One has to acknowledge that not everyone reads the "How to do it" pages when they start up.  (Ask yourselves whether you always read the Ts and Cs on every new site!)

MaxD
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: mazi on Thursday 18 January 18 19:00 GMT (UK)
And if your bookmark to rootschat is to the home page then  new replies   is not on the home page.

Mike
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Thursday 18 January 18 19:08 GMT (UK)
I reckon some do just go for the information provided without any acknowledgement as recently I have seen some very abrupt (and rather rude) requests arise on here. 

With no 'please' when making a request are you really expecting a 'thanks' for a response?

Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: colmc on Thursday 18 January 18 19:17 GMT (UK)
And if your bookmark to rootschat is to the home page then  new replies   is not on the home page.

Mike

Extending the banner with the messages link on home page to include new replies would be a welcome addition.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: mazi on Thursday 18 January 18 19:21 GMT (UK)
And if your bookmark to rootschat is to the home page then  new replies   is not on the home page.

Mike

Extending the banner with the messages link on home page to include new replies would be a welcome addition.

That is really interesting, any reasonable person could easily think that  messages. was just that,  ie replies to your question

Mike
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: sandiep on Thursday 18 January 18 19:23 GMT (UK)
perhaps a thank you key could be added to posts ffor people to acknowledge
I know it is easy to type in but I think people have got used to "just a Click"
I would always type in preference
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: dawnsh on Thursday 18 January 18 19:53 GMT (UK)
I think the system defaults to 'Instantly but only for the first reply' for notifications when people sign up to RC.

Sadly if they miss that notification, for whatever reason, they won't get another one until they come back to their topic.

I think Trystan and Sarah took a long hard look at this as they don't want RC to be tainted as a spamming website with loads of notifications going out to all and sundry who may not want them.

I do have my notifications set to instantly though, my email inbox doesn't seem to mind the number I get, I tend to keep an eye on what has been replied to but usually click on 'new replies' just in case something gets overlooked.

Pm's were mentioned but if their post count stands at 1, they won't necessarily get the notification of a pm or be able to reply to it.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: isobelw on Thursday 18 January 18 19:59 GMT (UK)
I've never used 'New Replies'. After a bit of digging I have now found the tab to click. There are some new responses today to queries that I responded to yesterday that have not fed through as notifications to my email today and also I have had some email notifications today that are not showing up as 'New Replies'.
Isobel
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: sarah on Thursday 18 January 18 20:34 GMT (UK)

It is not always obvious what is going on with members ??? ??? ???, I checked with a member (of over 10 years) who had 100's of posts but with no replies, I sent a PM to see if they knew how to reply to a topic and notified them of a topic where 2 brand new members had done 1 reply each - but no response they apologised for not replying in the past but then went to reply by pm to the new members could not reply to which I made them aware of..? 
Same week brand new member first thing they did was turn off all email notifications, I got in touch to say that we are unable to notify when the person they were interested in contacting wished to reply.

If you have any concerns if you let me know who I can always check.

Sarah
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Deirdre784 on Thursday 18 January 18 20:47 GMT (UK)
I have to admit that I’d never seen the ‘new replies’ button until tonight 🙄 I get lots of notifications, and tend to read them asap, and my current bookmark is set to the home page, but i plan to give ‘new replies’ a go now 🤪
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: MaxD on Friday 19 January 18 09:19 GMT (UK)
Final thought on all the above - keep calm and carry on [waiting for responses].

MaxD
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Deirdre784 on Friday 19 January 18 09:48 GMT (UK)
 ;D
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: rosie99 on Friday 19 January 18 12:34 GMT (UK)
MaxD, 

I always find your answers really informative and often lengthy, posting all you have found. (I wish they were my relatives  ;) )   Perhaps another option is to not give too much information on your first reply but suggest you have found more information if they are interested.   :-\   :)

Rosie
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 12:41 GMT (UK)
Just checking the difference between unread posts and new replies.

Does new replies just show threads to which you have contributed?  If so how does it treat those threads to which you have used the un notify button?

Unread topics - all messages to which you haven't contributed (unless includes those topics where you have un notified too) which have been posted since the last time you visited the board?

Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: MaxD on Friday 19 January 18 13:13 GMT (UK)
Rosie - wise words (as usual), I'll have a think about that although if they haven't got their preferences set up correctly (which I'm beginning to think is the most likely cause) then they aren't going to see that either. No real answer  :(.

MaxD
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Friday 19 January 18 13:15 GMT (UK)
Just checking the difference between unread posts and new replies.

Does new replies just show threads to which you have contributed?  If so how does it treat those threads to which you have used the un notify button?

Unread topics - all messages to which you haven't contributed (unless includes those topics where you have un notified too) which have been posted since the last time you visited the board?

Pheno

Notify and unread/new replies are different. The only reason that posts will not show in unreads/new replies is if you ignore the topics. 

Gadget

Added - however, if you've already looked at your posts via Notifications,  they won't show in subsequent unreads/new replies until a new post has been made in that topic.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 13:36 GMT (UK)
Sorry but that still doesn't explain to me the difference between unread and new replies.

I have only ever used unread posts so that I see all threads that are current which have had replies that I have not yet picked up on - and that's whether I have posted to the topic or not.

What would I see if I clicked new replies then? (and I know someobody is going to say try it then but I want to know what the intended difference is and would I be better switching to new replies)

Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: JenB on Friday 19 January 18 13:39 GMT (UK)
'New replies' are restricted to replies to threads on which you have posted.

I always check those first, then go to 'unread'.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Friday 19 January 18 13:41 GMT (UK)
Unreads are all the latest posts that you've not read. Replies are the latest posts on threads that you've replied to but have not read so far. 

It's really what it says - unread  and new replies.

Sorry, Jennifer - hit post and red warning came up at same time - I'm too quick for the warnings  :-X
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Friday 19 January 18 13:46 GMT (UK)
Another thing that you can do is to Mark all messages as read, Mark selected as read and Ignore topics:

Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 13:47 GMT (UK)
Ok so actually confirming exactly the distinction that I put in my original post.

How does the distinction between unread and new work regarding threads on which you have posted previously but have subsequently marked as 'unnotify'.  Do they still appear as new as you have posted at some point or is the system now capable of ignoring them and so they just appear in unread?

Thanks I do make use of mark all messages as read.

Thanks, Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Friday 19 January 18 13:50 GMT (UK)
Have a go at experimenting and see what happens  ;D
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 13:51 GMT (UK)
Yes I knew somebody was going to put that as I said originally.

I would like to understand the logic but never mind.

Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Gadget on Friday 19 January 18 13:55 GMT (UK)
Unnotify is a completely separate process  from the online Unread, New replies and Ignore.
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 14:01 GMT (UK)
Yes I know that but once I have used the 'unnotify' function so that I don't keep getting messages in my email inbox that someone else has posted to the thread in which I had previously been interested does it also prevent it from appearing in the new replies listing too.  And if the answer to this is yes then I am presuming that it will therefore appear in the unread topics listing unless the thread is closed to me forever more?

Anyway call it a day now - I hadn't realised my original query would necessitate so much typing.

Regards, Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: dawnsh on Friday 19 January 18 14:14 GMT (UK)
Yes I know that but once I have used the 'unnotify' function so that I don't keep getting messages in my email inbox that someone else has posted to the thread in which I had previously been interested does it also prevent it from appearing in the new replies listing too.  And if the answer to this is yes then I am presuming that it will therefore appear in the unread topics listing unless the thread is closed to me forever more?

Anyway call it a day now - I hadn't realised my original query would necessitate so much typing.

Regards, Pheno

As a moderator, I am asked to get involved in lots of topics for which I have no further interest after, say for example, correcting a typo or moving a topic to another board. Trystan has set the system up so that moderators can carry on keeping an eye on a topic they have become involved in indirectly.

However, on the whole, I no longer have an interest so chose then to 'un-notify' from the topic.

I then don't get any further email notifications for that topic nor do they appear under the 'new replies' button.

However, they do continue to be under the 'unread posts' button should my interest for the topic occur later.

Your current notifications are here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;area=notification;u=131685
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: Pheno on Friday 19 January 18 14:26 GMT (UK)
Thanks Dawn - a concise answer to my original query.

Pheno
Title: Re: Notifications - not a rant
Post by: iluleah on Friday 19 January 18 14:46 GMT (UK)

How does the distinction between unread and new work regarding threads on which you have posted previously but have subsequently marked as 'unnotify'.  Do they still appear as new as you have posted at some point or is the system now capable of ignoring them and so they just appear in unread?

ANY post you make or if you answer another post, when anyone else replies be it 1 day, 1 month or 1 year later after you last read it will show in 'new replies' which is really useful as only the other day someone replied to an old question of mine which alerted me

* Sorry Dawnsh I should have read to the end of the thread before I answered, repeating you