FAQ update 3/28: Difference between forums and answers/questions

1. 68

   Sue Adamsposted 12 years ago

   I read both forum entries and answers/questions entries but the two features seem to overlap. Many of the questions asked in "answers" are technical questions asked by hubbers about HP. Some elicit long threads of answers just like in the forums. Since the "questions/answers" feature is linked to our individual domains, putting HP related questions there probably adds value to individual domains . Is that why people do it? As far as I know, forum entries on the other hand are not part of our domain.
   
   If that is the only difference, then should I have put this question in the answer/question section?
   
   Confused

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The Questions and Answers section of our site is intended to inspire high quality Hubs (while still giving people the option to post short, helpful answers).
      
      It is not designed for discussion or troubleshooting issues, but is often used for both (much to our chagrin, though it is up to us to fix the messaging and design of the section to change this).
      
      Your question definitely belongs in the Forums. Sorry for our not-quite-perfected Q&A section! We're hyper focused on quality and improving Hubbers' earnings now, and working on Q&A is not something that will move those projects forward. :-/

      replyreport
   2. 69

      Matthew Meyerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Sue.
      
      The question/answer section is intended to research information to be used in order to create a Hub.
      It is not intended for discussion, topics un-related to making a Hub, or technical or other questions intended that require the response of HP staff.
      
      Any sort of discussion should take place in the forums.
      There are topics for each type of forum discussion.
      
      So something like
      "What cleaners or tools do you use to clean your house?"
      Could be a good question in order to get some responses from the community to use for a Hub.
      "Why do you hate ELECTED OFFICIAL NAME HERE?" is not a factual question, so this would not belong in the QA section, but could be fine in the appropriate forum topic.
      
      Any technical inquiry about HP should be posted here, as you have done.

      replyreport
2. 87

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   The original purpose of the "Questions" section was to give Hubbers ideas for new Hubs.
   
   People are not supposed to post HP-related questions in the Questions section, but newbies don't understand that.   If they notice the "answers" tab before they notice the "forum" tab, they're naturally going to post there.  After all, it sounds like a very logical place to get answers, doesn't it?
   
   You can earn a small amount from ads on a question, so you're right, I'm sure some people post there instead of the forums for that reason. 
   
   HubPages have tried to "fix" this section so many times without success, I wonder if it's worth having.
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/108829#post2315665

   replyreport
3. 70

   LCDWriterposted 12 years ago

   Wow, I read all the Learning Center Stuff but did not know the difference between the forum and questions area!  I must have missed it or forgotten it.
   
   Useful information.  I'll use the correct places next time I have a technical or hub related question.

   replyreport
4. 68

   Sue Adamsposted 12 years ago

   Thank you Simone & Mathew for clarifying the issue. Again, this is related to what is public (for non-signed in readers) and internal. I understand how busy you are and that this is not high priority. However, a couple of sentences under the Questions heading quoted from your responses to this forum thread should fix this. Like:
   
   "Questions and Answers is intended for short, helpful answers to non HP related questions and to inspire high quality Hubs. It is not designed for discussion or troubleshooting issues. Any sort of discussion should take place in the forums."
   
   Or something to that effect...

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed - actually I thought that had already been added, I see it hasn't.

      replyreport
5. 68

   Sue Adamsposted 12 years ago

   Here is an even shorter version of what could go below the Answers/Question Heading:
   
   "Our Answer feature is for Questions of interest to the general public and to inspire HP authors to write  new Hubs on your favorite topics. Technical / trouble shooting Questions requiring discussion should be posted in the Forums."
   
   And if that fails to work ... why not idle/unpublish Questions that don't meet certain rules and standards, just like we do with Hubs, hey?

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Apparently they do idle questions too.

      replyreport
   2. 69

      Matthew Meyerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the great suggestion.
      We have added further info related to the question in the FAQ.
      You can see the update here:
      http://hubpages.com/faq/#questions

      replyreport
      1. 68

         Sue Adamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         That's all very well Matthew but How many people read the FAQ? The answers section is still full of questions asked by new hubbers as to how to handle the site. Wouldn't it be more effective to place a short guidance line directly under the Answers heading? Just put:
         
         "Technical questions about HubPages should not be asked here but in the in the forums."

         replyreport
         1. 69

            Matthew Meyerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            @Sue Adams
            Thanks for the suggestion.
            I have forwarded the information to our engineering team.

            replyreport
      2. 87

         Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Matthew, that's great but as Sue says, real men don't read instructions. 
         
         To misquote Rumsfeld, a lot of newbies don't know they don't know.   No one is going to check the FAQ to see what the Questions section is for, if they can see with their own eyes that it's a place to ask questions.  That's the fundamental problem.

         replyreport
         1. 69

            Matthew Meyerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Very valid point and I agree.
            The request has been forwarded to our engineering team.

            replyreport
6. 82

   Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years ago

   Changing the name of the Questions section to something that is more descriptive will also help.  How about "Ideas Bank" or "Ideas for New Hubs"

   replyreport
7. 70

   LCDWriterposted 12 years ago

   I think that is a good idea Millionaire T.  That's where I got confused.  I thought all of it was the "forum" and that the tabs represented different aspects of the same forum.

   replyreport