Recommending another member to answer a question

[SW VandeCarr]

Occasionally, after responding to a post, I find that some other specific member or members might be in a better position to answer the OP. I know there's a rule against negatively referencing a member in a post, but what about a recommendation? The OP could send a private message to that person, but there's also the possibility that the member recommended might not be interested.

 

[Evo]

Do you mean telling the OP to pm another member that is not participating? Perhaps asking the other member if they would like to join the thread, as long as it wasn't done regularly, might be ok. I would recommend against asking the other member to correspond via pm, discussions should go in the forum.

 

[lisab]

I've done that once that I can remember. Someone was inquiring about a specific profession, and one of our active members is in that profession (and has made it public on many occasions). So I sent him a PM alerting him to the thread.

 

[SW VandeCarr]

Do you mean telling the OP to pm another member that is not participating?

Yes

Perhaps asking the other member if they would like to join the thread, as long as it wasn't done regularly, might be ok. I would recommend against asking the other member to correspond via pm, discussions should go in the forum.

So perhaps I should pm the member and invite him/her to join? It would be rare. I occasionally get interesting stats related physics questions in the stats forum, but not being a physicist I'm not sure I'm giving out useful information.

 

[Evo]

So perhaps I should pm the member and invite him/her to join? It would be rare.

I don't see a problem with that.

 

[Danger]

I have very frequently greeted a newcomer with the mention that I couldn't help but perhaps a specific member could. That was usually a reference to Space Tiger for astrophysics or Brewnog for mechanical engineering. That's usually enough to get their attention within a day or two. On a couple of occasions, I have PM'd a member to alert him/her about a thread that I knew would be of particular interest.
So far, nobody has complained about that approach.

 

[Redbelly98]

So perhaps I should pm the member and invite him/her to join? It would be rare.

I don't see a problem with that.

Me either, reiterating the part that it is done infrequently.

But suggesting to a relatively new member to PM so-and-so might give the wrong impression that it's okay to do that routinely.

 

[drizzle]

I suggest that you add a feature in 'My PF' where the member interested in helping will receive all new threads that hold key words which he/her find interesting, and would give a helping hand.

Of course, another feature would be necessary, it should be added among the new thread buttons, which is 'key words'... Just a thought though

 

[DR13]

Or we could use a "tag" system like they now have on facebook. It could send an auto pm or email to the person tagged. If the member gets annoyed by the tags they could have a way to turn the feature off.

Any thoughts?

 

[Evo]

I think the situation is rare enough that we don't need an actual process.

No one here gets paid for responding, so to continually impose on certain members would not be something we would want to encourage.

We already have a large number of very qualified members that look into threads in their area of expertise as time permits. I wouldn't want to drive any of them away by making them feel obligated to respond when they don't have time.

But suggestions are always welcomed.

 

[Andre]

I have seen a forum, where you can "ping" other members, inviting them to look at a post or a thread.

 

[DR13]

I have seen a forum, where you can "ping" other members, inviting them to look at a post or a thread.

This is what I mean. It seems like it would serve a good purpose.

 

[Redbelly98]

What would such a feature do, that sending a PM does not do?

 

[Andre]

What would such a feature do, that sending a PM does not do?

Oh it would save a few minutes, but the "pinging" forum in question is more into dialogs, open mails directed to specific members where others anc react to.

Here is one forum that has this 'ping' feature.

Just information, no opinion.

 

[Evo]

I don't think we want to encourage bothering members as a function. That would just be begging for abuse by the people wanting their homework done NOW.

 

[DR13]

That would just be begging for abuse by the people wanting their homework done NOW.

Then don't have it be an option in the homework forum

 

[Evo]

Then don't have it be an option in the homework forum

Most "urgent" homework requests are not posted in the Homework section.

Things work fine the way they are, where a member can choose to participate when and where they want.

 

[DR13]

Or you could only give PF Mentors the tag function. They would certainly not abuse the function.

 

[ZapperZ]

Just so we are clear on this:

1. It is not a good idea (in fact, I would recommend against it) to tell a member to PM another member regarding a particular topic/thread

2. All open discussion should be done in the forums. Not only is there less of a hassle, the fact that other members can also look at it ensures that the probability that one is being passed wrong/faulty/etc. information is less. Furthermore, other members who have similar questions can learn from such discussions.

3. PM'ing another member who you think might have the expertise to look at a particular thread is a good idea. It is certainly better than being asked to solve a problem via PM.

Zz.