Bug Watching threads sometimes doesn't work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Borek
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Users are experiencing issues with the "Watch the thread" feature, particularly with not receiving alerts for new posts in photo contest threads. It appears that alerts may stop if users do not visit or engage with the thread regularly. Some users suggest that unchecking and rechecking the "Watch the thread" option can resolve the issue. There are also mentions of potential software bugs affecting alert notifications for threads not actively watched. Overall, the discussion highlights the need for awareness of these quirks within the forum's functionality.
Borek
Mentor
Messages
29,123
Reaction score
4,541
Each time Zz starts a new photo contest thread I click "Watch the thread". Perhaps that's just me, but for at least two last weeks I didn't get a single alert when people posted in these threads (I believe I haven't seen alerts earlier as well, but I didn't pay attention then, now I am sure).

I get other alerts OK.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Do you go to the thread each time you get an alert? As far as I know, if you don't go to the thread every time you get a new alert, you won't get the subsequent alerts. Once you've read everything in the thread, you start getting alerts again.

If that is not the case, then there might be bugs in the software. Some days back, @DaveC426913 complained about getting alerts for media added to categories which he was never watching (I think he still gets it). You might be a victim of the same bug.
 
Sometimes, threads I have clicked for watching stop working.
To fix this, I unclick watch the thread at the top of the thread and then click it back on again. This usually works for me.
 
Borek said:
"Watch the thread".
"You want egg in your beer?" It's the little quirks that give PF its ambience.
 
BillTre said:
Sometimes, threads I have clicked for watching stop working.

Alerts do stop after some time, when you don't visit nor post in the thread. That's not the case here, as I have not seen anything but the first post.

To fix this, I unclick watch the thread at the top of the thread and then click it back on again. This usually works for me.

Hard to fix something when you have no idea it is broken.
 
Last edited:
Borek said:
Hard to fix something when you have no idea it is broken.
This is true.

However, now you are alerted to the existence of the problem.
The rules have changed.
 
Bystander said:
It's the little quirks that give PF its ambience.
Only if it's the two-legged kind. :wink:
 
Back
Top