User:Sphilbrick/Proposal regarding reports to notification boards
 | This page in a nutshell: A minor change to the software to add a box so editors can automatically notify relevant parties would reduce failed notifications. A more ambitious option would help direct posts to the right notice board. |
Many users need to make a report to one of the noticeboards. Many of the newer editors, and even some veterans manage to miss one of the critical steps--notification of the involved parties. This sometimes happens out of ignorance, but sometimes the editor is interrupted after adding the report, and doesn't do so immediately. This is a perfect task for a computer.
Simple solution
Whenever a user currently clicks on the link to start a new discussion thread, the usual edit window is presented, with a field for the subject and a field for the body. A better approach would intercept the request, and posts three fields:
- Subject
- Main text
- Notify list
The third item would be a box in which one can enter the name of the relevant user. Each item you enter one, a new box is added, so you can add as many parties as needed. When you are done, click save page as usual, which will fail (once) with a message if you haven't identified a name. The message would say something like "At least one user name must be entered". (There may be legitimate reasons for not using this feature; the first time you try to post it will fail will a message, but if you click Save Page again it will work.) If a name or names have been entered, the thread is created as usual, and each of the names received a notification simultaneously, including a link to the section.
There are obviously some details to work out regarding the form design. This doesn't solve all problems, an editor may need to notify two users, and only lists one, but it will eliminate the vast majority of notification errors.
Ambitious solution
One other common problem at ANI is editors who post there when they really should be posting elsewhere.
When you click the link to add a new section, there are links to bring you to other noticeboards. While that option is used someimes, it is often not used. Almost every day, someone posts to ANI about a matter that belongs elsewhere. In some cases, editors may be deliberately posting at the wrong noticeboard because ANI has more eyes, but that is an abuse of process. Under the present setup, the editor can claim they missed the notice at the top. We know that editors miss notices in big, bold red, and I confess I don't always pay attention to the notices at the top of the page, so I can't fault editors too much. The solution is to make it:
- Easier to post to the correct location
- Harder to post to the wrong location.
I envision that clicking the new section button would be intercepted, and instead of simply two boxes, one for the subject and one for the text, the editor would be presented with four boxes. The first would contain radio buttons, such as:
- BLP
- 3RR or Edit warning
...
- Arbcom ruling
- Dispute resolution
- Other
If any of the first entries are selected, the text next to the entry will change to "This report will be filed at the BLP/3RR/.../Arcom ruling/Dispute resolution/ANI noticeboard"
Then there would be an entry box for subject, one for the test, and one as above, to enter user names. When the user hits page page, the entry will be posted to the relevant board and the editor will be left at that board. Only if the user affirmatively selects the last entry "Other" will the post go to ANI. This means the user has to affirmatively state that the issue is not one of the other items, and they can do so with a single mouse click. They cannot claim they didn't see the list as they can only post of they affirmatively choose from the list. We should debate whether there is a default, but it should not default to the "Other" entry. My first choice is to leave it blank and require that the user pick one. It isn't hard.
This process will help drive the posts to the right noticeboard, at almost no cost to the editor, and major savings because there will be fewer requests to take it tot he right board. This will help newer editors, who may feel that an issue needs admin attention, and know that ANI exists, but aren't aware of some of the other boards.