How to get a particular TMian to notice a thread?

[scheng75]

Hi Erin,

I was wondering if we can put in a functionality where I can post someone's name in a post to get their attention, and it will notify them somehow? For example, sometimes I read someone's question and I know a particular TMian would probably know the answer so I ask the person who posts to ask those people. They then have the option of sending a PM (but then other ppl can't benefit) or they have to wait until the person (with the answer) sees the thread and post on their own. I've done that a few times with Dingus and I think Econ or Klimano, and they usually catch the thread, but there seems to be a more effective solution. Any thoughts?

[Erin]

Oops! Sorry I missed this thread.

That is a great idea. Something like a "tell so-and-so" about this thread? It seems like it wouldn't be too hard to do, since it would function a lot like a PM.

I can put this on my "hope-to-do-one-day" list.

[scheng75]

Thanks!

[bioinformatics]

send them a Private message to alert them to a thread. not that hard guys.

[scheng75]

Originally Posted by bioinformatics

send them a Private message to alert them to a thread. not that hard guys.

Of course that's always an option but sometimes it's just a joke or the possibility that a couple of people might know the answer, and personally, it's too much work for me to send everyone a PM every time I mention their name. I guess it's because 1. That increases the time I'm on TM and that means I will have less time to read other threads 2. I'm not an one-liner kind of person even when I send PM, so I have to construct a PM and proofread, takes too long. I proofread everything at least twice. So anyway, I'm just saying that your idea is correct, but it doesn't work that well for me, that's why I'm requesting it.

[awhig]

Originally Posted by scheng75

Hi Erin,

I was wondering if we can put in a functionality where I can post someone's name in a post to get their attention, and it will notify them somehow? For example, sometimes I read someone's question and I know a particular TMian would probably know the answer so I ask the person who posts to ask those people. They then have the option of sending a PM (but then other ppl can't benefit) or they have to wait until the person (with the answer) sees the thread and post on their own. I've done that a few times with Dingus and I think Econ or Klimano, and they usually catch the thread, but there seems to be a more effective solution. Any thoughts?

Correct me if I'm wrong. You are asking for a function in the form of a button on the TM editor, that when pressed , will give you list of fellow TMians.Then you will choose or highlight the TMian's name and he/she will be PMed the question of the original poster. If so, then its a good suggestion.

[Dingus]

Originally Posted by scheng75

I'm not an one-liner kind of person even when I send PM, so I have to construct a PM and proofread, takes too long. I proofread everything at least twice.

Wow. I finally found one other person who shares my obsessive traits [Well, at least partially. I think I might have a tendency to proofread even my submitted prep-school assignments now, were I to find them somewhere. ]

[scheng75]

Originally Posted by awhig

Correct me if I'm wrong. You are asking for a function in the form of a button on the TM editor, that when pressed , will give you list of fellow TMians.Then you will choose or highlight the TMian's name and he/she will be PMed the question of the original poster. If so, then its a good suggestion.

This is along the same line as my suggestion, or a way to even just call attention to a particular post, maybe not the "original" question that started the thread. I haven't quite figured out how it should be done, it was just a suggestion. One purpose would be to PM or call attention in any other way to the people who might know the answer to a particular thread. Another purpose is to alert someone when another person has "replied" or commented on their post. I know you can look through all the "subscribed" threads, but sometimes I don't have time to look through all of my "subscribed" threads and instead of going through all subscribed threads, maybe I can just read the ones that have posts directly addressed to me. For example, a lot of people do the "@scheng..." and I miss it or read it much later. Or sometimes, we crack "inside" jokes and it's not so important that I would PM someone saying, "Look at the inside joke I cracked!" but it would be nice to know that when we mention someone in a post, whether it's addressing a question, praising him/her, cracking a joke that we know he/she would enjoy, or using them as an example....that there's a way the person can be alerted in some way.

Maybe something like an automatic query that searches all the posts for your name every time you log in and list them with the most recent on top. I just thought that it would create even more of a community feel. Like I remember some people's stories and sometimes I mention them in another post somewhere else and it would be nice if these people would know that their stories have inspired or educated or made an impression...just brainstorming to make TM a better place.

[Dingus]

You can do a search for "scheng", actually. All the recent threads (~100) with your name in them will turn up. But the notification idea might be a much better one, though.

[scheng75]

Originally Posted by Dingus

You can do a search for "scheng", actually. All the recent threads (~100) with your name in them will turn up. But the notification idea might be a much better one, though.

Thanks Dingus. Yeah, I actually know this functionality, but I log onto TM sometimes 5 times or more a day and I feel a little obsessive if I'm querying my name every time. (I'm not judging anyone who does though ) I'm just trying to brainstorm to see if there's a better way.

Hee hee, you know I "call" for you to come answer questions a lot, and you are usually very good in finding the posts, but I just think there must be a more "effective" way. See, even though I'm not pursuing Econ Ph.D, I'm still always trying to look for the most "efficient" way of doing things.