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    I have noticed that there are a lot of answers supplied by moderators who mark their answer as the accepted answer.

    This practice needs to stop as it is self serving and it may not be the correct answer to the question and serves it seems to only bolster one's own point total for bragging rights. Only the person who asked a question should be allowed to mark their question as answered where they should provide the details that were specific to that questions resolution.

    Even a question has not been updated for some time after a suggestion was made should not be marked by ANYONE as answered as it still may not be exactly what was needed and only the person asking really know what worked or not.

    Please stop this self serving policy.




    • Edited by CJlindell Friday, April 6, 2012 7:23 PM
    • Changed type CJlindell Monday, April 9, 2012 3:06 PM Is discussion more than question
    Friday, April 6, 2012 4:46 PM

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    I agree with you! That has always been one of my pet peeves as well. I don't think the behavior is going to stop anytime soon though, unfortunately.

    The only time I have ever marked my reply as an answer was when the OP has replied and said my post solved his problem, but then didn't mark my reply. I'll ask him to, but if he still doesn't, then I will. This has really only happened a few times.

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Sunday, April 8, 2012 3:27 PM
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    I see a lot of moderator that propose their answer as answer. After some day they mark it as answer. That is a good way to work in the forum. A lot of users does not mark their answers, on almost 1/3 of my post the moderator had to mark the answer, and it was cleaver answer, not some obscure reply.

    For someone that answer a lot, it get fustrating when users don't mark their answer, that way to manage in the forum make it make it better! Don't forget that to be a moderator, you have to get a strong knowledge of the technologie, so most of time their answer are good.

    MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring


    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 2:41 AM
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    Even though the moderator has proposed an answer, no one really knows of sure if it was indeed the solution. If it was a great method, suggestion or proposal only one person can answer and truly mark it as the answer.

    I am proposing that Microsoft add another category titled something like "Answer Suggested" to allow moderators the ability to mark an unresponsive thread after they send an email to the ticket creator asking if a solution has been found if not they will mark the question "Answer Suggested".

    This would give membership a way to search for possible answers to their questions even if a questions originator has not accepted an answer.

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:07 PM
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    There is already a "Marked As Proposed Answer" and I've frequently seen it being used in the manner in which you just described. It will often get "promoted" to the Answer if the OP does not come back to the thread to say yay or nay, but I think it should remain as "Proposed Answer" ... just my 2 cents.

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:25 PM
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    If the OP does not come back to the thread to say yay or nay, it should remain as "Proposed Answer" ... just my 2 cents.

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Forgive me from editing your response, however great minds think alike and we are in agreement. How does anyone lobby for the change so it stays as the "Proposed Answer" if the OP does not respond? Perhaps the forum needs a permissions change to lock the moderators out of marking the question as answered?

    Tell me what is OP?

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:48 PM
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    Like I told, too much user don't mark the answer. The recognition system need a answer... and if you recognize the person that help you bring new people on the forum to help.

    And If a moderator mark an answer, you can unselect-it too as a answer as the thread starter, and you just have to report the moderator back as abuse. My 0.02c.

    But I agree that the moderator should propose as answer, and mark it as answer later on (usually I see like 3-4 day later)

    In all case, I just check if the marked answer was by the thread starter or not, you will have your answer if the user came back.

    (I answered you on another thread you started some time ago, but you got asked if the issue was ok or not before the mark as answer. I see nothing wrong there and the answer is ok, it refer you to some reference and ask you further detail)

    MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring


    • Edited by Yagmoth555MVP Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:05 PM Added the last comment
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 4:49 PM
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    Like I told, too much user don't mark the answer. The recognition system need a answer... and if you recognize the person that help you bring new people on the forum to help.

    And If a moderator mark an answer, you can unselect-it too as a answer as the thread starter, and you just have to report the moderator back as abuse. My 0.02c.

    But I agree that the moderator should propose as answer, and mark it as answer later on (usually I see like 3-4 day later)

    In all case, I just check if the marked answer was by the thread starter or not, you will have your answer if the user came back.

    MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

    Sorry this is BS, horse pucky or what ever you want to call it.

    "The recognition system need a answer" NO it does not.

    The recognition system needs a answer to server what purpose? Please explain

    Only the person who posted the question would know if the proposed solution worked or not, no one can say it did and for anyone else that may see an answer was proposed that may have a similar problem can try it for themselves.

    A proposed answer left unvalidated serves to provide the best possible attempt to assist, without validation NO ONE can say it worked.

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:10 PM
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    "Sorry this is BS, horse pucky or what ever you want to call it. "

    Everyone got opinions, I understand your, but I have my own. So lets not start some flame there please. I tried to help BTW on the other thread if you didnt recognized it, and at the same time your thread bumped to get further reading.

    ""The recognition system need a answer" NO it does not."

    Why they did it then ?

    "The recognition system needs a answer to server what purpose? Please explain"

    Why they did it that way is the question to ask ?

    "A proposed answer left unvalidated serves to provide the best possible attempt to assist, without validation NO ONE can say it worked."

    Why ? Because any moderator have their knowledge on the technology forum you used, and I thrust them to judge was is ok or not. That will help other user out. An unanswered question without detail is ok, but with a good answer, it better show some other way in the search for everyone else

    When you ask for help and don't come back, it's like calling a tech support and put them on hold IMO. What told us that you did not read the answer and it worked ?

    MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring


    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:24 PM
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    Yag, your cool I'm not bagging on you, just the current system. You're trying to help and it's ok to disagree.

    In my world I may be working on a project have a problem and then I may not get back to it for days weeks or months due to other things that need my guidance or intervention, so in marking one of my questions as answered I feel overridden yet my project is on hold. Perhaps I will mark my questions as on hold if I can.

    Working as a tech I have frequently seen a ticket resolved without knowing exactly what the solution was, this happens and no one should be offended when it does.

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:55 PM
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    They should maybe make the mark as answer appear differently when the answer is set by moderator ?, but I understand that it can be fustrating too the way it's now. I guess you better just re-post when you will be ready to work on the problem, as when I look in the forum to help I never check pass the third page on my side

    MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring


    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 6:11 PM
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     They don't get points or credit toward achievements unless their reply gets marked as an answer. Always, the best outcome is for the original poster to mark the answer, and the person that provided the answer gets more points if the OP marks. That's why I try to wait for 7 days of inactivity before marking answers, but I mark proposed answers in the meantime to kick start things.

    Thats the problem, moderators are trying to cash in on points, it's like the cookie monster is watching the cookie jar so they can accumulate more points.
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 6:40 PM
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    Richard --- CJ's original complaint was about moderators who mark their own posts as answers.

    CJ ---  "OP" stands for Original Poster, the person who started the thread. But it could also mean Original Post, the actual content of that first post. You usually can tell by the context of the sentence which meaning is intended.

    I still don't like people marking their own posts as an answer. Yes, it might be great advice and be helpful and all ... but often a poster will describe his problem and none of the responses help him for his specific problem. This is typically because the OP hasn't adequately explained his problem or he has left out some important details. What might then seem to us as a great answer doesn't work for the OP at all. But we don't know that unless he comes back and tells us. In situtations such as this, I think leaving posts marked as Proposed Answer is the best solution.

    But hey, nobody ever listens to me ... ;0)

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Thursday, April 12, 2012 1:54 PM
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    Richard,

    If a moderator marks their own reply, the points are not affected. The achievements, I believe, do get affected.

    I think it's OK to let moderators mark the response after 7 or more days of inactivity when it's clear that that response was an answer.

    For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Becker's Law


    My blog

    Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:44 PM
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    For points I know for sure that they are not affected if the moderator marked their own response - that was the change after the new Achievements system was put into place. 

    For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Becker's Law


    My blog

    Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:30 PM
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    Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't really give a sh$t about points. I don't answer questions for the points or for recognition. I do it because I like to do it. Period. Yeah, I have a lot of points (not as many as Naomi!! wow!), and yeah, I'm an MVP because of my participation in forums like this, but again, that's NOT why I do it.

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:41 PM
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    > I see a lot of moderator that propose their answer as answer. After some day they mark it as answer. That is a good way to work in the forum.

    I disagree 100%. That is NOT a good way to work in the forums.

    SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx
    WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx
    Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

    Thursday, April 19, 2012 2:36 PM
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    I disagree 100%. That is NOT a good way to work in the forums

    +1

    ~~Bonnie Berent DeWitt [C# MVP]

    geek-goddess-bonnie.blogspot.com

    Thursday, April 19, 2012 3:21 PM
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    In the forums I frequent this is not common behavior. The moderators very rarely propose their own answer. And if they propose and mark it, it's only because it's indeed a good answer. 

    For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Becker's Law


    My blog

    Thursday, April 19, 2012 4:19 PM
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    -1 I think it is good as moderators can propose their own replies as answer like everybody else. 

    I don't want to be a moderator, their are in my idea better ways. However, I've the idea that own replies marked as answer by moderators don't count anymore; because I see it seldom done anymore. In fact if it does not count there is not any problem as a moderator marks his own reply as answer (Although I would never do it in the case I was an moderator). Be aware a non MSFT/MVP moderator is not direct a subject expert, it is a forum moderator. (The MSFT/MVP part is also not always true, a .Net expert is seldom an Office Expert, but can be an SQL expert (not me).

    If own marked answers of moderators still counts then maybe a good suggestion to skip those in the counting system.

    :-)

    Success
    Cor





    Friday, April 20, 2012 4:05 PM
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    Self-marked answers are no longer counted towards points.

    For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Becker's Law


    My blog


    • Edited by Naomi N Friday, April 20, 2012 4:19 PM
    Friday, April 20, 2012 4:18 PM
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    Naomi,

    I thought I forgot something in my message which does affect you, but I was to late to make a correction in my message. Not only MSFT/MVP are experts, many other contributors are as well (including moderators).

    Thank you for your reply I think this gives also for the Original Poster (the OP) a good answer on his showed problem.

    And sorry if I did offend you (without that you wrote it) in any way.

    That was the last I wanted to do, I've very much respect for you.

    Cor







    Friday, April 20, 2012 4:41 PM