Just an Idea: Clarification of "Add your own comment..."

As I've been adding comments to Plant/Bug/Bird Files, I've noticed something. People are using the File comments to ask questions. The system for these notes do not allow anyone to comment directly to the comments. This is fine, I am not asking to change that.

Some of the people may end up wondering why their questions have never been answered. I can not know for sure, but just guessing, if they do not use the forums.

Could there be something noticeable on that form saying questions cannot be answered through the Files and direct people to suitable forums? Maybe put the text in a different color so it stands out. Possibly after the "Please provide a complete, yet concise note to support your rating."

Thank you.

Yes, I've noticed that too. PlantFiles is not the place for questions, but many people apparently don't know about the forums. Good idea to post a "warning" message.

If you spot those, use the report an error and we'll edit out the question and let them know where to go for help (if it's recent; if not, we'll just delete the question.)

We could add a warning, but color me cynical about how effective it would be.

Case in point, we have a very prominent (red, bold) warning on Ask-a-Gardener that identification questions should go to the Plant ID forum (with a green bold hyperlink to the forum), and I routinely clean out a half-dozen or more plant ID questions every time I browse around in there...at least a couple times a week.

We put a warning at the top of the GWD comments that if you need to flag a company for our attention (closed, out of date info, TOS violations, etc.), use the "Contact us" link to tell us, rather than adding it as a review. Again, routinely disregarded.

And I understand - I don't know how many times I've stumbled around an unfamiliar area or website, and made a blunder, only to discover the information was right in front of my eyes. It's a pretty typical human failing :-)

Thank you for replying and explaining your experiences here. I will do as you suggest. :)

Terry,

I just came across the BugFiles How-to's and you are right... It says right at the top, "Note: Questions about identifying a bug, or how to treat an infestation should be directed to the appropriate forum, where thousands of subscribers share information and advice. " Yet, there are quite a few posts asking for IDs.

But kennedyh is so patient with the identity seekers, explaining what that forum is meant for before he proceeds to identify the bug. :)