help_chats_vs_threads.md

opening a new question

• current system:
  • send a message in an #ask-here channel
  • causes confusion when people "lose" their channel
• with threads:
  • create a new thread in a #help channel (one of #java-help, #bedrock-help, etc)
  • people won't "lose" their thread because it will appear right below the channel they just typed in
• potential automation:
  • have users send a message in #help -> bot creates a new thread -> pings asker from within thread

finding a question

• current system:
  • scan over the list of channels looking for your name
  • or use channel finder/go-to (ctrl+k) and type your name
  • causes confusion if the question has been resolved/recycled
  • helpers need to remember which people/channels they are helping in
• with threads:
  • look under the #help channel you choose for the thread you're active in
  • helpers can open threads they want to partake in, which adds it to their sidebar
  • threads also support channel finder/go-to (ctrl+k)
  • might cause issues if the thread has been archived, but this is much less of an issue with threads than with channels
  • asker can always search through their own archived threads, much easier than with channels

resolving a question

• current system:
  • anyone can use the resolve emoji/reaction
• with threads:
  • asker (or staff) can archive the thread
  • threads get automatically archived after some time
• potential automation:
  • if the bot creates the threads, then have a reaction/emoji/command to archive the thread
  • have the bot automatically archive threads based on some different or finer-grained criteria than what threads normally offer

reminding a question

• current system vs with threads would probably work the same (except that threads aren't recycled)

relocating somebody

• current system:
  • use an emoji, bot pings the person and tells them to read #welcome and find an #ask-here channel
• with threads:
  • same, but tell them to go to a #help channel instead
• potential automation:
  • if the bot is already creating threads, consider copying their message into the help-channel and starting a new thread from it all in one go

hub channel

• lists all active threads along with their asker and status
• useful for displaying additional custom "metadata" apart from thread titles
• things like: whether the question is new/old, whether its java vs bedrock, etc
• whetehr this is useful/worthwhile depends on how well the thread list and thread titles can already display this information