Reply Instead Of Answer

[bibblebub]

A regular problem with newcomers to the site, particularly in Crosswords, is that they start another thread just to say thanks for the answers or to give amendments to the original question.

One minor change that might suggest to newbies that such responses should go in the same thread would be to change the initial wording in the answer box from Type Your Answer Here to Type Your Reply Here but only for the originator of the thread - it requires conditional formatting of the box but that shouldn't be too difficult especially since that is already done to change the background colour of replies from the OP.

Of course, it might not make any difference to the number of unnecessary threads whatever the wording.

[Mamyalynne]

Good thought, it was certainly something that confused me when I joined.

Maybe it could be even simpler...

'Type your reply/answer here'

[Svejk]

Good idea, bibble. (go on, answer me on another thread ;))

[dannyk13]

But that would not obviate additional threads Lynne.

[Mamyalynne]

Sorry Danny?

I mean it would make clear to the uninitiated that they could reply to their thread , answer does not always seem logical in one's mind when you aren't answering as such.

I was only thinking it would then require less tweaking to administer - I do agree on the principle proposed by Bibblebub.

[dannyk13]

Case in point happened earlier when posters were adding questions to another OP's thread and it got really confusing.

[mallyh]

good idea ......(to reply and say thanks)

[fiction-factory]

It's a good idea. Mayalynne's simplified version would help. But I think there are also some people who genuinely can't answer on their own threads because the submit button is not there- I think it's for old browsers and maybe some mobile devices

[Mamyalynne]

This is more about the OP.

[dannyk13]

But this should not happen FF
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1438583.html

[fiction-factory]

Yes, dannyk13- but the suggestion was about OP's who start new threads.
As a separate issue there is a case for asking people not to start new questions on a thread which has been fully answered but I think it would be unwieldy to say "type your answer/reply here unless you want to start another question in which case you should start a new thread". I think people who do this will realise fairly quickly if it's pointed out politely.

[dannyk13]

How about 'Type your reply and any additional remarks here' ?