Unanswered questions. A possible soloution (?)

[Count-A-Strong]

Dearest Ed, would it be possible to have a small number appear next to each topic which would indicate the number of unanswered questions in said topic?

This would solve the problem of the present unanswered questions box only being able to contain the 10 (or so) most recent posts. It would also help those with a specialist knowledge to be able to target relevant questions. Another advantage would be that unanswered posts would remain more visible for slonger period of time. Obviously they would need to have a 'shelf life' after which posts would permenantly disappear.

Apologies if this has been suggested before.

[squarebear]

or you could click on the unanswered questions tab on each category?

[chrissa1]

That's a good idea c a s. I've had a Technology Question which I'm sure someone could have helped me with but it got buried very quickly and I stlll need help.

[Count-A-Strong]

True squarebear but you have to do a little digging to find them and we know how lazy some of us are!

[snags]

''you have to do a little digging''

Two clicks of the mouse. The same as if you saw a little number next to each topic...

[Count-A-Strong]

Agreed, but unless you go into the topic you cannot see whether there are ANY unanswered questions. I f there were a number, it would alert the 'experts' to the fact that people needed help.

[snags]

''but unless you go into the topic you cannot see whether there are ANY unanswered questions''

Show me a topic that has no unanswered questions in it... every topic have unanswered questions in, all the time ;-p

[AB Editor]

I think it would end up looking like an email inbox and look a bit cluttered. It is a nice idea however. What you want is a way to assess whther it is worth clicking through into other categories?

One idea would be for the bracketed numbers (of unanswered questions) to appear when a user clicks on the "topics" button/link at the top of the topics list?

What do we think?

Spare Ed

[society]

"Two clicks of the mouse. The same as if you saw a little number next to each topic... "

Most times none give a thought about non-answered questions. I'm sure most just click on the questions from the grey box.

[Count-A-Strong]

By which time they've generally been answered society but I do agree that the Ed's suggestion would still be a 'discovery' procedure whereas my idea would make it instantly recognisable that questions hadn't been answered.