A related issue is: why so many emails with the (irrelevant) subject: "Reporting a problem with the Open Office website"
I assume there must be a mailto: link somewhere that is producing this. The surrounding text may need to be tweaked to reduce these. On 5 September 2013 22:48, Kay Schenk <kay.sch...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 6:29 AM, sebb <seb...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> On 5 September 2013 12:00, Rob Weir <robw...@apache.org> wrote: >> > On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 5:24 AM, sebb <seb...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> The dev list sees the occasional thread which IMO really belongs on >> >> the user list/forum >> >> >> >> Although it is convenient for the poster to have the question answered >> >> on the dev list, I wonder if that is the best approach overall. >> >> >> >> The disadvantages of not referring the poster to the user list are >> several: >> >> >> >> - other users don't benefit from the thread >> >> - the dev list is cluttered with the off-topic threads >> >> - the poster may continue to use the dev list rather than the user >> >> list/forum where there are lots more potential responders >> >> >> >> Just a thought. >> >> >> > >> > This is all true. We also get user questions to the private mailing >> > list, and via the press alias address. And we also get product >> > support questions to the Bugzilla admin alias and the ezmlm admin >> > alias. >> > >> > But I don't think we actively encourage users to post questions to do >> > these things. But it is a puzzle why this happens. >> > >> > The main contact page for the project, on the footer of every web page >> is this: >> > >> > http://www.openoffice.org/contact_us.html >> > >> > We've adjusted this over time, to make sure that the support options >> > were first and more prominent. But we still get misdirected emails, >> > to the dev, private, etc. lists. But with a million downloads a week >> > there will always be some small number of users who don't read that >> > page carefully, or maybe think they will get a faster response if they >> > send to a different list. >> >> [And they are proved right when their off-topic questions are promptly >> answered ...] >> >> The second heading currently says: >> >> "If you want to contact the Apache OpenOffice developer team..." >> >> which may explain some of the misdirected questions. >> [Who better to ask than a developer if there is a problem? >> Maybe I'll get a faster response?] >> >> I think that section should have some explanation as to when it is >> appropriate to contact the team directly. >> Possibly move it further down the page as well. >> > > Maybe the "contact the Apache OpenOffice developer team" needs to be > removed from the "Contact Us" page entirely. Honestly, given the context, > I'm not sure this belongs here. Maybe delete that section and add a heading > at the end called Mailing Lists and route them to the project mailing list > page. That might encourage users to make a better choice for contacting. > > > > >> > -Rob >> > >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org >> >> For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org >> >> >> > >> > --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org >> > For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org >> > >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org >> For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org >> >> > > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > MzK > > "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged > to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." > -- "Following the Equator", Mark Twain --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org
