11 days ago, I put forward a proposal to the moderators for a Help Desk chatroom, which we would link to the Stack Overflow comments Duga posts, and to the potentially off-topic questions on Code Review.
An example comment was simply the comments from the 3 Questions meta with If you have any questions or concerns, join us at our [CR Help Desk](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/34045)
added on the end.
This may be a good question for [codereview.se], so long as: (A) the code works, and (B) it's not hypothetical or incomplete in any way. Please read the on-topic guide before posting, if you choose to go to Code Review. If you have any questions or concerns, join us at our CR Help Desk.
My main reasoning for such a proposal were that an arguable amount of questions are getting closed with very little understanding by the author, and that a chat room to discuss the close reason would be valid.
While The 2nd Monitor currently does this, sometimes these discussions are over-saturated by everyone trying to be part of the conversation:
Curly: why is my post "closed as off-topic"?
Grumpy: @Curly: your code is broken. go to Stack Overflow instead.
Bashful: @Curly: please read the help center: (link)
Sleepy: @Curly: link??
Curly: @Grumpy: why??
Curly: @Sleepy: [post]
Doc: @Curly: Broken Code is off-topic on Code Review, we only review working code. As @Bashful pointed out, you should read the [Help Center].
Grumpy: @Curly and then take it to Stack Overflow.
Doc: @Curly, but make sure to read their [Help Center]
While it's good that users are trying to help out, over-saturation is not fun.
I would not enjoy going to the Apple Store with a broken iPhone, only to be shouted at by five Apple Geniuses. I would prefer one, two if necessary, understand and helped me out.
That above conversation could've be simplified to the following, if limited:
Curly: why is my post "closed as off-topic"?
Doc: Broken Code is off-topic on Code Review, we only review working code. For more information, you should read the [Help Center]. You may consider taking this to Stack Overflow, however you should read their [Help Center] before posting.
Curly: oh okay
So the obvious issue to this was: The helpdesk would just turn into The 2nd Monitor, however, it was thought that only those genuinely interested in helping out would stick around in the Helpdesk. But that's everyone in The 2nd Monitor anyway, isn't it?
The benefits of the proposal looked like this:
- "Newer" users that are still trying to grasp the rules, guidelines and ways of the reviewer could stick around (quietly) and take notes.
- Clean up the SNR (Sonic-To-Noise) ratio of The 2nd Monitor.
The negatives:
- We'd be sticking our necks out... for the help vampires with a name like "helpdesk"
- We cannot guarantee that when you come to resolve your comment eight hours later, that anyone is online in the room.
11 day wrapup:
We found that during the period, people did the following different things:
- Came much later after the comment was posted. The comment is sound asleep, and another, less-clued in user helps out.
- Does not have the reputation to talk in Chat.SE (>20 reputation globally) and a moderator has to manually give them privileges.
We did have successful cases, however. Two of Three.
So, some feedback is needed on this proposal. Should we keep the room, or let it burn?
You can find a transcript of said 11 days in these rooms: