Discussions Guide
Learn how to participate effectively in community discussions. Start conversations, share insights, and engage with fellow researchers and professionals.
Overview#
Discussions are the heart of PromptReports Communities. They provide a space for members to share knowledge, ask questions, debate ideas, and collaborate on research topics. Whether you're seeking advice on a complex problem or want to share your latest findings, discussions connect you with a community of knowledgeable professionals.
Each community has its own discussion board organized by topics and categories. Discussions are threaded, making it easy to follow conversations and respond to specific points. You can subscribe to discussions to receive notifications when new replies are posted.
Threaded Conversations
Reply directly to specific comments to keep discussions organized and easy to follow.
Notifications
Get notified when someone replies to your posts or mentions you in a discussion.
Search & Discovery
Find relevant discussions by searching keywords, filtering by topic, or browsing trending posts.
Save for Later
Bookmark discussions to easily return to valuable conversations.
Discussion Types#
Different types of discussions serve different purposes within communities:
| Type | Purpose | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Question | Seek help or advice from the community | Technical problems, methodology questions, tool recommendations |
| Discussion | Open-ended conversation on a topic | Trends, opinions, best practices, industry news |
| Announcement | Share important news or updates | New features, research publications, event announcements |
| Resource Share | Share useful materials with the community | Templates, reports, tools, tutorials |
| Showcase | Present your work for feedback | Projects, reports, research findings |
| Poll | Gather community opinions on a topic | Feature requests, preference surveys, quick feedback |
Choosing the Right Type
Starting a Discussion#
Follow these steps to create an effective discussion:
Navigate to your community
Choose a discussion type
Write a clear title
Add detailed content
Select categories and tags
Preview and publish
Formatting Tips
Engaging in Discussions#
Active participation makes communities valuable. Here's how to engage effectively:
Reply Thoughtfully
Add value to discussions with substantive responses that advance the conversation.
React & Upvote
Show appreciation for helpful content by reacting and upvoting quality posts.
Share Relevant Content
When appropriate, share discussions with colleagues who might find them valuable.
Follow Discussions
Subscribe to discussions you want to track for updates and new replies.
When replying to discussions, keep these principles in mind:
- Read the entire discussion before replying to avoid repeating points already made
- Quote specific parts of previous comments when responding to them directly
- Provide evidence or examples to support your claims when possible
- Ask clarifying questions if something is unclear before making assumptions
- Be constructive when offering criticism or disagreeing with others
- Acknowledge when you learn something new from the discussion
Features & Tools#
Discussions include several features to enhance your experience:
| Feature | Description | How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| @Mentions | Notify specific members in your post | Type @ followed by their username |
| Pinned Posts | Important discussions kept at the top | Moderators can pin essential content |
| Categories | Organize discussions by topic | Filter by category in the sidebar |
| Tags | Additional labels for specificity | Add tags when creating posts |
| Bookmarks | Save discussions for later | Click the bookmark icon on any post |
| Sorting | Order discussions by relevance | Sort by newest, trending, or most upvoted |
| Search | Find specific discussions | Use the search bar with keywords or filters |
Pinned Discussions
Important posts pinned by moderators appear at the top of the discussion list.
Topic Tags
Filter discussions by specific tags to find content relevant to your interests.
Advanced Filters
Combine filters to narrow down discussions by type, date, author, and more.
Moderation#
To maintain a productive environment, discussions are moderated by community managers and volunteer moderators. Understanding moderation helps you participate effectively.
| Action | When Applied | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Comment Removal | Violates community guidelines | Comment hidden with notice |
| Post Lock | Discussion has run its course or becomes heated | No new replies allowed |
| Post Move | Better suited for a different community | Moved to appropriate location |
| User Warning | Minor guideline violation | Private message from moderator |
| Temporary Suspension | Repeated violations | Posting restricted for set period |
Report Issues
Best Practices#
Follow these best practices to get the most out of community discussions:
Be Specific
Clear, specific questions get better answers. Include relevant details and context.
Contribute Regularly
Consistent participation helps you build reputation and relationships in the community.
Help Others
Share your knowledge freely. Answering questions strengthens the community.
Stay Engaged
Return to discussions you started to respond to comments and mark helpful answers.
- Search before posting to avoid duplicate discussions
- Use descriptive titles that summarize your topic
- Format posts for readability with headings and lists
- Respond promptly to comments on your discussions
- Mark answers as accepted when your question is resolved
- Thank members who provide helpful responses
- Update your original post if you find a solution
- Keep discussions focused on the original topic