In any case, I'm a little bothered that some of us reply to eHelps that clearly have no place in the eHelp system. I've seen many replies that answer a question, but are then followed by, "If you need any help with something like this in the future, I suggest you post it in the regular forums."

I wouldn't really mind, but it spells out exactly what to do in a situation like this in the The Peer Support Leader Guide. It blatantly says:

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Topics not asking for support (how to close an account, download music, etc.) do not belong in the eHelp system, as they obviously are not emergency situations... It's also important to note that if you are the last support leader to vote to remove an eHelp reply, you should get in contact with that member.  This will allow for you to explain why their eHelp was removed, and if both parties are willing, you may be able to provide some help to the user.

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A link to this guide was given to all of us when we became SL's. (At least those of us that became SL's after it was written.) It's not very long, and gives some good advice when it comes to being a Support Leader. I get the feeling--from all of the non-emergency eHelps that are replied to--that a large majority of SL's haven't read the guide. I hope this isn't true, but if it is, please go read it. It'll be for the better everyone, SL's and members.

Once again, I know it's not really my place to gripe about this, since my words hold just about no weight at all. But I feel like this is an important issue.

One last note: Another advantage of deleting those unnecessary eHelps would be that it keeps that dang eHelp Inbox low or empty more often. I dunno about you, but that thing sure does get annoying after a while, and I wouldn't mind seeing my avatar in the corner instead of a blinking red cross.  

Post edited at 10:33 am on May 29, 2008 by afmc011

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Life is just a test; to test how small we really are.
Life is a series of challenges that will test you -
your will; your passion.
Some tests are written - this one's live.

because i do not see any ehelps made within the last week that are "clearly" or "obviously" not emergencies.

you can argue for your subjective opinion that certain support ehelps are not emergencies, but do not tell me we're replying to ehelps that are not asking for support.

Either way, I'm not debating when they were made. Since I've been a Support Leader, I've seen numerous eHelps that obviously did not belong, and there was no wiggle room or "maybe it really is an emergency"; they seriously didn't belong in the system.

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Life is just a test; to test how small we really are.
Life is a series of challenges that will test you -
your will; your passion.
Some tests are written - this one's live.

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because i do not see any ehelps made within the last week that are "clearly" or "obviously" not emergencies.

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Perhaps not recently, but I've seen people replying to e-helps asking for advice on how to upload photos or how to message moderators. These need to be deleted, they're not emergencies in any which way.

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oh, she's a dreamer ♥
be the change you wish to see in the world
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currently studying in france

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Quote: from hithere at 12:00 am on May 30, 2008

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 because i do not see any ehelps made within the last week that are "clearly" or "obviously" not emergencies.  

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Perhaps not recently, but I've seen people replying to e-helps asking for advice on how to upload photos or how to message moderators. These need to be deleted, they're not emergencies in any which way.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

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Life is just a test; to test how small we really are.
Life is a series of challenges that will test you -
your will; your passion.
Some tests are written - this one's live.