Why has the number of replies to an eHelp post fallen in recent years? Here's a list of the replies I got in relation to date:

5  3.8.05
7  4.18.05
7  5.20.05
7  7.2.05  
5  8.26.06  

I made one the other day and was a bit surprised to only have the one reply the day after, from a friend, and also that looking through the pages that the average number replies to an eHelp is merely two or three. I don't expect to recieve more than another one or two, if that, which is quite sad.

Why's this? Quotas? More eHelps? Lazier SLs? Policy change? Increase in quality instead of quantity? I remeber when I was an SL thinking that an eHelp with less than 5 replies was unattended - but that was around 2005/6.

So, yeah, why the change? As I said, I'm not complaining and not particularly bothered either way. Any abrasive or arrogant replies (which are very common when seeming to pick fault with anything) will be ignored.

Post edited at 4:55 am on July 5, 2008 by Anonymous

---

Because people don't actually do their jobs as support leaders.
They just think it looks nice under their names.

---

I don't want to believe this and it would be impossible to prove, but I have wondered how many SLs actually read any eHelps if the alert thing is switched off after 2 or 3 replies.

---

Because people don't actually do their jobs as support leaders.
They just think it looks nice under their names.

---

The sheer volume of eHelps recently is not helping, and along with the serious forum, I'm guessing many support leaders are finding themselves a little stretched. In relation to your question about the number of replies, the minimum number has dropped from two, but it is worth noticing that the responses given are more and more frequently of greater quality then back then.

It's complex, and many groups are looking for ways to combat it, but at themoment, there is no clear response.

-------
Nobody ever loses their memory.
It just gets locked away like the mad woman in the attic.
Occasionally you hear her scream,
But you don't dare unlock the door and look in.

---

Because people don't actually do their jobs as support leaders.
They just think it looks nice under their names.

---

this.
we need better support leaders. and maybe fire support leaders who don't actually support.

-------
[ℓiחŋie]&[вeиηy]
In my world, everybody's a pony,
and they all eat rainbows
and poop butterflies!

Generally we're supposed to answer an eHelp if we can help. Maybe yours was made on an area that not many people can relate to or understand so they're slightly cautious when answering it so they don't hurt you. Each SL has their own speciality and yours might have been on a topic that very few SLs know how to answer.

The change? Some SLs are less active recently, they might be on holiday, in the past there might have been more support leaders or more of those that could answer them, or devote their time to them. But no. of replies =/= good quality. I've seen eHelps that have had 6 or 7 replies, but a lot of them were of poor quality, and the quality lately has been quite exceptional, I think anyway.

Post edited at 5:02 am on July 5, 2008 by marshmellowman

-------
Intelligence is the ability to avoid doing work, yet getting the work done.

---

Quote: from carracer at 9:55 pm on July 5, 2008

---

Because people don't actually do their jobs as support leaders.  
 They just think it looks nice under their names.

---

this.
we need better support leaders. and maybe fire support leaders who don't actually support.

---

---

Quote: from carracer at 12:55 pm on July 5, 2008

---

Because people don't actually do their jobs as support leaders.
They just think it looks nice under their names.

---

Don't talk crap man.  

The sheer volume of eHelps recently is not helping, and along with the serious forum, I'm guessing many support leaders are finding themselves a little stretched. In relation to your question about the number of replies, the minimum number has dropped from two, but it is worth noticing that the responses given are more and more frequently of greater quality then back then.

It's complex, and many groups are looking for ways to combat it, but at themoment, there is no clear response.

---

im not.
I wouldn't even say that except yesterday, there was a topic about being demoted from SL status, and there were multiple SLs saying that they just mark the ehelps as read and ignore them because they think they are annoying.  

Post edited at 5:01 am on July 5, 2008 by carracer

-------
The world is only as sweet as you make it and only as terrible as you see it

---

Because eHelps aren't the only method of support that support leaders have to engage in. They get PM's from members, answer in the forums, in the support forums, and then eHelps as well. Somewhere in this they have to find time for their own lives too, and personal circumstances.

---

Answer this then.
Why apply for a position if you KNOW you can't complete the obligations?

-------
The world is only as sweet as you make it and only as terrible as you see it

---

im not.
I wouldn't even say that except yesterday, there was a topic about being demoted from SL status, and there were multiple SLs saying that they just mark the ehelps as read and ignore them because they think they are annoying.

---

If you're going to criticise support leaders, please become one yourself first and see what we have to do as SLs.

-------
Intelligence is the ability to avoid doing work, yet getting the work done.

---

Quote: from Blank black at 5:02 am on July 5, 2008

---

Because eHelps aren't the only method of support that support leaders have to engage in. They get PM's from members, answer in the forums, in the support forums, and then eHelps as well. Somewhere in this they have to find time for their own lives too, and personal circumstances.

---

Answer this then.
Why apply for a position if you KNOW you can't complete the obligations?

---

---

The sheer volume of eHelps recently is not helping, and along with the serious forum, I'm guessing many support leaders are finding themselves a little stretched. In relation to your question about the number of replies, the minimum number has dropped from two, but it is worth noticing that the responses given are more and more frequently of greater quality then back then.  

It's complex, and many groups are looking for ways to combat it, but at themoment, there is no clear response.

---

Ah, I had wondered if the number of replies was an issue. I hadn't thought of the serious forum, but, I'm sure that existed originally alongside eHelp at one point. Anyway, I would agree that the quality of replies is going up, having just flicked through some. Although if you're in a bad place, you might want the balance and comfort of several people acknowledging your predicament, alongside actual advice... or, you might not. =P

Also, carracer may not simply be talking crap - look at the SL Active Members list after an eHelp is posted and see how many are actually "Supporting Peers" or whatever it says - I tried after mine and I didn't spot one for about half an hour (only three were browsing privately of 22) ... and I was looking for half an hour because I wasn't in a fit state to do anything else, aha.

Anyway. I appreciate that it's complex and look forward to some sort of resolution. I hope my topic has at least help highlight the fact that it may be worth looking into increasing the NUMBER of replies along with quality.

---

Quote: from Blank black at 5:02 am on July 5, 2008

---

Because eHelps aren't the only method of support that support leaders have to engage in. They get PM's from members, answer in the forums, in the support forums, and then eHelps as well. Somewhere in this they have to find time for their own lives too, and personal circumstances.

---

 

Answer this then.  
Why apply for a position if you KNOW you can't complete the obligations?

---

Because we can answer them, and we want to, we try to. More SLs mean more of us can help, but that doesn't mean we will answer every eHelp, but we can make it easier and help others.

More SLs = Less stress on other SLs to answer all of them. Some SLs may be devoted to the Serious Forum for example, but every now and then they might answer an eHelp, which makes it already easier on the rest of us.

Post edited at 5:07 am on July 5, 2008 by marshmellowman

-------
Intelligence is the ability to avoid doing work, yet getting the work done.

---

Quote: from carracer at 1:01 pm on July 5, 2008

---

im not.  
 I wouldn't even say that except yesterday, there was a topic about being demoted from SL status, and there were multiple SLs saying that they just mark the ehelps as read and ignore them because they think they are annoying.

---

Don't you dare say that when you're not an SL. Some SLs may in fact mark as read, but that doesn't mean that we ignore these or we don't go back and answer them. I personally keep those unread that I can answer and mark the rest as read if I don't think I'm able to answer it. But sometimes I've gone back and seen that in fact I can answer it, and I did.

If you're going to criticise support leaders, please become one yourself first and see what we have to do as SLs.

---

I didn't say EVERY SL.
But there ARE SLs who are flat out ignoring their duty!
There are a lot, and im sure it wouldn't hurt if a few were demoted.

-------
The world is only as sweet as you make it and only as terrible as you see it