Comment on Reminder if you're leaving Discord for this Revolt server ( Linux + Steam Deck devs / creators)

Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Yeah, and it’s doubly infuriating because Discord is not a good replacement for support forums. It isn’t searchable via search engines, and even the built in search is fucking dog water.

  Let’s say I have an error, so I google “{Program} {Error code} Solved”. With a forum, I would find a thread that is already talking about the specific error, with comments regarding troubleshooting steps or a solution… But with Discord, all I get is a generic link to the program’s server.

  And even once I’m in the server, there often isn’t a good way for me to find existing threads about my specific error. Maybe I check the pinned messages, but some servers have dozens of channels; am I expected to check the pins on every single channel? Oftentimes that seems to be the expectation, because asking a question will often just get a “check the pinned messages, ya thud-fuck” type of response.

  Or maybe I search it, but (again) am I expected to search every single channel? And since Discord doesn’t use fuzzed searches, searching for “Error code 0x00548327” won’t return any results if the thread simply uses “Error 548327” instead. With Google (or any half-decent search engine, really) you get results for both. But not with Discord.

  So instead, I ask in the support channel. And that leads me to my final gripe… My response takes actual effort from another person in order to solve. If there are 200 people with the same issue, that’s 200 times that someone needs to respond to what is essentially the same message. With a forum, you could simply find the post, and read the responses. No human interaction necessary, because it has already been done. The question and answer process has already happened. But with Discord, I’m forced to wait on someone to actually respond, and the devs/admins actually need to dedicate time and resources to ensuring it gets answered. That constant vigilance takes a lot more time and effort away from actual mod duties.

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  • Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    It’s a comically bad experience.

    I get it that it’s probably easier to setup a Discord server, than to run your own forum, but you can always get a managed solution or use reddit (I would prefer if Lemmy was used, but I am also realistic).

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    • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      I’m actually against companies running their own subreddits, purely because I’m an old redditor who remembers when it was specifically disallowed by Reddit. The original intent was for the site to the run by the people, not by companies. Companies were actually prevented from moderating their own subs; the worry was that they would use their mod powers to suppress any sort of negative press or criticism, no matter how valid.

      For instance, maybe there’s a popular TV show. The company wasn’t allowed to have a hand in moderating the official fan sub for the show, because it was left up to the public. If the show did something unpopular, the broadcasting company shouldn’t have the ability to suppress the criticism about it.

      But Reddit has since done a complete 180 on that topic, and now goes out of their way to install corporate moderators. Subs are now run as an extension of the company’s marketing and/or PR departments

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      • Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        Agreed. Just at this point I think it’s fair to say that this policy is definitely not in effect.

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  • MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Fucking preach! I feel like this falls on deaf ears most of the time though sadly.

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• AntiBullyRanger@ani.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  This is super hilarious, ’cause host a devlog is so simple, it can be done in ssh, even in forsaken email. While lemmy is literally here.

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• ulterno@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  I normally like GitLab issues as a place for bug reports.

  A FAQ and an old style forum works pretty well for help.
  In fact, just make a community on Lemmy for the forum part and you’ll have what’s required.

  GitHub also has this new “Discussions” thing which should do some good, for those that want to stay on GitHub

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