Is there an option on Discourse to allow a logged-in member to see only the topics where they participated?

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

Is there an option in Discourse to allow a logged-in member to see only the topics where they participated (asked, answered…)?

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

How can anyone answer any topic if they couldn’t see it as they have never participated in it?

I guess you mean access rights. Or do you just mean a filter?

[RGJ (Richard - Communiteq)]

If your question is just about a filter then it’s /my/activity

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

@tvavrda

How can anyone answer any topic if they couldn’t see it as they have never participated in it?

I understand your point…

But it would work like this:

• The member would have access to all the posts they have participated in so far.
• They would also have access to all the new posts they create from now on.

[Jagster (Jakke Lehtonen)]

So you are basically searching private topics.

Discourse Private Replies

Github: GitHub - communiteq/discourse-private-replies This plugin hides topic replies for everyone but the topic starter and the post author. Use cases This can be used for for instance homework assignments where the teacher opens a topic and posts an assignment, and all students make a post with their answers. When everyone has submitted their work, the teacher can open up the answers so the students will be able to discuss them. A second use case can be an auction where something is offered…

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

@leopedrini

• The member would have access to all the posts they have participated in so far.
• They would also have access to all the new posts they create from now on.

It gets confusing. You talked about topics in the OP. Now you talk about posts. For posts the Private replies plugin might work. Thanks for revealing it to me, @Jagster!

If you still mean topics, we still have a logical problem that any topic you create from now on, it will never be visible to anyone else than you. Nobody will be able to reply to it ever.

[Jagster (Jakke Lehtonen)]

I’m not quite sure what is wanted and how it would work at all, but we can put it in my english skills.

But out there is this too:

Private Topics Plugin

Summary Private Topics Enables private topics in a regular category Repository Link GitHub - communiteq/discourse-private-topics Install Guide How to install plugins in Discourse Features This plugin allows you to add an extra security setting to categories so that users can only access their own topics. You can also designate one or more groups that can see all topics in the category. This is typically used for providin…

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

Hello everyone,

I’d like to clarify my goal regarding access control in the forum.

1. Current Scenario

Currently, the forum has thousands of regular users, classified into different levels (TL 0 to 4).

In the current model:
All regular users can access all topics and posts, whether they created them or not.

2. Desired Scenario

I want to implement access restrictions for regular users, ensuring that they can only view:

• All topics and posts they have participated in so far.
• New topics they create.

This means that a new user who has never participated in a discussion would log in and see no topics until they create one (e.g., by asking a question).

Additionally, I want to create a special group of VIP users, who:
Would have full access to all topics and posts, regardless of who created them.
When a regular user is promoted to VIP, they would automatically gain unrestricted access to all content in the forum.

3. Goal

The main objective is to:
Restrict regular users’ access according to the criteria above.
Ensure VIP users have full access without needing to create separate categories.

If it’s not possible to implement it exactly this way, an alternative would be to create a private category for this differentiation, but ideally, the access control should work as described in steps 1 and 2.

If anyone has suggestions or knows of a viable solution for this, I would greatly appreciate your input!

Thank you all!

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

My first question:

1. So I am a new user and I see nothing.
2. Until a VIP user creates a topic.
3. Someone else answers the topic.
4. Do I see the other non-VIP user’s answer although I haven’t answered yet? And if I do answer, do I now see the other people’s answers or just mine?

Second question:

1. I see nothing at first
2. I create a topic
3. Just VIP’s can see it so they answer it.
4. Does it still get hidden for anyone non-VIP? So basically if I ask, only VIP’s can answer and never ever other users see my topic?

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

@tvavrda

So I am a new user and I see nothing.

Ok.

@tvavrda

Until a VIP user creates a topic.

You will still not see the topic.

@tvavrda

Someone else answers the topic.

You continue not-seeing the topic.

@tvavrda

Do I see the other non-VIP user’s answer although I haven’t answered yet?

No, you will not see it.

@tvavrda

And if I do answer, do I now see the other people’s answers or just mine?

You will not be able to answer… unless you are promoted to VIP.

Second question:

1. I see nothing at first
2. I create a topic
3. Just VIP’s can see it so they answer it.
4. Does it still get hidden for anyone non-VIP? So basically if I ask, only VIP’s can answer and never ever other users see my topic?

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

How do I ever see any other topic than the one I created?

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

Only if you are promoted to VIP.
(Remember that you will be able to access all the topics you have participated in so far.)

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

@Jagster

I’m not quite sure what is wanted and how it would work at all, but we can put it in my english skills.

But out there is this too:

Private Topics Enables private topics in a regular category hammer_and_wrench Repository Link GitHub - communiteq/discourse-private-topics open_book Install Guide How to install plugins in Discourse Features This plugin allows you to add an extra security setting to categories so that users can only access their own topics. You can also designate one or more groups that can see all topics in the category. This is typically used for providin…

Then I also think you basically need this.

[tvavrda (Tomas Vavrda)]

@leopedrini

(Remember that you will be able to access all the topics you have participated in so far.)

This would only make sense if you would be able to “privatize” the topics. So you would somehow convert the already published existing topics to private. But if multiple users already answered them then it makes no sense. Would this topic be then private for multiple users?

I think you have to decide for one system, you are describing two completely different models.

I propose that you close the existing topics (so regular users cannot answer them anymore and only can create new private questions) and let the old topics live public read only for everyone. It has been the case until now anyway.

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

@tvavrda

Then I also think you basically need this.

I will explore all the possibilities of the plugin, thank you.

However, I’m not sure if it will work exactly as I expect:

1. Starting from “today,” all users should only see the topics they have participated in. Is this possible with the plugin? I’ll investigate.
2. When a user is promoted to VIP, they should gain unrestricted access to all content. I’ll also check how to adjust this with the plugin.

Thanks again! I’ll update once the plugin is installed and tested.

But to be honest, I’m not entirely convinced it will behave exactly as I envision… Let’s see, hoping for the best!

[leopedrini (Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini)]

@tvavrda

I propose that you close the existing topics (so regular users cannot answer them anymore and only can create new private questions)

10k+ topics

@tvavrda

I think you have to decide for one system, you are describing two completely different models.

What I’m looking for is a simple system.

I want to maintain access for users who have participated in discussions up until now—regular users who engaged in a discussion should retain the right to access it.

From this point forward, only VIP users (who will pay a subscription fee) will have full access to all topics, just as everyone did before.

In short, it’s a subscription-based model.

[pfaffman (Jay Pfaffman)]

Categories have permissions that control which groups can see topics, and whether they can create new topics or reply to topics. In most communities, everyone can read (at least some stuff), but you have to have more permission (i.e., at least log in) to be able to participte. Your situation is backward from that.

The way to do what you ask without a plugin is to use only PMs. Regular users would send a group PM to the @vip group. Then they could see their message and VIPs could see it, but no one else can.

You won’t have categories then, but you can still have tags.