The discussion revolves around the auto-unpin feature in Discourse, where topics are unpinned for a user after they’ve read it. ChrisBeach proposes to disable auto-unpin for topics a user is watching, as this would be beneficial for his paid-for offering where topics are pinned for a few days. However, dax suggests disabling the feature altogether in the site settings, which ChrisBeach doesn’t want to do as he likes the feature for users who aren’t interested in seeing pinned topics they’ve read.
ChrisBeach clarifies that he wants to keep auto-unpin enabled for topics users aren’t watching, but disable it for topics they are watching, particularly their own topics. He argues that this is a general case of UX “feedback” and follows the principle of least surprise.
sam is uneasy about the proposal, not seeing the coupling between watching and not unpinning, and suggests disabling auto-unpinning altogether in ChrisBeach’s forum instead. ChrisBeach offers to change the logic to only apply to the author of a pinned topic.
pfaffman points out that the real goal seems to be keeping ads pinned, and ChrisBeach clarifies that while ads should be seen by everyone, there’s no reason to keep presenting the same ad to a user once they’ve clicked and read it. The issue is that authors of pinned topics, including advertisers, never see their topic as pinned due to the auto-unpin feature.
ChrisBeach has coded a solution and raised a PR, but sam is still hesitant. ChrisBeach would like to create a plugin, but believes there is no plugin hook in the Discourse code to control auto-unpinning.
Part of my paid-for offering involves the buyer’s topic being pinned for a few days.
One or two of those buyers have asked why their topic isn’t showing as pinned. This is because of Discourse’s auto-unpin feature, which un-pins a topic when a member has read it (only for that member). Auto-unpin happens immediately for topic authors, so they never see their topic pinned.
So, I explain how the system works, every time.
It would be handy if the auto-unpin didn’t happen for the author specifically on topics they have authored.
If auto-unpin didn’t happen for topics the member is watching, this would neatly solve the issue.
I’d like to keep auto-unpin enabled for all other cases as it’s a good feature.
Disable automatically unpin topics and default topics automatic unpin in your site setting.
All the topics I have created (as author) remain pinned and the auto-unpin setting disappears from the user profile.
Users can only unpin a topic manually.
I’m aware of the existing settings available, thanks.
My case is maybe a bit subtle. I do not want to disable auto-unpin for all topics. Just those a member is watching.
Think about it - this is a general case of UX “feedback.” You create a topic. You pin it. You expect to see that topic pinned. Principle of least surprise.
Someone else pins a topic that you’re not hugely interested in. You read it. It’s unpinned. That’s reasonable behaviour I’d like to keep.
But my own topics, those that are pinned - I care about seeing those pinned. And my advertisers who are paying for pinned topics - they definitely care about seeing their topic pinned.
I am uneasy about this. I don’t see the tight coupling between watching and not unpinning. Watching implies you care A LOT about new stuff, it does not imply you are asking to see the topic first up in the list every time. That would be a “per user pinning” feature which is a can of worms I don’t want to open.
I wonder if you should just go ahead and disable the auto unpinning altogether in your forum? Isn’t that the simpler approach to take.
The important thing about a pinned ad is that it is seen by everyone.
It’s fine to auto-unpin when a user has clicked and fully read the advert. There’s no reason to keep presenting the same advert to a user once they’ve clicked and read it once.
The important thing for an advertiser is that they see some evidence that their topic has been pinned.
Because of the way auto-unpin currently works (without my fix), the author of a pinned topic never once sees it as pinned — and naturally this is disconcerting for advertisers who have paid for the privilege.