Not having a response to threads in your on-topic sections

Being the owner of a specific niche forum, it would likely be assumed you have some kind of (advanced) knowledge of whatever the niche of your forum is. Or at least you could relate to the majority of threads in your on-topic sections. But do you ever find yourself at a complete loss of words when a member makes a completely legitimate thread, that you have to completely ignore it even though you've read it? Or maybe they're asking for support and you actually don't know how to help them? Do you just think of it as no big deal knowing your other members and moderators will chime in with their own responses?


I've found myself ignoring threads that are related to what my forum is about a handful of times, simply because I have nothing to say for whatever reason, but not because the thread is of bad quality. It'll usually never go fully ignored by the whole community, and the majority of the time I can respond to later posts made in the thread instead.

 

I be honest with the people, if I don't know the right answer, ignoring doesn't make the member feel any better. Redirecting the member to some articles online that might help is a viable option.

 

The user wants some kind of answer, even if it's just "I don't know, but I empathize with your problem". If they get no answers at all, they will never return to your forum.

 

"I don't know but hopefully someone else will help out that does know. If not feel free to post again to this thread to alert me if you did not get a response."

 

I do this, generally. More-so the first sentence than the last.

I try not to let any thread go unanswered, and like FMB said, I would recommend some articles online or direct them to a place where they can find the answer.