Messaging and Announcements: Getting Help Inside Opionate¶
Two different things live in the same corner of your workspace: a genuine two-way conversation with the Opionate team, and a one-way feed of platform announcements. They're kept visually separate on purpose, since they serve different needs.
Starting a Conversation with Support¶
From your workspace's messaging area, starting a new thread opens a conversation directly with the Opionate team - a billing question, an account issue, general feedback, or anything else you need help with. This isn't an automated ticket queue with no one reading it; it's a genuine back-and-forth you can continue over time.
Replying to an Existing Thread¶
Once a conversation is underway, replying keeps it going in the same thread rather than starting something new each time - useful for following up on a question or providing more detail the team asked for.
Panel Recruitment Reports Are a Special Case¶
If you're filing a report on a specific Panel Recruitment wave (see Staff Access and Support: What Happens When You File a Report), that report is linked to the specific wave it's about, giving staff direct context on the issue without you having to re-explain which wave and what happened from scratch.
Announcements: A Separate, Read-Only Feed¶
Above your list of conversations, an Announcements section shows staff-authored platform news - new features, planned maintenance, or anything else worth knowing as a user. Announcements are read-only; there's no reply option, since they're built for broadcasting information to everyone rather than starting individual conversations.
Why Announcements and Messages Are Kept Separate¶
An announcement is the same message shown to every user, not something answered individually. Mixing it into your personal conversation list would misrepresent it as a conversation waiting for your reply, when it's really a one-to-many notice. Keeping the two visually distinct keeps your actual conversations easy to find without being buried under general platform news.
FAQ¶
How quickly will I get a response to a message I send?
Response times can vary - messaging connects you directly with the team, not an automated system, so timing depends on the nature of your question.
Can I attach files to a message?
Check your messaging interface for current attachment support.
Do I need to file a formal report to ask a general question?
No - reports are specifically for Panel Recruitment wave issues (see Staff Access and Support: What Happens When You File a Report). For anything else, starting a general message thread is the right path.
Can I delete a conversation once it's resolved?
Check your messaging interface for available conversation management options.
Will I be notified when a new announcement is posted?
Check your account or notification settings for how announcements are surfaced to you - they appear in your workspace's Announcements section regardless.
For Panel Recruitment-specific reporting, see Staff Access and Support: What Happens When You File a Report.