# Suggesting

> How to make and vote on suggestions

Submit an idea in any of the ways enabled by the server:

- type a normal message in the suggestions channel
- run `/suggest` to open a private submission modal
- click the server's persistent **Submit suggestion** button

Staff can also convert an existing Discord message into a suggestion. All entry points use the same setup, validation, optional review queue, media handling and public suggestion numbering.

<discord-messages class="not-prose">
	<discord-message profile="aethor">
		<discord-embed slot="embeds" color="#41ebf4" author-name="Suggestion | You" author-image="/frog.webp">
			<discord-embed-description slot="description"><small>Suggestion #51</small><br />Add a movie night channel.</discord-embed-description>
		</discord-embed>
		<discord-action-row slot="components">
			<discord-button type="success"><BotEmoji name="upvote" /> 5</discord-button>
			<discord-button type="primary"><BotEmoji name="net_votes" /> 4</discord-button>
			<discord-button type="destructive"><BotEmoji name="downvote" /> 1</discord-button>
		</discord-action-row>
	</discord-message>
</discord-messages>

The green and red buttons are the upvote and downvote controls. The middle button shows the net score. You can switch your vote or click the same button again to take it back.

If the setup uses a review queue, staff must approve the submission before this public card appears.

## Following suggestions

Follow a suggestion to get a direct message whenever its status changes or it gets a new comment. This lets you follow an idea without watching the channel.

- Run `/suggestion follow` on any suggestion to follow or unfollow it.
- Run `/suggestion-autofollow` to opt in to following suggestions automatically when you upvote them. This is off by default and applies across every server. With it off, voting and following stay separate.

Following respects your DM setting. If you have turned suggestion DMs off with `/suggestion-dms`, Aethor does not message you about the suggestions you follow.

The private confirmation shows the server, channel and suggestion preview, and gives you **View suggestion**, **Unfollow** and DM-preference controls. See [the receipt and notification examples](/docs/suggestions/suggestion-notifications).

## Editing your suggestion

Use `/suggestion edit` for one of your open suggestions. Once staff resolves it, the author cannot edit it unless staff restores it to the open channel.

If the server reviews edits, your change is not applied right away. It is sent to staff first, and you get a direct message once they approve or reject it unless suggestion DMs are disabled. You can only have one edit waiting for review per suggestion at a time.

## Deleting your own suggestion

You cannot vote on a suggestion you made. Instead, click any vote button on it and the bot replies with a private message containing a delete button.

<discord-messages class="not-prose">
	<discord-message profile="aethor" ephemeral>
		This is your suggestion, you can delete it below.
		<discord-action-row slot="components">
			<discord-button type="destructive"><BotEmoji name="delete" /> Delete your suggestion</discord-button>
		</discord-action-row>
	</discord-message>
</discord-messages>

## Notes

- Deleting your suggestion is permanent. It removes the post and cannot be restored.
- An empty message (no text and no attachment) is deleted without becoming a suggestion.
- A suggestion can include up to eight image or video attachments. Other file types are not re-hosted as suggestion media.
- A configured media channel keeps image and video attachments available after Discord's original upload URL expires.
- Once a moderator accepts, denies, plans, implements or marks a suggestion duplicate, voting ends. Staff can later move it to another state or restore it.
- Suggestion authors are visible. Aethor does not currently offer anonymous member submissions.