> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.parable.work/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pinging

> Ask a person to consult on one Problem without silently changing access, membership, or responsibility.

# Ping for consultation

## Sources

Docs: [Pondering](/ponder/parables/purposes/pondering)

Web App: Open **Pings** from Ponder or use the supported Ping action on the
current Problem.

**Pinging** maps to consultation: direct another person's attention to a
Problem when you need an answer, review, or choice. A Consult Ping can include a
clear question and, when available, the possibilities and tradeoffs the person
should consider.

## Send a useful Ping

1. Name the decision or information you need.
2. Choose the intended person rather than a broad audience.
3. Include only the minimum context they are allowed to receive.
4. State when a response is needed and how it will affect the Problem.
5. Keep later discussion in an authorized Problem Message when appropriate.

A Ping creates attention, not authority. It does not grant membership, reveal
the source Problem, assign a Parable responsibility, or widen the audience.
When the recipient cannot open the source context, use the ordinary Workspace
access flow or provide a safe summary; do not paste restricted content into the
Ping.

## Track the response

Delivery, reading, responding, and closing are separate states. A Consult Ping
expects at most the supported response through the recipient's own inbox item.
If a long discussion is needed, bring the authorized people into the Problem
instead of turning the Ping into a parallel conversation.

## Choose Pinging mode when clarifying

[Pinging mode](/ponder/parables/permissions/collaboration-modes) narrows the
Parable surface to the reading and collaboration tools used for clarification.
It is a statement of current activity, not a Consult assignment: the person's
existing responsibility still decides which modes and actions are available.