Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eeny really random? Why do I keep getting picked?
Section titled “Is Eeny really random? Why do I keep getting picked?”Yes, Eeny uses true randomization for all picks! If you feel like you’re being picked more often than others, it’s likely just the quirky nature of randomness – sometimes patterns emerge that don’t feel random to us humans.
To help with fairness concerns, Eeny tracks statistics showing how many times each person has been the “final” pick (after any re-picks). You can view these stats to see the actual distribution over time.
Remember that you can always “pick again” if you want a different outcome!
Want more balanced picks? Eeny Pro includes a fairness algorithm that biases toward people who haven’t been picked recently, while still maintaining randomness. Type @Eeny pro to learn more.
How do I delete a reminder?
Section titled “How do I delete a reminder?”To delete a scheduled reminder, use Slack’s built-in reminder management:
- Type /remind list to see all your active reminders
- Find the Eeny reminder you want to remove
- Click “Delete” next to that reminder
Since Eeny works with Slack’s native /remind command, all reminder management happens through Slack’s system.
Can I exclude certain people from picks?
Section titled “Can I exclude certain people from picks?”By default, Eeny automatically excludes bots from picks. If you need to exclude specific team members (like when they’re out of office), you’ll need to create a custom list with just the available people for that particular pick.
If you already have a custom list, you can always remove and add people as needed to adjust who’s included in future picks.
Need more flexibility? Eeny Pro lets you exclude specific users on the fly with commands like @Eeny pick from Daily Standup excluding @User1 @User2. Type @Eeny pro to learn more.
Learn about managing list members →
Can I pick multiple people at once?
Section titled “Can I pick multiple people at once?”The free version of Eeny picks one person at a time.
Want to pick multiple people? Eeny Pro can pick up to 3 people at once with commands like @Eeny pick 3 from Daily Standup. You’ll get individual “pick again” buttons for each person selected. Type @Eeny pro to learn more.
What’s the difference between picking from channels vs. custom lists?
Section titled “What’s the difference between picking from channels vs. custom lists?”- Channel picks: Selects from all active members in a Slack channel
- Custom lists: Picks from a specific list of people you’ve created for particular purposes (like “Frontend Team” or “Coffee Duty”)
Most users prefer custom lists because they give you more control over who’s included for specific tasks or responsibilities.
How do I create a custom list?
Section titled “How do I create a custom list?”Simply mention the people you want in your list when asking Eeny to pick: @Eeny pick from @User1 @User2 @User3 for code review
Eeny will remember this as your “code review” list for future picks. You can also create named lists by saying: @Eeny create list “Daily Standup” with @User1 @User2 @User3
In this example, “Daily Standup” is the name of a custom list. You can create custom lists of users by following the instructions in the list guides.
Can I automate picks for recurring tasks?
Section titled “Can I automate picks for recurring tasks?”Absolutely! Use Slack’s /remind command with Eeny: /remind #channel “@Eeny pick from Daily Standup list” every weekday at 9am
This is perfect for daily standups, weekly code reviews, or rotating responsibilities.
Tip: Since Eeny uses Slack’s native reminder system, you can schedule picks using any of Slack’s timing options – daily, weekly, specific dates, or custom intervals. Check the Slack documentation for all available scheduling formats.
What happens if I want to pick again?
Section titled “What happens if I want to pick again?”No problem! Just ask Eeny to pick again, and it will select someone else from the same group. Eeny’s statistics only count the “final” pick (after all re-picks), so you won’t mess up the fairness tracking.
Does Eeny work in private channels and DMs?
Section titled “Does Eeny work in private channels and DMs?”Eeny works in both public and private channels, but they require different permissions. By default, Eeny requests all necessary permissions during installation, but if you need a custom installation with specific permissions, you can use our custom install page.
Note that Eeny cannot be included in direct messages (DMs) – it only works in channels where it has been added.
What is Eeny Pro?
Section titled “What is Eeny Pro?”Eeny Pro is our premium subscription that adds advanced features:
- Fairness algorithm: Biases picks toward people who haven’t been selected recently
- Multiple picks: Pick up to 3 people at once
- User exclusion: Exclude specific users on the fly
All core Eeny features remain completely free. Pro features work across your entire workspace and include a 14-day free trial.
Type @Eeny pro in any channel to learn more and start your free trial.
Do Pro features affect existing statistics?
Section titled “Do Pro features affect existing statistics?”No, your existing pick statistics remain unchanged. Fair picking only considers picks made after Pro was enabled, so anyone “ahead” in the statistics will remain ahead, but all future picking will be fair from that point forward.
What happens to new users added to a channel or list?
Section titled “What happens to new users added to a channel or list?”Fair picking is aware of when users join and ensures picks remain fair. New users will be treated appropriately for fair selection, but they won’t be picked repeatedly to “catch up” with existing statistics - they’ll remain behind in the historical stats.
What happens if I reset statistics?
Section titled “What happens if I reset statistics?”When statistics are reset, everyone starts at 0 picks and fair picking begins fresh. This gives everyone an equal starting point for both statistics display and fairness calculations.
Does fair picking work with “pick again”?
Section titled “Does fair picking work with “pick again”?”No, “pick again” uses pure randomness to give you immediate control when you want different results.
What happens if I exclude everyone from a list?
Section titled “What happens if I exclude everyone from a list?”Eeny will let you know there’s no one available to pick from that list with those exclusions.
Can I use Pro features with reminders?
Section titled “Can I use Pro features with reminders?”Yes! All Pro commands work with Slack’s /remind feature for automated picks.
Is my data secure?
Section titled “Is my data secure?”Eeny only accesses the information it needs to function (channel membership, user mentions) and follows Slack’s security standards. We don’t store personal information or conversation content – just basic pick statistics to ensure fairness.
Still have questions? Contact us at hello@eeny.io or visit eeny.io