Sending Private Messages

[sshost]

Make it easier to send private messages to people, have buttons and links to click on in the forums, when you go to a users profile, etc.

Curtis

[CharlesH]

I actually evaulated sending PM's and it could be much better, such as have a nice little icon and the text saying "Send a Private message to this user" under their name in the left side of the boards where a user posts. Also a small graphic should be placed in our profiles where it says send a private message to so 'n so. A little envelope would be fine!

[KaLin]

Hi sshost and ChalesH,

At the top right hand side of each forum page, you should see the following:

If you right click on the messenger link, you can choose whether to open it in a new tab or a new window.  If you have an unread message, you should see a gold envelope, like this -->  .   If you just click on the link, the Private Messenger will open in the same window you're already using.

Also, when viewing a member's profile, there is a link to send a PM to that memeber in their Contact section of the profile, like this:

For privacy reasons, that link is not included on the posts, and some members may actually not accept Private Messages -- depending on their profile settings.

Hope this helps.  If you have further suggestions regarding this feature, please feel free to pass them along and we'll submit them to development. 

Thank you

Message Edited by KaLin on 01-30-2009 02:24 PM

[CharlesH]

I can understand the privacy part, but maybe if anything, a easier to see graphic on our profile pages would even be suitable. Most of us don't have a problem at all, but for people who are new to forums it may be a help.

[sshost]

Privacy concerns?  There is a link on their profile page, how would that be any different if it showed up under their ID in their posts?  You are simply making it easier to get to instead of having to make an extra click.  It would also be easier for newbies to know it & can send messages.

[Justin46]

Well, looking at several other forums I belong to, I see two different techniques being used:

DSLReports: Clicking on the poster's name causes a User Profile to be displayed, but as part of that display there is a window for entering a private message and one for sending an email.

Highdefforum and Trackforum: Clicking on the poster's name opens a small pull-down that offers several options, one of which is to send the poster a private message.

None of them offers an envelope image to click on for the poster.

I find the current technique works just fine for me (I admit it took a little while to get used to it), but if putting an envelope image or some other indicator under the poster's name will help new users find and use the private message function I am all for it. And I agree with sshost, I don't see any privacy concern in making the private message function more visible.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX 76248

[KaLin]

Thank you all for your input.  I'll be sure to pass along your suggestions to see if adding an envelope image under the username on the post is possible.