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Original poster

I would like a reply to the "Reply" issue

309 replies

DappledThings · 03/11/2023 09:07

Just thought I'd start another thread to get more attention on this again as there has been no answer as to whether it is even being looked at.

A few comments on MNHQ's recent thread about the new feature pointing out nobody asked for that but a lot of us have asked you to fix this.

To summarise: The button marked Reply does not do what it says. It adds a post, it does not do a reply. MN has no reply feature but, bizarrely, chooses to have a button that pretends it does. This leads to threads full of "replies" that have no context and are impossible to follow. Plus posts saying "sorry, not sure why my reply didn't work, I clicked reply"

OP posts:
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32
UnremarkableBeasts · 20/11/2023 09:17

DappledThings · 20/11/2023 08:54

Or, even simpler, just re-label Reply as Add Post. I can understand changing functionality could be a bit complex, but changing the boilerplate so the label of the button matches what the button actually does would be the work of minutes.

Show quote history

It’s pointless though because there is ‘add post’ right in the middle of the nav bar anyway. People don’t need that replicated on each post.

This stuff really wouldn’t be so bloody hard if MNHQ employed a service designer and user researchers to look at their products end to end across channels and worked with users continually to improve the service.

users will have a range of different opinions and ways of using the site, obviously. But it isn’t difficult to work out that putting in a ‘reply’ feature on individual posts will cause problems if it just adds a post in no way linked to the post the user wanted to reply to.

Original poster
DappledThings · 20/11/2023 09:12

Whinge · 20/11/2023 09:05

I am just baffled as to why this is such a difficult problem to fix.

It's not. The problem is MNHQ don't see it as a problem, so don't think there's anything that needs fixing. Sad

Agreed. There have been vague messages of "we're looking into it" but I've not seen any recognition of the fact it is actually a problem. Despite the numerous examples of threads where the OP is writing posts clearly intended to be replies but aren't actually replies because the "Reply" button doesn't create a reply. It's so obvious that labelling a button as a function it doesn't perform is a mistake.

OP posts:
Lovethatforyouhun · 20/11/2023 09:10

Tattle is better - sorry. No need to bookmark and reply works!

Whinge · 20/11/2023 09:05

I am just baffled as to why this is such a difficult problem to fix.

It's not. The problem is MNHQ don't see it as a problem, so don't think there's anything that needs fixing. Sad

Peridot1 · 20/11/2023 09:04

It is utterly infuriating. So ridiculous.

Original poster
DappledThings · 20/11/2023 08:54

UnremarkableBeasts · 20/11/2023 08:43

You could temporarily fix this ridiculous issue by making reply do exactly what quote does.

Or, even simpler, just re-label Reply as Add Post. I can understand changing functionality could be a bit complex, but changing the boilerplate so the label of the button matches what the button actually does would be the work of minutes.

OP posts:
UnremarkableBeasts · 20/11/2023 08:43

You could temporarily fix this ridiculous issue by making reply do exactly what quote does.

Papillon23 · 20/11/2023 08:40

I am just baffled as to why this is such a difficult problem to fix. It feels ridiculous this has been going on for so long - I really like the quote feature but it has changed how people use the site - they expect to be able to quote things now, when they just didn't before. That in turn means the "reply" function now causes a problem.

Whinge · 20/11/2023 06:45

@DappledThings Giving your thread a small bump so hopefully MNHQ reply. Although at this point it feels like they're just hoping everyone stops asking. Sad

OP posts:
DeepEnd · 11/11/2023 10:16

YourNameGoesHere · 06/11/2023 12:33

It depends on how you view MN. I use the website on my phone and reply replaces what you see as add message.

See attached image for clarity.

Also I'd like to say I'm surprised there's been no update yet but alas I was always dubious we'd get one.

Show quote history

I’ve just realised that, while using the web version on my iPhone shows ‘reply’, using the web version on my iPad shows ‘add message’. Factor in the inevitable variances of android, desktops for Mac and PC, app and various operating systems, you don’t even have consistency across the user base.

Now, I can understand why there’s a need for a simple post-response that neither quotes nor names a user, but FFS if the UX is as infinite as the universe how are you ever going to gauge what one size will fit all?

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 11/11/2023 06:18

MinnieL · 10/11/2023 22:19

The 'Reply' button has always worked this way - on the desktop site, the mobile site and the app - it will always add your post to the end of the thread.

MN’s response on your original post OP😂 so yep, the Reply button is just there for no reason. I doubt they’ll do anything about it

It wasn't a problem before we had a quote function but they seem to have missed the fact that people now use the site differently (because of a function they introduced!)

TookTheBook · 10/11/2023 22:45

TookTheBook · 10/11/2023 16:16

It's so frustrating this isn't just being actioned. I've read so many threads recently where the OP is just replying nonsense into the ether because they are presumably hitting reply on an individual post but when they write their reply, it doesn't tag or quote the post they are replying to. So the OP then gets flamed for not making any sense!

Here's a recent example MNHQ - this poster just sounds madder and madder because she is clearly hitting reply but never quoting anyone or using their username.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4938842-my-partner-of-23-yrs-has-been-meeting-one-of-the-mums-in-the-playground-for-15-yrs?postsby=olderchildrenhorsesanddogslady

MinnieL · 10/11/2023 22:19

The 'Reply' button has always worked this way - on the desktop site, the mobile site and the app - it will always add your post to the end of the thread.

MN’s response on your original post OP😂 so yep, the Reply button is just there for no reason. I doubt they’ll do anything about it

Papillon23 · 10/11/2023 22:15

LookItsMeAgain · 10/11/2023 15:01

This is an interesting take on the situation @HebeMumsnet .

Usually MN Admins & Techies decide to make an update to the web version and hang the rest of the options that are out there. The large majority of users are using the web version of MN, they aren't using the MN App as that is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

There is coding that runs when someone clicks on the "Reply" button. There is also coding that runs when someone clicks the "Quote". You could get the techies to comment out the code that runs on "Reply" and paste into that area the code that works when you click "Quote" - thereby not removing any code at all but simply hiding it and copy & paste existing code. If that doesn't work you simply remove the copied & pasted code and remove the commented out option for the reply button.

It might take a decent software developer a while to locate the specific sections of code but once they do, it should be relatively straightforward....I would have thought.

Why do any suggestions on improvements generally take so long to even test/bring to fruition?

Show quote history

And yet the reply button (and the quote button) almost surely have text in them dictating their formatting etc which will say "reply"/"quote". So in all likelihood all they need to do is ctrl F for "reply" and have a look through til they see the right bit of code.

I guess maybe the fact that the back end of Mumsnet appears to be a pretty messy beast makes it harder but that reason has been the reason for years now.

YourNameGoesHere · 10/11/2023 22:08

MinnieL · 10/11/2023 21:50

How strange! I genuinely thought it was a bug and an error in coding but MN haven’t ever said that it’s broken? That’s just so weird

Show quote history

It's been that way for forever but is way more bloody annoying now we have a quote option and everyone naturally assumes it will quote the bloody post you click on it for.

Original poster
DappledThings · 10/11/2023 22:07

MinnieL · 10/11/2023 21:50

How strange! I genuinely thought it was a bug and an error in coding but MN haven’t ever said that it’s broken? That’s just so weird

Show quote history

I know.

Here's the thread I started over a year ago first trying to get this changed where MNHQ confirmed Reply has always worked this way, i.e. not created a reply but seemingly not seeing why that's an issue!
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4639568-reply-doesnt-do-anything?reply=124128266

Reply doesn't do anything | Mumsnet

The Reply option in posts doesn't actually create a reply. It just takes you to the text box so you can a post to the thread. A lot of posters under...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4639568-reply-doesnt-do-anything?reply=124128266

OP posts:
MinnieL · 10/11/2023 21:50

DappledThings · 10/11/2023 17:20

I thought ‘reply’ was intended to automatically insert the username of the MNer you wanted to reply to, rather than quoting their post
That would be a reasonable assumption, and certainly is the assumption many make. But not only does it not do that it appears it was never designed to do so. MN have never said it's broken so it is working as designed. Which means they deliberately created a button that doesn't do what it says it does. Which is baffling.

How strange! I genuinely thought it was a bug and an error in coding but MN haven’t ever said that it’s broken? That’s just so weird

DeadBugMountainClimber · 10/11/2023 20:03

Totally useless and unnecessary @DappledThings

Original poster
DappledThings · 10/11/2023 17:20

I thought ‘reply’ was intended to automatically insert the username of the MNer you wanted to reply to, rather than quoting their post
That would be a reasonable assumption, and certainly is the assumption many make. But not only does it not do that it appears it was never designed to do so. MN have never said it's broken so it is working as designed. Which means they deliberately created a button that doesn't do what it says it does. Which is baffling.

OP posts:
MinnieL · 10/11/2023 16:24

I still have the share and quote button on my page

YourNameGoesHere · 10/11/2023 16:22

Why do any suggestions on improvements generally take so long to even test/bring to fruition?

I've genuinely no bloody idea. It's not like this issue is new it's been going on for blooming ages now so there's been ample time to fix it.

I just don't see why it's taking so long unless they genuinely have no plans to actually fix the problem in which case for goodness sake just fudging say so.

DeadBugMountainClimber · 10/11/2023 16:21

I thought ‘reply’ was intended to automatically insert the username of the MNer you wanted to reply to, rather than quoting their post (which is what the ‘quote’ button is for)? Same as it does on other sites. From the nature of replies on threads, it seems that’s what other posters think it does/should do too.

At the moment it just works as a ‘reply to thread’ button and is pointless and misleading.

TookTheBook · 10/11/2023 16:16

It's so frustrating this isn't just being actioned. I've read so many threads recently where the OP is just replying nonsense into the ether because they are presumably hitting reply on an individual post but when they write their reply, it doesn't tag or quote the post they are replying to. So the OP then gets flamed for not making any sense!

LookItsMeAgain · 10/11/2023 15:01

HebeMumsnet · 08/11/2023 09:09

Morning, everyone.

Thank you for the feedback on this. Just wanted to reassure you we are still reading these threads and have understood why there's confusion about the reply button.

We are looking at solutions to this but it's not a completeley straightforward change because there are various user opinions on how it should work so we want to look carefully at it before deciding exactly how it should look. We're going to run some tests to figure out what the best option is for the largest majority of users, and as soon as there's some concrete news we will let you know.

Thanks for your patience on this. Flowers

This is an interesting take on the situation @HebeMumsnet .

Usually MN Admins & Techies decide to make an update to the web version and hang the rest of the options that are out there. The large majority of users are using the web version of MN, they aren't using the MN App as that is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

There is coding that runs when someone clicks on the "Reply" button. There is also coding that runs when someone clicks the "Quote". You could get the techies to comment out the code that runs on "Reply" and paste into that area the code that works when you click "Quote" - thereby not removing any code at all but simply hiding it and copy & paste existing code. If that doesn't work you simply remove the copied & pasted code and remove the commented out option for the reply button.

It might take a decent software developer a while to locate the specific sections of code but once they do, it should be relatively straightforward....I would have thought.

Why do any suggestions on improvements generally take so long to even test/bring to fruition?