Reply doesn't do anything

[DappledThings]

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 understandable think if they use Reply they will be actually replying to that post so it will automatically @ the PP or quote them or something but it doesn't. So we now have loads of threads full of people replying to something but there's no indication which post they are replying to so it's hard to follow.

Can you disable that button so it stops confusing people? Or develop it so it actually creates a reply to that specific post rather than a new blank one?

Hi @DappledThings - can you please let us know which device you're using to view Mumsnet and which version of the site (desktop, mobile or app) so we can look into what's happening here?

Thanks in advance.

Mobile site, chrome on Android. Samsung phone.

I just hit reply ony post of a minute ago to write this. It just creates a new post, not a reply to the one I was replying too.

On the website on PC I have no reply option at all.

This is what I see under the three dots on mobile site and on the desktop site. Reply is disabled on desktop.

Thanks for supplying those screenshots - it's always helpful for us to see what you're seeing.

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.

If you want to reply to a specific post, you can choose the 'Quote' option - it will still add your post to the end of the thread, but with the post you're replying to quoted first.

Alternatively if you want to reply to a specific poster on the thread, you can tag them by placing an @ in front of their username.

To reply to someone on the desktop site, scroll to the bottom of the screen to the box that says 'Add your message here' - type your reply and hit the blue 'Post' tab underneath.

Hope that answers all your questions but please let us know if you have any others.

Thank you, but I know all that! That's why I don't use reply, it is pointless.

My feedback was that it is pointless and confuses newer users who use it then find themselves having answered a PP but it not being clear which PP because they think they have "replied" but actually haven't. So would you consider just removing it so mobile and desktop are in line with each other.

This is today. 3 "replies" from OP with no context. No indication of which posts are being replied to so it just makes it hard to follow. I assume OP had used the reply option assuming it would nest response/@ the PP/quote them or similar. Having a reply button which isn't a reply button is really misleading and makes threads nonsensical

Hello

Ah we're with you!
We'll chat about this - thanks so much for flagging.

I wanted to bump this as I've just been reading this thread - www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4748718-its-my-dog-not-our-dog?page=4 and it reminded me about this issue again. All of OP's replies to specific posts aren't actually replies. OP thinks they are because they have presumably used the Reply option and they are written as responses. But because "Reply" doesn't do anything useful it makes no sense.

Please could you still consider just removing the Reply option as it does nothing. Or change it so when you choose Reply it creates a post that begins Replying to DappledThings' post 22/2/23 08.04 or something

Seriously this is never how MN has worked. If you want to add text use quote.

I know that! But that's why the Reply button is pointless and makes confusing threads when people think it does something that it doesn't.

I hear you Dappledthings! The reply button serves no purpose - I think it should either be removed if it can’t link to the post being replied to, or the name changed from “reply” to “new post” to avoid confusion :)

Rubbish. Quoting is relatively new yet posters managed fine without it.

I agree. But the Reply button is confusing as it doesn't do what it says. So it should be relabelled as "create new post" or just removed.

Otherwise we have threads like the one I linked today where the OP keeps saying things like "I agree" and "that's a good point" but there's no indication of who they agree with so the conversation doesn't work

I have found this thread after googling because I have done doing exactly that! Clicking reply under each post on a thread to reply to individuals who’d @‘d me and then found all my posts at the bottom of the thread. And then I had to repost and tag everyone! Where’s the quote thing everyone keeps mentioning? I can’t find it!

Click the three dots on the top right of the post, then click “Quote”

Ok, I’ve done that. Hope this works!

Click on the three dots in the right hand corner.

Select Quote.

Quote used to be where Reply is.

It's maddening.

@LilyMumsnet @DawnMumsnet

16 months after this thread was created, and nothing has changed.

Thank you! I think I’m getting the hang of this now!

So annoying. I feel like I went in like a bull in a china shop and made a right mess on the thread I joined, replying to different people and not tagging anyone!

Me too, I used to hit reply thinking I was replying to a specific post. Then a few other responses come in inbetween( cos most people can type faster than me!), and the thread makes no sense

Ha! Exactly! And there’s no Like option either. Do people use Thanks like Like, do you know?

100% agree with the OP. Reply should start with an automatic @ of the poster up whom one is replying.

Or it should disappear.

Yes, @LittleBearPad i know it was ever thus, and all that, but it’s very confusing (been here more than 10 years on and off)

Not having a like is a deliberate choice so that MN isn’t a popularity contest like Twitter etc