I would like a reply to the "Reply" issue

[DappledThings]

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"

I agree there are other tests that don't require user input. But how do you figure out what the best option is for the largest majority of users, if you don't actually ask those who use your site?

In pure IT terms it really should though.

What sort of tests do you think they mean?

Not sure what you mean by "pure IT terms", there are so many different kinds of testing that they could mean, unit testing, regression testing, exploratory testing, usability testing... Maybe they've been doing some A/B testing?

I do think reply could be a bit complex, how is it supposed to work? Could be threading, or a link to the thing you're replying to, or just mentioning the person you are replying to, for example.

I have seen many organisations take all sorts of approaches to ‘test’ things that somehow sidestep user research or completely ignore it.

Often more senior people apparently just know what users need and can test things in lieu of them. 🙄

Reply is working as it's meant to (adding a post to the thread). The problem is, people think it does what the - now hidden - quote button does. All they need to do is swap quote in the drop down for reply beneath the posts and it should resolve many issues.

I don't know why we need Reply AND Add Post. It all just adds to the (understandable) confusion.

Indeed The amount of people who think reply isn't working is astonishing but reply does exactly what it's supposed to and made some sort of sense before they added the ability to quote posts.

The most astonishing thing though is the fact we're years down the road and still getting wishy washy we're looking into this and testing this posts from HQ. It's very clear there's not much happening with regards to resolving the issue. If they've not fixed it by now then I am incredibly sceptical they have any intention of doing so.

Well, yes, there is that too! It's all rather ridiculous.

The amount of people who think reply isn't working is astonishing but reply does exactly what it's supposed to and made some sort of sense before they added the ability to quote posts.
I don't think it has ever made sense to have a button marked reply which doesn't reply to the post. Regardless of the quote feature I would always expect "Reply" to mean something happened in relation to the post I had hit reply on, not to the thread in general.

It is "working" in that it does what it is designed to do, but the design is nonsensical from the off.

I think in fairness and I may be wrong it's only labelled as reply when using the mobile site (probably because it's shorter so fits on the bottom bar more easily). I think it's always been add message when using the site on a computer hasn't it?

And anyone quoting the op on the 1st page / 1st 25 replies should be banished!

Yes, it is Add message on the computer. Which is even more annoying. Yes Reply is fewer characters than Add message but they don't mean the same thing. It's such a lazy workaround. " We can't fit the words Add message on the mobile site. We'll call it reply which doesn't mean the same thing but hey, who cares if it's massively confusing?". Aaargh!

Yes, the mobile site is 'Reply' below the message, but 'Add post' at the bottom of the page. (You need to click on my image to see it in full.)

Ooh...we have quote back at the bottom of the message on the mobile site!

Oh so we do... When did that show up?? Also seriously not complaining but isn't that exactly what we asked them to do right at the start....

Hi all

We just wanted to share the changes we've made.

On mobile, we've swapped 'Save' and 'Quote'. 'Save' can now be found in the post menu. We've also renamed the reply button - it now says 'add post'.

On desktop, we have swapped 'save' and 'quote'. We've also renamed 'add message' to 'add post'.

YES!!!

We have "Quote" back at the bottom of the posts on the website too!

Finally.....<heaves a huge sigh of relief>

Thank you MN Admins and MN Techies! This will make a HUGE difference to how the site operates.
💐

Today, I think. 😁

Thanks, @LilyMumsnet, sensible choices!

What a brilliant update.

Just seen the message from Lily.

Thank goodness common sense prevailed but I genuinely have no clue why it took so long to implement or why any testing etc was needed when all they've ended up doing is exactly what MN users suggested initially.

Thank you at last!

A-MAZE-ING!

What a brilliant result. Thank you!

Yay for common sense restored!

I genuinely have no clue why it took so long to implement or why any testing etc was needed when all they've ended up doing is exactly what MN users suggested initially. Agree.

Fantastic, thank you!

Thanks @LilyMumsnet!