cogdog sought a way to send group announcements that prevent replies from non-admin users, as current group messages—even when closed—still allow replies, causing noise and unwanted notifications. After testing as a non-admin user, cogdog confirmed that closed group messages disappear entirely for regular users, making them ineffective for announcements. Stephen clarified that admins can always reply to closed topics, while mattdm and Jagster humorously referenced admin vs. user role distinctions. Stephen suggested Discourse BCC, which hides replies from the group—only sender and recipient see them. cogdog found this solution promising and, after testing, confirmed it works perfectly: replies are no longer spammed to the group, meeting the organization’s need for clean, one-way announcements cogdog.
My organization really wants to be able to send periodic community announcements to groups, as not everyone, especially new users seems to be visiting regularly. They want to direct users to a specific activity as a topic.
The problem with group messages is that a recipient replies thinking it is to the sender, when it relays to the whole group, and we generate tons of noise and email notification. I have tried everything to disable a group message, tried closing, unlisting, turning off reply by email across the site and regardless, non admin users are able to see and reply to a group message even when closed-- this one is closed but the reply button is still active.
Gargling with salt water might take care of those coughs.
I am not asking to switch admin role on and off; I maintain a non admin user in another browser for testing and I also use impersonate to see from a users role.
I have been merely looking for a way to use group messages to make announcements that regular users cannot reply to. And yes, in my latest test, I sent a group message and then closed it, and as a non admin user it is completely gone. So that means I would never even see it. What I hoped was a message sent that could be read and not replied to, but it seems not possible.
