# Allow reply-to individual instead of topic/forum (mailing list feature)

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-reply-to-individual-instead-of-topic-forum-mailing-list-feature/44905>\
**Category:** Product Support\
**Created:** [Maio 27, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-reply-to-individual-instead-of-topic-forum-mailing-list-feature/44905 "2016-05-27T14:24:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![tarek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/tarek/32/124831_2.png) [@tarek](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tarek)\
**Post date:** [Maio 27, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-reply-to-individual-instead-of-topic-forum-mailing-list-feature/44905/1 "2016-05-27T14:24:28Z")

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Hello all,

I have looked at several topics (e.g., [1](https://meta.discourse.org/t/customize-the-reply-to-address-in-new-private-message-notification-emails/33454)) and I don’t see that this need has been addressed previously.

I am using some forums as direct mailing list replacements. For example, we have a mailing list that we used for some users asking all others if they would like their shifts (e.g., “Shift tomorrow for trade”). In [GNU/Mailman](http://www.list.org/), the correct setting would be to set “reply to sender”.

I have clearly articulated in a tutorial how I think people should use the mailing list, but it’s clear that’s not happening. People are still sending to the forum, and because all users are by default “watching”, everybody receives messages that used to be sent privately. Instead of making life better, at this point the lists have made things at best net neutral, though worse for most.

So, what I would like is for either:

1. The messages _in this category_ to automatically get sent as PMs; or
2. Messages to come back via email to that individual user.

Is this already possible? If not, any thoughts on how I could make it happen? I think for my purposes, this might be a killer for our users if we can’t resolve it..

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-reply-to-individual-instead-of-topic-forum-mailing-list-feature/44905)._