# Starting a new message while browsing a topic
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 1:13 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528 "2016-02-13T13:13:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ossama](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ossama)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 1:13 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/1 "2016-02-13T13:13:06Z")
Hi there,
We ran a contest in our community, and i wanted to contact several participants regarding their entries, so i came across this process which i think might be improved a bit.
How to send a message to a user while browsing a topic?
1. Click on a user image/name then
2. Click on “Message” button
So what i was expecting that the new message box will pop up without changing the current page. But It does change it to the user profile.
What are your thoughts about this behavior? In my opinion I’d rather have the same page without changing it.
---
### Author:  [@mcwumbly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mcwumbly)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 1:15 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/2 "2016-02-13T13:15:38Z")
> [@Ossama](#):
>
> In my opinion I’d rather have the same page without changing it.
Great idea! Totally agree…
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 8:53 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/3 "2016-02-13T20:53:08Z")
You can use the “Flag” button to achieve this exact workflow, that does not move you to a new page.
I am ok with the proposed change but will wait on @codinghorror to decide.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 9:44 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/4 "2016-02-13T21:44:14Z")
Yeah flag covered this case already nothing to do here.
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 9:48 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/5 "2016-02-13T21:48:08Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Yeah flag covered this case already nothing to do here
I do exactly that quite often.
It does work very well except for the limitations at times. i.e.
Max allowed content length
No “toolbar”
What do then is go to the message that doesn’t have the limitations of the modal and edit the OP
---
### Author:  [@mcwumbly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mcwumbly)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 9:56 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/6 "2016-02-13T21:56:07Z")
I’ve always found the flag route to be an awkward way to initiate a PM, but maybe that’s just me…
Are there any metrics available for how often people use the flag vs. the message button to initiate a PM now?
---
### Author:  [@purldator](https://meta.discourse.org/u/purldator)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:25 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/7 "2016-02-13T22:25:51Z")
> [@mcwumbly](#):
>
> I’ve always found the flag route to be an awkward way to initiate a PM, but maybe that’s just me…
> [@PM-User to Invite to Convo or Continue in PM](https://meta.discourse.org/t/pm-user-to-invite-to-convo-or-continue-in-pm/24985):
>
> [In relation to this topic here](https://meta.discourse.org/t/invite-existing-user-to-a-topic/12369) and [this one as well](https://meta.discourse.org/t/pm-directly-from-a-post-in-topic/7516), I suggest mirroring ‘PM User’ from the flag button to a link under “Reply as linked Topic”. Putting that feature under the flag button is not intuitive because ‘flag’ implies that something is wrong with the post and the flag button should only be clicked in that situation where Things Are Wrong And People Must Be Alerted. When I used the ‘PM User’ option under flagging today to suggest something to a user to prevent a conflict from happenin…
(I agree.)
> [@mcwumbly](#):
>
> Are there any metrics available for how often people use the flag vs. the message button to initiate a PM now?
I would like to know the answer to that too.
---
### Author:  [@riking](https://meta.discourse.org/u/riking)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:29 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/8 "2016-02-13T22:29:06Z")
Nope, that isn’t measured at all.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:31 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/9 "2016-02-13T22:31:20Z")
> [@mcwumbly](#):
>
> I’ve always found the flag route to be an awkward way to initiate a PM, but maybe that’s just me…
As I’ve said before: when two siblings are having an argument, before running to mom and dad, they need to be **encouraged to work it out amongst themselves first**.
Fair point that you might not reach for flag when you’re _not_ having an argument, but it is there.
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:35 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/10 "2016-02-13T22:35:16Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Yeah flag covered this case already nothing to do here.
Sort of, I find it hugely disruptive to flow that we transport you to the “user page” when you hit the message button. I can not think of any reason to take you there, this is reminiscent of old forum software that has dedicated PM pages.
---
### Author:  [@purldator](https://meta.discourse.org/u/purldator)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:38 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/11 "2016-02-13T22:38:29Z")
I am not speaking for @mcwumbly with this reply. But, I would assume he is not suggesting the option to PM a user (by a user) be _removed_ from the flag-user modal. The option (and reason, intent) is as you stated:
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> they need to be encouraged to work it out amongst themselves first
Highly agreed.
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Fair point that you might not reach for flag when you’re not having an argument
This is the situation.
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> but it is there
Just as I will not fully assume for @mcwumbly and speak for him, so as well, I will not assume a large number of users _know_ that, seek it out for that purpose, or think that option on the flag modal _can_ be used for a benign purpose.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:39 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/12 "2016-02-13T22:39:37Z")
Well, it’s good for people to get familiar with flag – we always want to encourage flagging, not just as a “critical life threatening accident” but “cleanup on aisle 6” as well.
---
### Author:  [@purldator](https://meta.discourse.org/u/purldator)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:44 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/13 "2016-02-13T22:44:33Z")
Agreed with that as well.
This situation is similar to the idea of training a user to accept a new definition to prior context and meaning.
We all agree, the flag icon is associated with “situations”. Either critical or minor/faux pas.
As I spoke in the topic I started, this all relates to _consistency_.
No one is going to click an icon designated in the collective consciousness (red means stop/warning; green means go/affirmative) to message a user for a reason not fully related to the context of that icon; _what it represents_.
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:45 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/14 "2016-02-13T22:45:08Z")
I think the request here, that seems a bit muddled is to stop hijacking you to the user page.
If I am anywhere on the site and click:
I end up here and:
This is totally unneeded, we can spawn the PM dialog without forcing a page transition. That way you are not forced to “shift contexts” when you decide to PM someone.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 10:57 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/15 "2016-02-13T22:57:50Z")
> [@sam](#):
>
> spawn the PM dialog without forcing a page transition. That way you are not forced to “shift contexts” when you decide to PM someone.
Oh, I see. Well it depends how much work it is. If it’s easy, I am for it, if not, I am not.
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 11:05 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/16 "2016-02-13T23:05:41Z")
Its actually easier than taking you to the user page 🙂 that is pretty full of magic and hacky.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 11:15 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/17 "2016-02-13T23:15:41Z")
If it’s simpler, then I am all for it. Sorry I did misunderstand the request; I thought custom UI was being asked for.
---
### Author:  [@mcwumbly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mcwumbly)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 13 日午後 11:58 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/18 "2016-02-13T23:58:50Z")
@purldator, you mostly got what I was saying right (though I didn’t intend to suggest removing the PM via flag option altogether).
But the real lesson of this topic is, as @sam shows above:
**whenever possible include pictures in UI conversations**
(note to self)
---
### Author:  [@Ossama](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ossama)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 14 日午前 10:36 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/19 "2016-02-14T10:36:50Z")
@sam and @mcwumbly got my point. Two points i want to share with you guys as a result of this discussion.
The good thing i like here about the [@team](https://meta.discourse.org/groups/team) is how quick and responsive you guys are and the community to new ideas and suggestions. In 21 Hrs this small issue which is not a critical bug, but could improve user experience got resolved. So much respect for your efforts guys here. _Claps hands_
The other point could be a complaint. Whenever report something here, I feel like I’ve done something wrong. I feel the feedback i provide is either unimportant or a burden. I used to browse and contribute to Discourse community everyday. Now only when a problem pops up. Who knows what next.
We users/admin of Communities using Discourse, support you. We shall send you feedback and discuss even the tiniest details. That is what a community about, but from your side, try to make it friendly and welcoming. You can get much more from the community here, only if you show them the way.
Thank you for your time.
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [2016 年 2 月 15 日午前 9:38 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528/20 "2016-02-15T09:38:49Z")
OK this is now implemented per:
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/d7400dd10aacfc53bb9defcff9d264eb06ce8f5c](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/d7400dd10aacfc53bb9defcff9d264eb06ce8f5c)
It actually removes more code than it adds 🙂
> [@Ossama](#):
>
> Whenever report something here, I feel like I’ve done something wrong.
Please don’t feel this way, we appreciate your feedback a lot, as an Enterprise customer you have significant amount of say in the product, especially when it comes to running your forum.
We always prioritize feedback from our paying customers.
On the topic of feedback I would love to see a topic from you with general feedback on Discourse since you started using it (either public or private, up to you). We learn a huge amount from new communities.
[次のページ](https://meta.discourse.org/t/starting-a-new-message-while-browsing-a-topic/39528.md?page=2)