Forums » Suggestions & Development Discussion » How should we use the "reply" arrow?

Here's a deceptively simple question I would love some feedback on:

In the new inbox, when you are the last person to have replied to a thread, this symbol appears.

Should this include if you are also the ONLY person to have spoken in a conversation, i.e., if you have just initiated the conversation, so there have been no true replies, just a conversation starter?

I originally had it set up that way, because I tend to use the "replied" arrow to mean "You don't have to do anything about this right now" (Which can be useful over and above the "last poster" image, especially when I have several RPs in my inbox, for example, such that the last poster could be five different names and still mean me).

Even if I initiated a conversation, I still appreciated the arrow telling me that I don't need to reply to it since I'm the last one to have done so.

However, I realize that this breaks with the traditional meaning of the word "replied," and so can cause a different kind of confusion.

Let's have a vote, and let me know your reasons. Should the arrow be used every time you are the last poster in a conversation, or only when the last post was a true reply of yours, not the start of a conversation?

I have the same idea as you, Kim; it shows me I don't have to do anything with this right now. When I see the 'reply' arrow, I know that I responded to that person's message. To have that arrow by a message that I started but has not gotten any replies would make me wonder if I had in fact replied and forgot about the message I got back from the person about it.
In other words, I think the 'reply' arrow should only be for when I have replied to something. Because it helps me to know 'oh hey, I really did say something to this so I don't need to worry about it'.

Personally, I like seeing the replied arrow when it means I have personally replied to a message. It let's me know whether I need to reply if I haven't already, especially for older messages I may have read and forgotten to reply to.

Just my two-cents worth.

This actually puts us on opposite sides of the issue!

It will always be there for messages you have replied to. The question is, should it be there for messages you just started such that you are the last person to speak in the thread, but there aren't any actual "responses" yet?

How about.... having the arrow you have already for replies, and a straight-up arrow for sending/initiating PMs? Because I like the turning-arrow for replies and knowing that I was the last person to reply so I don't get too confused in that regard, but it might get a little confusing because we might think, after a time, there has been a conversation or something.

Maybe that's just me.

I'm terribly confused 99% of the time lol.

But an upward arrow makes me think of a message that's been sent and delivered, a new one. But a turning arrow is perfect for replies as it is. IDK JUST an idea, probably not a good one cause I just woke up. X)

I vote that the arrow should only be used when you have replied to a message you received, not when you started a completely fresh and new PM conversation that you've never had a response to.

We already have a counter that tracks the # of replies. If it's set to 0 and the last poster is you, then it's immediately obvious to me that I sent it but didn't get a response to it yet. The arrow just confuses me because I've only ever seen it previously used when I received a PM and responded to it.

Also, to help elaborate what Kim means:



This is a fresh new PM I sent to someone. Nobody has replied to it yet, I just sent it out. But the reply arrow is showing up anyway. I have a feeling it's not 100% clear what Kim is referring to so I hope this helps.

Actually I think this is 100% brilliant and might solve the entire dilemma.

I love this idea!

I concur!

Okay, trying that out. I'll let you guys give it a whirl for a few days, let me know how it sits with you?

I very much like it and the hover text!

I just gave the new arrows a whirl, and I absolutely love them. I wasn't confused with the arrow in the first place, but I still find this revamped arrow-reply-system extremely handy!

I agree! I love it, especially when we get the hover message that explains the arrow! I think there's no way this could be a problem It's so simple and it has a message to remind you what it means! Great job, Kim, and great suggestion Madrat!

Omg! Wow I didn't expect it to actually take off! Awesome, it looks even better being used. ;u; I feel weirdly smart now lol.

I hope it sticks! It makes a lot of sense in my lil head haha! And yeah, I love the little hover-text -- there shouldn't be any confusion at all, I don't think! . EEeee!