There has to be a clearer way to delete private messages

[Kern Dog]

Just go through the necessary steps to clean out your inbox as designed and call it good. I just timed myself and in 18 seconds, I was able to remove a message.

I agree with this.
I absolutely hate the phrase "it is what it is" because everything that ever existed ALSO is what it is or was.....BUT,
If you want a better explanation, you could say It isn't perfect but to change it is neither easy nor feasible.
Hey...If a retired carpenter can figure it out, you guys can as well. Yeah, if I were smart enough, I would offer a remedy but until the entire system is revised, it is what we have to work with. The site is pretty great overall so a few pickadillies are worth dealing with.
Cheers.....

 

[RemCharger]

I agree with this.
I absolutely hate the phrase "it is what it is"

I had to throw that one in for fun

 

[Budnicks]

I clear most of mine every week,
I use the 'accept future messages' when clearing some
if I think it may be readdressed later, so you really don't completely lose the message chain,
just the message itself, frees up a tone of space...
& I'm not computer literate really, I muddle my way thru...

good luck

 

[RemCharger]

I clear most of mine every week,
I use the 'accept future messages' when clearing some
if I think it may be readdressed later, so you really don't completely lose the message chain,
just the message itself, frees up a tone of space...
& I'm not computer literate really, I muddle my way thru...

good luck

Frees up a ton of space?? You're gold bro!

 

[Skytrooper]

Here is my take on this topic.
FBBO basically rents this space. They didn’t specifically write this BB. Yes, there is some control over some additional features that they add from time to time, but I don’t believe that they can do much to a fundamental layer. I could be incorrect, but this is how I see it.
Since the issue at hand is only a problem to about .25%, is it really something that needs to be changed ? The vast majority of us have figured it out. I don’t think it warrants the time nor the energy required to make it “idiot proof” . What I mean by that remark is, if you can work on a car… a BB inbox shouldn’t be a road block. Like many things, it might not be easy or make sense the first time through, but after that initial attempt… you should be able to function. I too, had to think while attempting to delete messages the first time I tried, but I learned…and have not had any troubles since.
This BB costs money, and thanks to our Gold Members and vendor sponsorship…we have a pretty darn good site !

 

[Cranky]

Here is my take on this topic.
FBBO basically rents this space. They didn’t specifically write this BB. Yes, there is some control over some additional features that they add from time to time, but I don’t believe that they can do much to a fundamental layer. I could be incorrect, but this is how I see it.
Since the issue at hand is only a problem to about .25%, is it really something that needs to be changed ? The vast majority of us have figured it out. I don’t think it warrants the time nor the energy required to make it “idiot proof” . What I mean by that remark is, if you can work on a car… a BB inbox shouldn’t be a road block. Like many things, it might not be easy or make sense the first time through, but after that initial attempt… you should be able to function. I too, had to think while attempting to delete messages the first time I tried, but I learned…and have not had any troubles since.
This BB costs money, and thanks to our Gold Members and vendor sponsorship…we have a pretty darn good site !

The first time for me to delete with the new system I had a what the heck moment but figured it out after spending a few minutes clicking on a few buttons to see what came up.

 

[Cranky]

I've been in software 25 yrs, it's really annoying when admins blame users when the software is stupid.
This forum software has some nice features, but maintaining the inbox is not one of them.
I don't think anyone here wrote the software, why such defensiveness?

Who is being defensive on it? Maybe it's because we're not admins but are just lowly moderators. There is a difference. We deal with everything y'all do and then some but a lot of members think 'we' can make changes to the site but we cannot.

 

[furious70]

The comments that basically say deal with it or that infer it's simple to figure out sound defensive to me.
Maybe not everyone understands the software is bought and installed and used and there's only so much configuration Joey and others can do. I certainly do. And when the software is crap and there's no configuration to make it better, just say so and don't blame the users.

 

[dvw]

First thank everyone for the nice comments. I did go to frequently asked questions. And then to how to delete conversations. The picture on left are the instructions from that page. The picture on the right is the screen on my laptops same page. The delete section tab isn't there. So I have no idea where to look.
Doug

 

[kiwigtx]

The delete section tab isn't there. So I have no idea where to look.
Doug

Click on the small box to the left of the part that says "Replies"

Then use you drop down menu at the bottom and choose "Leave Direct Messages" or "Leave Conversations" - this is the same as Delete messages.

It works....took me about 10 seconds to delete a message to test again.

 

[kiwigtx]

 

[kiwigtx]

Having just deleted a message for the first time in probably 10 years, I am failing to see where the difficulty lies, and how anyone can say it is clumsy.....or junk software.

The way I see it is that it is designed so that messages are not inadvertently deleted......something that Phones could explain a little better.

 

[kiwigtx]

Having just deleted a message for the first time in probably 10 years, I am failing to see where the difficulty lies, and how anyone can say it is clumsy.....or junk software.

The way I see it is that it is designed so that messages are not inadvertently deleted......something that Phones could explain a little better.

The more I think about this, the more I realise how easy this is.

Deleting a message from your Conversation or Direct Message folder is so easy that it could be done single-handed by a Mong who is drowning in molasses.

Anyone still having problems with it can contact me directly.

 

[Cranky]

The comments that basically say deal with it or that infer it's simple to figure out sound defensive to me.
Maybe not everyone understands the software is bought and installed and used and there's only so much configuration Joey and others can do. I certainly do. And when the software is crap and there's no configuration to make it better, just say so and don't blame the users.

I do not know if it can be made better....even if I had access to the dash board, I wouldn't know how to make the changes. What I don't understand though is how come some can't figure it out even after being showed what to do. Also, I'm fairly illiterate when it comes to computers

The fact that someone would need to review a FAQ list in order to know how to delete a message, says it all.

You've never needed to look at any kind of a 'owners manual'??

 

[Dodge-Scatpack]

Having just deleted a message for the first time in probably 10 years, I am failing to see where the difficulty lies, and how anyone can say it is clumsy.....or junk software.

The way I see it is that it is designed so that messages are not inadvertently deleted......something that Phones could explain a little better.

I think it boils down to perspective. If you are accustomed to a Phone, tablet, Gmail, Outlook, etc. It’s generally a simple swipe or selecting a trash can icon to delete a message. Nobody really has to think about the action, it’s just intuitive.

This site has the added steps to ensure you don’t accidentally delete a message and uses different verbiage to describe the task. Maybe the addition of a trashcan icon or the word “delete” in the message action list may help bridge the gap.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[furious70]

Something has gotten better, it used to be you had to scroll to find the panel that had the pick list to choose what action to take. It doesn't seem to do that on android or chrome on Windows anymore. That was really silly.

 

[RemCharger]

First thank everyone for the nice comments. I did go to frequently asked questions. And then to how to delete conversations. The picture on left are the instructions from that page. The picture on the right is the screen on my laptops same page. The delete section tab isn't there. So I have no idea where to look.
Doug

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@dvw you may have not noticed.. but a gracious person gifted you gold status . No need to be concerned about deleting conversations anymore

 

[dvw]

I just saw that. Thanks to who gifted me Gold. Dads Bee? Many years ago I made a poor choice. My Dad bought a computer for all us with kids. Said it was something they should learn. That was close to 40 years ago. My two boys and their cousin's learned it well. I chose to ignore it. It's been a huge catch up ever since. I get by . The problem for me arises when there isn't a clear path (in my mind) to find what I'm looking for.
Doug