Personal Conversations
Personal Conversations (PCs) have replaced Private Messages (PMs) in the new version of BuckeyePlanet. Where PMs behaved more like email, Private Conversations behave more like invitation-only private threads. That's right, those kind of privileges aren't just for elitist pr_icks anymore! There are several ways you can easily start a Private Conversation
How to start one...
In the navbar, in the upper right-hand corner of the page there is an Inbox link next to your username. Hover your cursor over it and it will give you a quick heads-up view of your active, unread PCs. Following the "Show All..." link in the heads-up display or clicking on the Inbox link that you hovered your cursor over will take you to the list of all of your Conversations.
This list will look and behave like your own private sub-forum, with the Private Conversation threads appearing in a similar manner to threads in the open forum. There are buttons here to start a new private conversation similar to how you would start a new thread. Click on one, and you will be taken to the page to write the first post in your PC thread.
How it works...
The only difference at this point between starting a thread and starting a Private Conversation is that in addition to filling in a thread title and the contents of your post, you will also need to indicate the users that you want to invite to the Private Conversation. Once you begin typing usernames in the Participants field it will suggest existing users whose names match what you've started to type - very handy for differentiating users with similar handles, or to make sure that you don't miss the crucial space, underscore, or number in a user's name that would mean the difference between the other user being able to see your message or not.
You have the ability to add additional members to an existing PC. While viewing a PC thread, there is a list of conversation participants on the right-hand side of the page. At the bottom of that list there is a link to invite additional participants. It will bring up a prompt that will allow you to enter usernames just like you did when you started a PC.
There are other settings that you can adjust in existing conversations. You have the ability to leave a PC. You can star/unstar conversations. If you are the person who started the PC, you will also have the option to edit the conversation. You can manage and/or edit a conversation while viewing it thru the links above the first post in the thread. You can also manage (but not edit) in batchs by checking the box in front of the title of one or more conversations in the list view. When you check a box, a heads-up display will appear automatically with your options.
Leaving a conversation allows you to end your participation in the discussion without killing it off entirely. This can be handy if a conversation includes a small group of people who want to continue the discussion after you are finished.
More info on Private Conversations
These are just the main ways to access and start Private Conversations. There are other ways, like starting a conversation with another user directly while viewing their profile, or from your control panel menu. Please also be aware that a Private Conversation is only as private as its participants make it. Please be sure to check the list of participants before firing off a message that is sensitive or meant for just one person.
Any questions? Explanations unclear? Reply in this thread and we can help each other out.
Personal Conversations (PCs) have replaced Private Messages (PMs) in the new version of BuckeyePlanet. Where PMs behaved more like email, Private Conversations behave more like invitation-only private threads. That's right, those kind of privileges aren't just for elitist pr_icks anymore! There are several ways you can easily start a Private Conversation
How to start one...
In the navbar, in the upper right-hand corner of the page there is an Inbox link next to your username. Hover your cursor over it and it will give you a quick heads-up view of your active, unread PCs. Following the "Show All..." link in the heads-up display or clicking on the Inbox link that you hovered your cursor over will take you to the list of all of your Conversations.
This list will look and behave like your own private sub-forum, with the Private Conversation threads appearing in a similar manner to threads in the open forum. There are buttons here to start a new private conversation similar to how you would start a new thread. Click on one, and you will be taken to the page to write the first post in your PC thread.
How it works...
The only difference at this point between starting a thread and starting a Private Conversation is that in addition to filling in a thread title and the contents of your post, you will also need to indicate the users that you want to invite to the Private Conversation. Once you begin typing usernames in the Participants field it will suggest existing users whose names match what you've started to type - very handy for differentiating users with similar handles, or to make sure that you don't miss the crucial space, underscore, or number in a user's name that would mean the difference between the other user being able to see your message or not.
You have the ability to add additional members to an existing PC. While viewing a PC thread, there is a list of conversation participants on the right-hand side of the page. At the bottom of that list there is a link to invite additional participants. It will bring up a prompt that will allow you to enter usernames just like you did when you started a PC.
There are other settings that you can adjust in existing conversations. You have the ability to leave a PC. You can star/unstar conversations. If you are the person who started the PC, you will also have the option to edit the conversation. You can manage and/or edit a conversation while viewing it thru the links above the first post in the thread. You can also manage (but not edit) in batchs by checking the box in front of the title of one or more conversations in the list view. When you check a box, a heads-up display will appear automatically with your options.
Leaving a conversation allows you to end your participation in the discussion without killing it off entirely. This can be handy if a conversation includes a small group of people who want to continue the discussion after you are finished.
More info on Private Conversations
These are just the main ways to access and start Private Conversations. There are other ways, like starting a conversation with another user directly while viewing their profile, or from your control panel menu. Please also be aware that a Private Conversation is only as private as its participants make it. Please be sure to check the list of participants before firing off a message that is sensitive or meant for just one person.
Any questions? Explanations unclear? Reply in this thread and we can help each other out.
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