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Rick Ryan

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Off Topic Question: Forum "Reply" Function

My apologies if this is an inappropriate place to ask, but I just began posting in the discussions 4 days ago. I searched the TED site for an answer and could not find one. I emailed the "Help" function of TED and the reply was "We are gone until sept 4th". I would like an answer before then so I don't mess up the structure of any discussions here.

Why is it that some posts do not contain a "Reply" button on them? It seems this happens either once the "sub-tree" of a post reaches a certain number of posts, or it may be time-related. In any case, there are posts that I can't reply to because there is no "Reply" button available in them. The only option appears to be to go farther up in the post tree, but this places my reply post "out of sequence" (more "left column tabbed") and has already caused some confusion in one conversation I replied in.

I'm going to put a 1-day close on this "Question" so it will not continue to be an open discussion.

Any guidance is GREATLY appreciated in how to properly reply to a post that has no "Reply" button in it, without damaging the continuity of a discussion.

Thanks!

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    edward long 100+

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    Aug 28 2012: Just move on up the tree until you find the name of the person you seek having a REPLY button. Begin your reply with "RE: your statement "There is no gravity etc." This will warn them that your reply is out of the flow of the conversation sequence. Or you can post a separate new comment and begin it with "@ Bill Smith re: There is no gravity etc". If you use the former method the person will be notified via email of your reply. If you use the latter method they will not get an email.
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Aug 29 2012: Well either way, it's a weird design having to scroll up like 15 comments just to reply as the 16th.
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    Rick Ryan 10+

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    Aug 28 2012: Let me clarify what I was recommending. A true sequential numbering system probably wouldn't work, as it couldn't stay sequential as new posts were inserted into the middle of conversations and posts get "bumped" around in the order they appear.

    Just assign a post number to a post as it gets posted. Anyone wanting to reply to it can reference that number, and although someone else may have to go "search" for the referenced post then, at least they could identify an "@ James 18" post from all other "James" posts if James had 20 different posts in the discussion.
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    Rick Ryan 10+

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    Aug 28 2012: Thanks. The 3rd level nested info answered the question for me. Normally I can go up the the top of the 3rd level nested post and reply with a post that starts with an "@James", etc, to indicate who I am replying to. The thread I had a problem with evidently had a 3rd level nested TOP post with no "Reply" button, so it was 3rd level itself from an earlier post. I couldn't find any post with a "Reply" button that allowed me to post my reply that resulted in my reply being anywhere NEAR the post I was replying to at the time. Caused a little confusion when I posted it.

    Possible solution for TED to consider: Number all posts sequentially so a responder could indicate the number of the post they are responding to...ie - "@James #67"
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Aug 28 2012: I like the sequentially numerical post idea, for easier reply referencing
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    Gail . 50+

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    Aug 28 2012: Perhaps you could start a new threat and relate it to the poster and time of post and response it related to??
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    James Zhang 30+

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    Aug 28 2012: 3rd level nested forum posts cannot be replied. You also cannot reply your own post.

    My guess is this was designed to prevent long conversations with a specific sub-thread or sub-sub-thread.
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    Gail . 50+

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    Aug 28 2012: You have expressed one of my concerns as well. I recently received a reply saying that the author knew that the reply would come to me, but it was meant for _____, thus gettiing around it.

    I wish it could be fixed or I could understand how to use the system if there is a better way.
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