Family and Friends Forum

Dear Forum Users

We are pleased to announce that our direct messaging function

is ready to go live! This will come into effect on Friday 14th April

2023. We know you have all been waiting for this feature and

appreciate your patience. We will be updating prior to the

launch our user agreement to reflect this new feature and wish

to inform you that by engaging with the direct messaging

function on this site, you are agreeing to sections 4, 8, 9 and 10

on the revised forum agreement. We advise you to read the

revised forum agreement before engaging with direct messaging.


How to use:

This service is only available to registered users who are no

longer under moderation. A user is no longer under moderation

when their new posts automatically appear on the forum.

When you log into your forum account to use direct messaging

for the first time, you will see an additional button, named

‘Messages’, at the top of your screen. If you click on this, you

will be taken to your private messages page.

Direct Messaging is an optional feature for registered users on

the forum. If you do not wish to engage with this, you can

disable the function by clicking on ‘Disable private messages’.

This is not a permanent choice, and you can turn this feature

on and off as you wish.

If you would like to send a message to another registered user

on the forum, then you will need to search for their username

using the ‘New message’ button on your private messages

page. You will then be asked to enter the username for the

person you wish to direct message. Please bear in mind that

not all users may wish to use direct messaging and will have

disabled the service.


Once you have found the user you are looking for, and they are

open to messages, you can start messaging them by clicking on

their username and then typing directly into the text box that

should follow. To send the message press the ‘send’ button.


New messages will appear on your private messages page. A

red dot will appear next to the ‘Messages’ button whenever

you receive a new message. To open the message, click on the

envelope symbol.

If you wish to delete a conversation, simply click on the ‘Delete

conversation’ button at the bottom of your message thread.

Please bear in mind this will delete your whole thread with

that user and you will no longer have access to those messages.



If you wish to block another user, then click on the ‘Block user’

button at the bottom of your message thread. You will receive

a notification on your screen that you have blocked that

person. You will no longer be able to send or receive messages

from that person. To unblock them, simply clock on ‘Unblock

user’.

If you wish to report a message, then please select this option

at the bottom of your message thread. This will take you to a

new reporting page where you will be asked to explain why

you are reporting the message/s, as well as providing a

screenshot of the message. A screenshot is really helpful for

those moderating as we do not have direct access to your

private messages. Once you have completed the required

fields, click on the submit button. Forum moderators will be

notified of your report and take appropriate action.


For anyone who is unsure of how to screenshot, please see

these helpful links:

For Windows PCs - https://www.hp.com/gb-en/shop/

tech-takes/how-to-screenshot-on-hp-laptop-or-desktop

-computers


For Apple MACs - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide

/machelp/mh26782/mac#:~:text=Press%20Shift%2D

Command%2D3.&text=Press%20Shift%2DCommand%

2D4%2C,the%20mouse%20or%20trackpad%20button.

&text=Press%20Shift%2DCommand%2D4%2C%20then

%20press%20the%20Space%20bar

For iPhone - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT200289#:~:text=Press%20the%20Side%20button%

20and,hand%20corner%20of%20your%20screen


For Android phones - https://support.google.com/android

/answer/9075928?hl=en-GB


We understand that this new feature is exciting and provides

you with an alternative way of seeking and providing support,

although please continue to post on the main forum to interact

with others. This is essential in creating and maintaining forum

traffic, and a vital way of supporting new users and those who

find comfort and support in reading forum posts without

registering.

This feature is being piloted for 3 months initially; any feedback

or comments would be greatly appreciated and taken into

consideration. Please feel free to use this thread as a discussion

point for this. If you have any further feedback that you do not

wish to post on here, please email us on:

forum@lucyfaithfull.org.uk

Enjoy!

The Forum Team