BuddyPress.org

I thought I followed protocol.
Is there any possibility of an answer?

I swore I added the link in the first post and just did again but it doesn’t seem to show up if I use the link button to paste a link.

Hopefully the raw link will show.
https://codex.buddypress.org/buddypress-components-and-features/messages/

I must be seeing things then. (Certainly a possibility)

Private Messages

Private Messaging works like an internal site email. Members can message people on their friends list as well as forward and reply to received messages. Each member will have their own individual Inbox and Sent messages folders as well as a Compose message screen. Members will be notified of new messages by a new message count in own Messages tab, in notification circle in Admin toolbar, as well as receive email notifications of the private message, if enabled.

@bp_help
I fear that this may be a typo as well which is a terrible shame. As an admin on our site, I am left with tons of unnecessary work when I need to forward messages to my mods from a user. We have resorted to just taking screencaps when we can get away with it, as pasting text from a message is never properly formatted.

On top of that, even as an admin I can’t message my mods or even users directly unless they are on my friends list. Both of these things make messaging within buddypress a huge hassle and disappointment. It was most certainly not designed with efficiency on mind. 🙁

@danbp
I am aware of all that but I fail to see what it has to do with forwarding messages. Forwarding messages would be internal like all other messaging.

@danbp
Just Wow!
If forwarding a message in a “Messaging” app is considered picky, then guilty as charged.

That fact that you are stunned that that we use the internal messaging system to communicate with our users is a little lost on me. I really thought that was what messaging was for.

As for composing a message to users not on your friends list, it indeed can be done, but only if you can remember exactly what the user name is. Auto-complete is unavailable unless they are on your friends list. If you can remember every single user on your site with names like rad_dude87155, then I guess you wouldn’t need that feature. I understand why it designed that way, but it really should be optional, and most definitely available to admins. Just have a look here and tell me this is an unreasonable request.

https://buddypress.org/support/tag/autocomplete/

It certainly seems you don’t set a very high bar for a messaging app which is why you keep pointing me away from this one. Indeed I may have to find a better solution, and maybe all of the other people who posted with similar problems should be steered away as well and you won’t have to deal with anyone who expects what was stated in the documentation, let alone suggesting maybe improving the app.

Thank you everyone that actually tried to help and worked to fix the bad documentation. If I hit a nerve for expecting a common sense feature for a messaging app, then I apologize. I guess I should take danbp’s advice and look elsewhere.

Just wanted to drop by and apologize.
I am not usually so easily provoked, but I was frustrated that no one seemed to notice what I was talking about. I was being honest when stating I was disappointed, and that some functions were a hassle, but I didn’t think I came off as mean or combative. I admit that I should not have said this wasn’t designed with efficiency in mind though. That was out of pure frustration and was uncalled for.

It went south from there and I can’t take it back, so I hope you will accept my apology.

Reagrds,
akovia