I would love to be able to tag a member in forum posts, similar to facebook or twitter, by putting an @ symbol before their username or something like that. Tagged members would get a notification that they were tagged in a post even if they are not already watching that post.

I think this would add to the social aspect of the forums.

thanks!

I guess I am just too old, but I have to ask...what does this mean and why?
What if a person doesn't care to be 'tagged'?

I was shocked and dismayed to realize that the garden websites where I spend so much time socializing are, indeed, "social media". I used to think that I didn't "do" social media.

Sort of like "I don't watch reality TV". My SO delights in pointing out that some things I do watch ARE reality TV.

And that the Kelly Armstrong detective/occult novels are actually romance novels!

Gack! My self-image may not survive contact with reality.

old here too. Computer is still not my friend

Tagging someone in a post is just directing a comment to a specific person and then that person is notified of said comment so that they can go to the post and read it. It adds to the conversation aspect that a lot of forum posts take on.

An example... I recently came across an older forum thread in which a member posted a picture that I liked very much and in my reply I wanted to pay my compliments to that member. Because that thread is on the older side, that member may not be following the thread anymore and my comment would not reach its intended audience. A tag would notify the member that they were mentioned in the post so that they could click over to the post and see the reply and my compliments.

I'm sure a lot of people have come across an instance where they wanted to direct a "Rick, I love what you did with your garden but you need more compost!" within a multiple page thread. Typing @RickCorey (or whatever process is set up) tags Rick in the post and he would get a nice link to the post on his homepage so he could receive all the accolades he is due.

I think it's a great idea. Not sure if it's doable....

Gee whiz, Dave has already added something like that to this lovely site; if someone approves of my posts they can just shoot me a thumbs up or an acorn!

That might be fun. Let's test this out and see if it works. Calling @wickedelph!

Great! Was the capability already there and I just didn't know it or are you really that quick?!
Either way, thanks @dave!

I'm just that quick. I am a magician, you know.

Rick, my daughter didn't like it when I told her this was her Facebook!!! She didn't realize either! Now I spend more time on here than on FB!!!

Holy cow, so we can do that now? @jvdubb?

>> my daughter didn't like it when I told her this was her Facebook!!!

You are so BAD, Arlene! Naughty, naughty Arlene!

The most embarassing thing you can do to anyone who is proud that "she is not like other people" is to show her that she IS.

(Don't ask me how I know, it's too embarrassing.)

@dave - you are brilliant!

I "don't do" Facebook, either. I guess I'm just old and slow on the uptake. How is the @ different from our old thumbs up ??? Doesn't the thumb do the same thing?

I told you I was slow...

Karen

Oh I found an excellent use for this immediately!!
The thread "Ornamental Grasses" in Ask a Question forum

I'm "older" too and not quite understanding how the tagging works but as I see it applied in forums I will probably, eventually, possibly, maybe get it. It just takes this ole' blonde awhile to pick up on stuff.

Tagging a member accomplishes two things at once:

1) As a convenience to the reader, to makes the username clickable, so you can click on their name and be taken to their profile. For example, instead of mentioning Horseshoe, I can refer to him as @Horseshoe and now you can click on his name.

2) It is a way of summoning a person to a thread. So I can mention that @Trish knows all about such-a-subject and suggest that she might be along to answer your question. She gets a system message letting her know that I mentioned her in this thread, prompting her to come and see what is being said about her.

dave said: She gets a system message letting her know that I mentioned her in this thread, prompting her to come and see what is being said about her.

I wondered about that part and now know how it works. Nobody has tagged me yet though..... @dave .....

Here you go, Hetty... @Dutchlady1