Status Messages Vs Personal Messages

[Ankit Singla]

On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 2:49 PM, Mark Doliner <mark at kingant.net> wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Ankit Singla <anksingla at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 2:39 PM, Mark Doliner <mark at kingant.net> wrote:
>>> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 2:24 PM, Felipe Contreras
>>> <felipe.contreras at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 12:09 AM, Mark Doliner <mark at kingant.net> wrote:
>>>>> 2008/9/11 Sean Egan <seanegan at gmail.com>:
>>>>>> 2008/9/11 Kevin Stange <kevin at simguy.net>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We accept that this is a valid use case based upon how users use status
>>>>>>> messages.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think it's the only valid use case. I've never understood why it was
>>>>>> changed in the first place (or why it's an option now). Looking through my
>>>>>> buddy list, I don't see a single status message that would suddenly become
>>>>>> entirely irrelevant if the person went from Away to Available or to Away or
>>>>>> whatever.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm in favor of getting rid of the preference and having the message
>>>>> remain unchanged when the status is changed.
>>>>
>>>> I agree.
>>>>
>>>> So the "status message" would not change when the status changes; what
>>>> is statusy about it now? Would people need to click the status control
>>>> to change it?
>>>
>>> There really isn't that big of a difference... it's "statusy" because
>>> it's right freaking next to the status box.  And no, you don't need to
>>> click the status control to change, you just need to click in the text
>>> box then start typing.
>>>
>>
>> Well, I think you'd have to know why it was changed to erasing the
>> message on status change in the first place to decide if there needs
>> to be a preference. Does anyone remember? I distinctly remember a time
>> when changing the status didn't erase the message.
>
> I think it was changed because some users found it inconvenient when
> they set their status to "Available" but their message still said "I'm
> out to lunch."  But I agree with KHC that it's a minor inconvenience.

Compared to the benefits I'd agree. Do you know how this change
affects (if it does) the "New status..." button behavior? Specifically
regarding bug #2395. Clicking the "New status..." item is currently
(in 2.5.1) inconsistent between when your current status is away and
when your current status is available. I think the non-erasure of the
text when you click New was supposed to partly be to solve some of the
issues brought up in this thread.

>
> -Mark
>