Ok yes, I know I'm blatantly ripping of bloomin' facebook with this one but what the hey!

It might be useful if we could somehow "tag" specific user(s) in our posts, so as to point their attention to being included (or mentioned) in the discussion of a given thread.

Nope, don't care for the idea. Private Messaging (PM) is available if you want to bring something to someone's attention. If PM is not available then I would take that as a pretty strong hint that the person doesn't want to be bothered.

If this is implemented, please provide a way to opt out.

Why, of course this would be optional, I really thought that went without saying!
Both replies above thus make me wonder if perhaps my intended suggestion is being vastly misunderstood (I thought referencing facebook made it clear enough?), so let me see if I can elaborate:

I've come across threads in where people are referencing me in some way, something I said in my own thread or something, which made me think it might be nice if there was some quick&easy way for the mere usage of the name of another member (like on facebook) would result in an email notice to that member in a "this member mentioned you in a post" kind of way (again this is straight from facebook).
That's where my suggestion came from, although its usage could obviously be more purposeful. So, for another case sample, I could actually point some other member's attention to a specific thread I'm participating in without having to make an additional, specific PM to that person to get that point across. I could thus make a response in that thread where I 'tag' that member's name, which in turn sends him a "this member has tagged you in this post" kind of email notice automatically.
Hope this is clear enough now.

And again, NONE of this would be obligatory!

Eddie,

I still respectfully disagree. I just don't believe adding the feature is worth the effort. Sorry.

Fair enuff. I just got the feeling from these initial responses that I had perhaps not got my idea properly across. As long as you are disagreeing with the premise as intended, then that's of course perfectly fine.

You can easily find any posts referencing your username using the Search function, so that part is covered.

I personally consider this forum 'totally volunteer', which is one of its charms/attractions to me, so I'd also likely opt out of this feature as well .. not that it matters, but thought I'd throw it out there

There's already an excess of communication avenues available, to me anyway, to be adding more.

I completely agree with you on that sentiment. And, having said that, I definitely don't want this (or any online) forum to become my 'ritualistic morning paper' either, as it were, which might become the case if I was to go here to actively search, like you suggested in your counter-argument.
I'd thus much prefer if my points of interests in this forum - which in this case would be the mention of my name - could be something I could subscribe to. I mean, I can already subscribe to specific threads and even entire forum sections as I see fit, so I don't see the big threat of annoyance by having this option too. That'll make this thing still firmly mine to control, I'm in the driving seat all the way to be 'bothered' by this forum as much as I myself would like (or not!) = Absolutely still the 'volunteer' place, as you put it.
Oh, but it does. I hope you weren't suggesting that once a suggestion had got a "don't like this" from one, single individual that would just be the end of it for all?! A very strange take on the "the people have spoken" concept indeed if that was to be the case

Yea count me as a big NO on this one as well.

There are a lot of reasons I don't "do" fakebook (or any social media) - this would be a minor one, but it is one nonetheless.

I don't want to instantly and automatically see who has been referencing me (not that anyone does anyway) and I don't think it's a good idea to let other members start to keep track "automagically" of every time they get mentioned in a thread .

I can understand reasons for someone BEING mentioned to know they were mentioned - might even be useful at the margin to allow further banter, explanations, and discussions. BUT I see larger and darker outcomes when members can instantly get a "you were referenced" email or notice. Or in other words, a "someone was talking behind your back," notice. That can lead to DARKER potential for threads to go south very fast.


BTW would not this thread have been better in the wish list forum??


Good luck anyway
Larry