Red "Unread Messages" number goes away

[Carol the Dabbler]

When I receive new messages, a red number appears on the Messages envelope logo toward the upper right of the forum page.  I had been under the impression that the number tells how many unread messages I have -- or how many message threads have unread posts -- but now I'm not sure exactly what it means.

 

The number was "2" a short while ago, but when I added a reply to an older message thread without reading the two new messages, the "2" went away, even though the two new messages still show on the list as unread.  I like having the reminder -- is there any way to deal with older message threads without erasing the red number?

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I noticed that too.

[Undead Medic]

I think that this is a quirk of the software, in that it zeros the counter when the messages drop-down is accessed. It would almost certainly be a bit of a nightmare to change.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I was afraid it might be a software quirk.      Oh, well.  Thanks for checking.

 

Somewhere in this world, there is one incredibly lazy software "designer"!

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I have discovered a work-around.  Actually, this is how I used to use the Messenger, which may explain why I never noticed any problem till recently.

 

The secret is -- if you want to retain the red message count as a reminder, don't use the drop-down!  If you right-click on the envelope icon and open the Messenger in a new tab, the red number works just the way you'd like it to -- it stays put until you've actually opened the unread message, then it goes away.  (It might even give you a nice countdown as you successively open multiple unread messages, but I haven't had a chance to try that yet.)

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

You are a genius.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Nope -- just a professional dabbler!  

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

If you right-click on the envelope icon and open the Messenger in a new tab, the red number works just the way you'd like it to -- it stays put until you've actually opened the unread message, then it goes away.  (It might even give you a nice countdown as you successively open multiple unread messages, but I haven't had a chance to try that yet.)

It might, but alas it doesn't.  As soon as you open any unread message (even by refreshing a message thread that you already had open, but now it has a new post), the red number evaporates.