Start a one-to-one conversation

Some conversations need a smaller audience. Direct messages let you speak with one other member without adding the exchange to the community feed. Open or start a conversation Go to Messages or Chat and find the member you want to contact. You can also use the Chat action from the member directory. If a conversation already exists, continue there so the history stays together. Write a short opening that explains the context. If you are following up on a post, mention the topic so the other person can place your message. Use the message box Messages are text-based and can contain up to 2,000 characters. On a keyboard, Enter sends the message. Shift+Enter starts a new line, which is useful when you want to separate a question from its background. Unread indicators help you find conversations with new activity. Open the conversation to read the latest messages and scroll back when you need earlier context. Give people time to respond Online information reflects recent activity. It does not tell you whether someone has time for a conversation. Send the context once and let the recipient choose when to reply. Use a community post when the answer would be useful to several members. Use a direct message when the subject belongs between two people.