Replace "delete" with "remove from inbox" on inbox page

[pseudomonas]

Title:
Replace "delete" with "remove from inbox" on inbox page

Area:
inbox UI

Summary:
When the only thing in the inbox is comment notification(s) "delete" is ambiguous between "delete comment from entry" and "remove notification from inbox". "Remove from inbox" would disambiguate.

Description:
The main drawback I can see is brief confusion for people who are already very familiar with "delete", but I'd imagine they'd get used to the new system pretty quickly. Also it's a bit wordier, but that page isn't over-stuffed with buttons so might be OK.

Poll #1886 Replace "delete" with "remove from inbox" on inbox page

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 32

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
9 (28.1%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
1 (3.1%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
14 (43.8%)

(I have no opinion)
8 (25.0%)

(Other: please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[ratcreature]

I'm not sure I'd be fond of the larger button, but in any case, couldn't the "from inbox" be added to the delete? With the folders on the side there, my first thought of seeing "remove from inbox" is that it would move to another folder (even if right now there is no custom folder sorting). I think deletion should be called deletion, as it is called this everywhere.

[pseudomonas]

"clear from inbox"? The problem with "delete from inbox" is it reads like "perform the delete action remotely, from the 'inbox' page".

[ratcreature]

It seems one way or another there are possiblities to misunderstand things. I still think "delete" is fairly clear, better than "remove from inbox". I mean, it does not say "delete the comment" like the links in the notification messages nor is it like the button symbols that act on comments. I think most users know that the notification and the comment are two different things, especially as you can have the former but disable the latter.

[pseudomonas]

How about "delete notification"? Or something similar, bearing in mind that not all items in the inbox are notifications (could be private messages &c.)

[pseudomonas]

I'm not sure that a new user will know a) what the button symbols do, b) that the symbols do not duplicate the buttons, or c) that notifications are disable-able.

[ratcreature]

But then they also won't know that the folders aren't quite like an email interface either. I mean, at some point users have to learn what the stuff on a website they use does and what the things are, and sure it helps if the interface is clear and makes sense and is like other sites, but I don't think any of your suggestions is truly simpler or explains better than having a delete button. That button you expect to delete whatever it is you see on the screen that you put a checkmark on. Which in this case is messages in your inbox. To me that seems fairly transparent, and I'm unconvinced that this ambiguity truly exists for many new users, and that even if it does it is worse than having a delete button not named "delete" like they are everywhere would be.

[noracharles]

This.

[cheyinka]

I like "delete from inbox", if there's going to be a change at all.

[yvi]

As a spoiled GMail user, "Remove from Inbox" makes me think it would go somewhere else and not be deleted.

[pseudomonas]

Good point. What might work better? I can think of various things using "clear", "expunge", "purge" (bit over-medical), "recycle" (too MS-y). I think "clear from inbox" might be an improvement?

[angelikfire]

I'm not digging "expunge" and "purge", since they would be too confusing for those who aren't familiar with the English language.

[(Anonymous)]

Don't think it's particularly ambiguous, really, and I feel "remove from inbox" is more so, actually. Delete means delete, and it applies to the inbox. It's pretty straightforward. I don't think this needs to be changed.

[kaigou]

If I'm reading you right, then that means I'm not the only person who interpreted "delete" to mean that I'd be removing the notification and the original if I deleted. It took a long time (several years, in fact), before I finally questioned that assumption and cleaned out my inbox! ...so yeah, I do think there needs to be some kind of a more intuitive explanation, additional text on the button, or something.

It doesn't hurt those folks who already know how it works, and it's helpful to those who don't and/or are a little uncertain.

[pseudomonas]

Even an explanatory bit of text in a sidebar saying "this will only delete the notification, not the entry" would be helpful. I was confused for a while too.

[triadruid]

I think explanatory text would be sufficient. I never mistook the two, but I can see where the confusion might arise...

All of the solutions thus far seem worse than the disease, though.

[cheyinka]

Explanatory text sounds good.

[angelikfire]

Definitely this.