Last modified: 2014-03-17 15:01:12 UTC
Currently, if a user does have a correctly authenticated e-mail address set in their preferences, the "E-mail this user" link will not appear in the toolbox when visiting user or user talk pages. If they manually visit Special:Emailuser/Username, this message is shown: No send address You must be logged in and have a valid authenticated e-mail address in your preferences to send e-mail to other users. Most users who have not set an e-mail in their preferences are new users. This is very difficult for new users to discover. Instead, I think the "E-mail this user" toolbox link should be shown regardless of whether they have a valid authenticated e-mail address, allowing them to reach the error page above, so that they know how to fix the problem.
Correction: above when I said "does have a correctly authenticated e-mail address set in their preferences" I meant "does *not* have a correctly authenticated e-mail address set in their preferences".
Well in special:preferences the following will be shown: Your e-mail address is not yet authenticated. No e-mail will be sent for any of the following features. Highlighted in red. ---- What do you propose? Have the email link and let it lead to an error page?
Yup, that's what I propose. Many new users are confused when we instruct them to click on the link and it's not there for them, even though we (experienced users helping them) see it on our screens. New users are unlikely to consult their preferences at all unless they have a reason to.
Marking as a new bug.
*** Bug 62655 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
