Index: includes/admin/replies.php
===================================================================
--- includes/admin/replies.php	(revision 4819)
+++ includes/admin/replies.php	(working copy)
@@ -215,13 +215,17 @@
 			$publish_box .= '<p>' . __( '<strong>Featured Image</strong> - This allows you to associate an image with your reply without inserting it. This is usually useful only if your theme makes use of the featured image as a reply thumbnail on the home page, a custom header, etc.', 'bbpress' ) . '</p>';
 		}
 
+		$forum_option = '';
+		if ( apply_filters( 'bbp_show_forum_dropdown_on_replies', false ) )
+			$forum_option = '<li>' . __( '<strong>Forum</strong> dropdown determines the parent forum that the reply belongs to. Select the forum, or leave the default (Use Forum of Topic) to post the reply in forum of the topic.', 'bbpress' ) . '</li>';
+
 		get_current_screen()->add_help_tab( array(
 			'id'      => 'reply-attributes',
 			'title'   => __( 'Reply Attributes', 'bbpress' ),
 			'content' =>
 				'<p>' . __( 'Select the attributes that your reply should have:', 'bbpress' ) . '</p>' .
 				'<ul>' .
-					'<li>' . __( '<strong>Forum</strong> dropdown determines the parent forum that the reply belongs to. Select the forum, or leave the default (Use Forum of Topic) to post the reply in forum of the topic.', 'bbpress' ) . '</li>' .
+					$forum_option .
 					'<li>' . __( '<strong>Topic</strong> determines the parent topic that the reply belongs to.', 'bbpress' ) . '</li>' .
 				'</ul>'
 		) );
Index: includes/admin/metaboxes.php
===================================================================
--- includes/admin/metaboxes.php	(revision 4819)
+++ includes/admin/metaboxes.php	(working copy)
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@
  *
  * @uses bbp_get_topic_post_type() To get the topic post type
  * @uses do_action() Calls 'bbp_reply_metabox'
+ * @uses apply_filters() with bbp_show_forum_dropdown_on_replies to enable the forum selector
  */
 function bbp_reply_metabox() {
 
@@ -399,11 +400,15 @@
 
 	// Get some meta
 	$reply_topic_id = bbp_get_reply_topic_id( $post_id );
-	$reply_forum_id = bbp_get_reply_forum_id( $post_id );
 
+	$show_forum_dropdown = apply_filters( 'bbp_show_forum_dropdown_on_replies', false );
+
 	// Allow individual manipulation of reply forum
-	if ( current_user_can( 'edit_others_replies' ) || current_user_can( 'moderate' ) ) : ?>
+	if ( $show_forum_dropdown && ( current_user_can( 'edit_others_replies' ) || current_user_can( 'moderate' ) ) ) :
 
+		$reply_forum_id = bbp_get_reply_forum_id( $post_id );
+		?>
+
 		<p>
 			<strong class="label"><?php _e( 'Forum:', 'bbpress' ); ?></strong>
 			<label class="screen-reader-text" for="bbp_forum_id"><?php _e( 'Forum', 'bbpress' ); ?></label>