BuddyPress remove default "----" dashs 1st value from drop-down list-boxes

BuddyPress Default Drop-Down ListBox Fix

I found the having a default value as "----" as the 1st value from drop-down list-boxes in BuddyPress 2.8.0 very annoying. If this is a required field, then "----" is not a valid value? 

Red X indicates default value

Download, back-up  and edit this file class-bp-xprofile-field-type-selectbox.php located in 
public_html/wp-content/plugins/buddypress/bp-xprofile/classes


Change the one line in this file to this; 

$html    = ''; // 

Here's the code block and highlighted line is how to change it. Not, next update to BuddyPress will blow this away so back it up.

/**
  * Output the edit field options HTML for this field type.
  *
  * BuddyPress considers a field's "options" to be, for example, the items in a selectbox.
  * These are stored separately in the database, and their templating is handled separately.
  *
  * This templating is separate from {@link BP_XProfile_Field_Type::edit_field_html()} because
  * it's also used in the wp-admin screens when creating new fields, and for backwards compatibility.
  *
  * Must be used inside the {@link bp_profile_fields()} template loop.
  *
  * @since 2.0.0
  *
  * @param array $args Optional. The arguments passed to {@link bp_the_profile_field_options()}.
  */
 public function edit_field_options_html( array $args = array() ) {
  $original_option_values = maybe_unserialize( BP_XProfile_ProfileData::get_value_byid( $this->field_obj->id, $args['user_id'] ) );

  $options = $this->field_obj->get_children();
  $html    = ''; //     '<option value="">' . /* translators: no option picked in select box */ esc_html__( '----', 'buddypress' ) . '</option>';

  if ( empty( $original_option_values ) && !empty( $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] ) ) {
   $original_option_values = sanitize_text_field(  $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] );
  }

  $option_values = ( $original_option_values ) ? (array) $original_option_values : array();
  for ( $k = 0, $count = count( $options ); $k < $count; ++$k ) {
   $selected = '';

   // Check for updated posted values, but errors preventing them from
   // being saved first time.
   foreach( $option_values as $i => $option_value ) {
    if ( isset( $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] ) && $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] != $option_value ) {
     if ( ! empty( $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] ) ) {
      $option_values[$i] = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['field_' . $this->field_obj->id] );
     }
    }
   }

   // Run the allowed option name through the before_save filter, so
   // we'll be sure to get a match.
   $allowed_options = xprofile_sanitize_data_value_before_save( $options[$k]->name, false, false );

   // First, check to see whether the user-entered value matches.
   if ( in_array( $allowed_options, $option_values ) ) {
    $selected = ' selected="selected"';
   }

   // Then, if the user has not provided a value, check for defaults.
   if ( ! is_array( $original_option_values ) && empty( $option_values ) && $options[$k]->is_default_option ) {
    $selected = ' selected="selected"';
   }

   /**
    * Filters the HTML output for options in a select input.
    *
    * @since 1.1.0
    *
    * @param string $value    Option tag for current value being rendered.
    * @param object $value    Current option being rendered for.
    * @param int    $id       ID of the field object being rendered.
    * @param string $selected Current selected value.
    * @param string $k        Current index in the foreach loop.
    */
   $html .= apply_filters( 'bp_get_the_profile_field_options_select', '<option' . $selected . ' value="' . esc_attr( stripslashes( $options[$k]->name ) ) . '">' . esc_html( stripslashes( $options[$k]->name ) ) . '</option>', $options[$k], $this->field_obj->id, $selected, $k );
  }

  echo $html;
 }
?>