Private Messages

[Randy]

Are you big on private messaging members? Do you prefer to chat out in the open instead?

How many privates would you say you send and receive in any given month?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Theres a couple people I chat with on occasion through PM's. Mainly its just for people needing help with forum related stuff or if they have a question about my community.

 

[Cory]

I prefer chatting openly unless the conversation literally needs to be private. I prefer Discord over private messages, but I prefer forums over Discord.

 

[Alexander]

Are you big on private messaging members? Do you prefer to chat out in the open instead?

How many privates would you say you send and receive in any given month?

I would only private message members directly if it's regarding something that isn't suitable to be discussed on public domain for everyone to see. For example, advertising proposals or moderation actions taken as a consequence to something that may have occurred. Regardless of how you use the private message system, forum owners should remain professional at all times.

 

[MrDawn]

I'm not big with personal messages because most of the time it's members wanting me to join their forums via pm advertisement. Nope. If you have to message me and ask, it just tells me it's a waste of my time.

 

[riberet19]

I like chatting better too, I think PMs are sometimes too intrusive.

 

[ZandraJoi]

It depends on the topic. If it's private, personal, I take it to PMs. Sometimes we'll be talking about something in the public forum but one or the other may PM to go more in depth.

 

[KO896]

I PM very few people consistently, so if I keep messaging them, then I like them as a friend

For the most part, I use the PM system for official forum business.

 

[Senkusha]

I prefer chatting in the open. However, as an administrator, there are times when private matters need to be discussed one-on-one with members, specifically when harassment, bullying, or financial issues come up.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

One reason I don't like chatting via PM's is because some admins read all their member's private conversations, which is something I'd never do.

 

[Senkusha]

The only time an Administrator should be snooping around in Private Messages is if a message was reported (for bullying, harassment, violations of Terms of Service, etc). Otherwise, when your members find out (and they will), that's one sure fire way to have your members abandon your forum. I know that if I found out a Staff Member was abusing their powers, I'd go find somewhere else to hang out. Especially in this day and age of Internet User Privacy policies.

I'll admit, I had to do this once, about fifteen years ago. One of my female members sent me a message about a guy harassing her via the PM system. I had to review the message trail, determined that yes, he was indeed harassing her, and I issued a stern warning. He disregarded it, I banned him. Members should feel safe in your community.

 

[InMyOpinion]

I only private message someone when I feel like what I want to ask them is a little more private or maybe something they may not want to talk about with the rest of the members/forum.

I just started on this forum and I've only PMed one person who reached out to me.