Mumsnet Talk

Why can't we block posters before they send a PM?

Personally, I'd rather like to be able to block PMs completely, like we used to be able to opt out of CAT messages.

Good idea.
Or have it like Mumsnet Mates for your Profile, so it could be very restricted (or totally blocked as you say)

You can't actually block someone without reading the PM either. Which is just plain daft.

Why on earth would you want to block all posters or block someone before they've sent you a (horrible) PM?

It's like taping up your letter box

I think I may have sent you both (nice) PM's in the past too - sorry if it upset you both...

I too think I might be missing something - why would you want to do this ?

Oh no, Chipping! I've never had a nasty PM, ever and certainly not off you.

I just think flexibility of use in MN is a good idea, so added my opinion when this popped up in Active.

Why would you not want to choose who can PM you?

Before PMs you used to be able to opt out of receiving CAT messages entirely.
Now, with PMs, you have to receive them.
You can block posters but only after they have sent you something and you have read it which is really stupid and unfair if there are people you don't want to hear from.

Sorry - I'm not being funny, I'm genuinely surprised it is a problem. I've never had any "spam" type PMs or, indeed, hardly any PMs except from someone whose dd was doing the same as my ds and we mentioned it on a thread then had a few PM chats.
Do people get a lot of unwanted messages then ?

It seems a bit curmudgeonly to me, but I can see it would be popular with some posters.

I wouldn't worry about it tbh.
mnhq, an you confirm or deny that you are reading peoples pms please? and if you are reading them then why not just re-name themas 'm's?

thanks.

I'm fairly certain they can and do read PMs.

Are pms private or can/do MNHQ access them.

In an emergency maybe.?

Of course they can. But I doubt they do without good reason: they seem pretty busy these days...

So they should really just be called messages then.

If they aren't private.

Of course they can read them. Just like whomever runs your email servers at work can read your work email.

It's private in that it's not open to the general public.

Nothing is truly private on the internet. Get used to it or stop using the 'net.

It's not nice at all to think of anybody rummaging through your personal conversations though. If the facilty is there, posters should be free to use it without feeling they are being monitored. The only exception I can think of is if you have been reported for sending something malicious or illegal.

I rather think they have better things to do than rummage through PMs for the sheer hell of it, don't you? Of course they could though.

Why not let people opt out tbh?

Not that i'd want to mind. I love that little red dot.

I doubt they do read them. But I am sure they can if they want.

Not sure why you'd want to opt out, but whatever. If people want it, why not give it to them?

I love PMs. Makes me feel loved. [needy]

I love receiving pms - mad, bad, funny, boring, silly, weirdy - bring them on!!

So, who has been impinging on you then Soupy?

(of course I think you are right and individuals should be able to opt out of receiving any at all).

They do read them

I have never had a PM.

<<sobs>>

It would make my day.

Soupy, why would you not want to know what these spuriousers are saying - surely infomation is king?

I think Chaos is telling tales...

Sorry Soupy, but why would you not want to receive a pm ever?

What if someone wanted to tell you something pertinent?

The boards are too big these days to have threads entitled "Oi Soupy, over here..."