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Original poster

How do I block all Private Messages?

34 replies

SoupDragon · 21/09/2010 18:53

is there an option to do that?

OP posts:
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Original poster
SoupDragon · 22/09/2010 11:42

:)

OP posts:
MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 22/09/2010 11:27

Shall we take that as a thank you? Grin

Original poster
SoupDragon · 22/09/2010 11:20

Not immediate??? Shock

You need to get better more staff.

OP posts:
MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 22/09/2010 10:48

Good morning!

YMT has drawn my attention to you naysayers over here and yes, of course, we'll look at an opt out if that's what you'd like. I'm told it shouldn't be a problem to add. It may not be immediate though as we are in the midst of a revamp of MN Local on the Tech side but we will most certainly add it to the list and keep you posted.

Marjoriew · 22/09/2010 10:12

I think it's a good idea. I use the Home Ed threads and I've used it this morning to be able to PM someone about resources etc. I don't need, and it means not disrupting threads.

On every forum where there is a PM facility, there are always going to be people who abuse facilities like PM.
I had a nasty experience on Parentscentre where PM's were being sent to certain posters with my personal details etc. real name etc, which was then used as a username on another site I won't mention here.
The PM facility was removed much to the annoyance of most of us who found it invaluable for helping each other out and chatting about things you might not want to put on an open forum.

Flighttattendant · 22/09/2010 10:10

I would like to be able to block all messages as well, please.

Also to have a list of members you don't want messages from, from the outset, so they don't have to mail you first iyswim. But I understand that might be tricky.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 22/09/2010 10:07

Related question - if you block someone does it still apply if they namechange?

muddleduck · 22/09/2010 10:01

I have already had a couple of messages from people following up threads...

"I said X, but Y said Z, don't you think this is really unfair... "

etc
etc

I would like to block PM unless I specifically wanted to be contactable.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 22/09/2010 10:01

It's interesting that we can opt out of viewing individual threads but are told just to ignore the PM Inbox if we don't want to see messages.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 22/09/2010 09:58

Why do you have to read a message in order to block the sender? if, for example, you know the sender will have sent you something upsetting due to a disagreement on a thread, why should you have to read it in order to block them?

Whilst I think the PM feature is a good idea (even though I don't want it IYSWIM!) I don't think its been thought through fully.

I blocked CATS because I don't want to be contacted off board and the CAT system meant that people knew I'd chosen not to receive them. If someone's opted out of receiving PMs, a simple "that poster has chosen not to receive PMs" would suffice.

I'm not assuming lots of people will message me, I simply want the same level of "opt out" I had before.

OP posts:
booyhoo · 22/09/2010 00:40

if i opted out of PM and someone tried to PM me i would just want something simple like, this poster is set up for PM.

LastOrdersAgain · 22/09/2010 00:32

Just a simple message to say you'd opted out would suffice.

I'm just thinking that if you messaged someone, and they had opted out, you could give them a shout out thread to say you want to talk, they could turn on their PM, talk, then switch back to private?

For example, I was trying to get hold of SGB the other day, but had loads of other interfering sods people coming on and having a go at me. PM would've given me the chance to talk to her privately, so I am all for it. But we do need an option to opt out I think. Otherwise its a bit of an invasion of privacy, IMO.

MNHQ
YetMoreTech · 22/09/2010 00:25

SD, on my iPad the red hand icon (block sender) is shown next to the sender's name when reading the message. It's definitely not there on yours?

MNHQ
YetMoreTech · 22/09/2010 00:22

If someone tried to send you a message and you'd "opted out", what would you want them to see? Or put another way, would someone trying to send you a message be told that you'd opted out?

IMoveTheStars · 22/09/2010 00:21

you're assuming that lots of people will msg you..

LastOrdersAgain · 22/09/2010 00:15

I think a definite opt out option should be looked into.

I was saying to someone earlier, that if you post on a thread and someone disagrees with what you are saying, PM is an open invitation to get hounded off the thread. And even though you can block the person, you have to read what they have written first Confused!

I know you can choose not to go into the inbox, but its unlikely you'd do that if you knew there were messages in there [curious cat emoticon]

Maybe an easy opt in/opt out option would help, so you could change your setting quickly if you wanted to talk to someone specific via PM, then 'close the door on it' once you're finished.

That didn't make a lot of sense did it!?

MNHQ
YetMoreTech · 22/09/2010 00:06

Okay, well, currently there is no way of "opting out" past just not opening the inbox I'm afraid. We're not ruling it out, but in order to deliver something that suits as many people as possible it would be helpful to hear what the concerns are. The thing about opting out of CAT was that you might not want MN related messages sent to your email account, particularly if you used an employer's email system for example. However, with PM, that's not an issue because you can turn off the email notifications if you wish.

As always, we're keen to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for the info on the iPad issue. My iPad's battery is flat right now but as soon as it's back alive I'll check it out.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/09/2010 21:31

And there's no Block Poster option on my iPad, just an empty square.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/09/2010 21:16

Ignoring the in box is not remotely the same as opting out.

OP posts:
MNHQ
YetMoreTech · 21/09/2010 21:02

Soup, is just not clicking "Inbox" not an option? There is already an option to turn off the email notifications, so if you don't click "Inbox" you've effectively opted out of Private Messaging no?

Saltire · 21/09/2010 20:27

But I think you can only block people after they have sent you a message

BoysAreLikeDogs · 21/09/2010 20:26
Saltire · 21/09/2010 20:25

The "red block" thing appears when you get a message from someone. For example if I sent you one, there is a small red icon that appears next to my name in teh inbox. If you hover over it, it says "block messages from xxxx"

BitOfFun · 21/09/2010 20:24

It's a sort of Talk To The Hand icon next to the message.