PLEASE can we have the option to block all PMs?

[SoupDragon]

I don't want to receive them.

Ever.

You used to be able to opt out of receiving CATS messages and I would like the same option now. It won't affect anyone who doesn't want to opt out.

That's not quite my point though, LineRunner.

We used to be able to opt out of these when they were CATS.
We can't now they are PMs.
I think this is wrong.

In a way, the shitty PMs are another subject.

Point taken, SoupDragon. I was just musing on people having the option taken away because I suspect I like punishments.

Agreeing again. Since my last post on this thread I've had some more unsolicited PMs asking for free off-board advice, which I have had to ignore. Always makes me feel so rude but otherwise it gets ridiculous. it's not as if they post on a thread I'm on asking permission or anything, meaning I could politely refuse. :(

Ooh. Just had a thought. Maybe I could change my status (or whatever that thing is that appears when you hover over a poster's name) to say I don't answer PMs asking for free advice...

Is there a privacy issue though? Can't you just disable notifications so you don't get the emal and not click on the envelope?

Stealth for me I'd prefer a poster attempting to PM me wasnt able to and therefore realised they are all blocked, rather than thinking I'm just being rude and ignoring their message,

I don't get the emails but that yellow envelope would piss me off.

Why can't we have the same level of privacy we had before?

Oh, and you can't block a poster unless you open the PM.

TBH, I don't know and don't care as I have only blocked rude people and spammers :o

If you PM me, I'll block you and we can find out.

After receiving a shitty PM I now just use use the MN app which as far as I know does not notify you of PMs.

I could have loads of shitty PMs and not know

I can't believe you sent me such an offensive PM!

Of course ther is the minor issue that I have no idea how to unblock a poster again.

Oh well :o

I'm happy to raise my questions from before for MN again.

• Is willingness to receive PMs a condition of use of the site? There is nothing in the terms and conditions that says so (at least, there wasn't in June)
• Having checked both the other forums that I post on today, I can see both allow private messaging to be disabled. Are there guidelines for UK forums on what users can reasonably expect? (Both of these forums are American).
• If the underlying technology of the forum does not permit preferences to be introduced (which seems likely) will MN disable mailboxes upon request?

Once again, I'm not trying to be the town privacy nutter, but this is one of the areas I work on and increasingly it is expected that users will have the ability to define their own privacy settings.

I have no idea how to unblock you!

Yes what does it say after you block someone?

Found it in the end.

There is a pop up asking if I really want to block you. That's all.

I really don't like that you don't even know if someone has blocked you. That would make it more difficult to sort out any issues, surely - if person A has apologised to person B via PM (and thinks they've been ignored) then person A is going to think Person B is even more of a butt-wipe.

I can't see any reason to have a faux "your message has been sent" message. Sent, sure - but not bloody received!

HQ - thoughts?

To the person trying to send a pm after being blocked. Surely it would say.

Nothing, apparently.