Hello


I am very curious about why there is a certain rule which is this.


Members may not post to instruct users to check their e-mail, check their PM, or inform them that they've got mail or a new PM, or any variant thereof.f

I have no intention to argue about this rule or try to get around it, just really really curious! :blush: Hope this thread okay. :cool:

Originally posted by the love below
I am very curious about why there is a certain rule which is this.

That rules was originaly implemented to stop thread bumping, and to stop folks receiving an email that a thread they are subscribed to has received a new post, only for them then to open up the new thread and find the only new piece of input to the thread is..."PM sent".

But, I can say that that particular rule is currently being discussed right now between the forum staff (started a few days ago), so any comments made here might help to point that discussion in the right direction.

Gary

Yes. Since it is in discussion between staff, member input here would help a great deal.

We seem to be split 50/50 on removing it.

What do ya'll say?

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue
. . . What do ya'll say?
Check your PM. :dgrin:

I dont have a problem if someone says to check their PMs, as long as that is not the only content of the post.

Posts just saying "check your pm" or "check your PMs" (which can be mistaken for something else) I find highly annoying.

Thank you AussieHosts.

I think saying "PM sent" or "check your PM" would be ok, so they can check their PM's. If they have the pop-up disabled, it could take forever for them to read it.

I say forget it. It's very annoying when people simply post "PM sent." My mind says "another troll..," then "well let's look at the post count." If > 50 "I suppose I can forgive them" if not "wow, how annoying."

Just don't disable the popup...I see no reason to do so. Besides, it clearly says on the right if you have any private messages. When people post in ad forums/job requests (the bottom section), they should expect PMs anyway.

It only brings post count up + annoys others (both with emails and with ".... spammer").

Chances are the thread starter has said to email/PM him/her, therefore they would be watching their email/PM inbox for new additions. And if the OP suggested using another form of contact, they shouldn't be contacting them by email/PM anyway.

That seems to be the catch (to me).

I think, if someone posts, "PM me" it surely invites someone else to post, "PMd you."

Just seems like human nature, to me.


Silly humans. :eek2:

keep it. less clutter, and less postcount fluffing


Originally posted by Camp2Win
If they have the pop-up disabled, it could take forever for them to read it.


for folks who get very few PMs, I recommend they have the pop-up notice enabled. for folks who get a lot of PMs, I expect they already check their PMs frequently.


:topic: what we need are more smileys. how about taking nominations on new smileys, and voting on which new one to add. (one per month) :topic:

:uzi:
:flamethr: :spam:

I think, if someone posts, "PM me" it surely invites someone else to post, "PMd you."

Just seems like human nature, to me.It seems we agree all the way on this one SWR. :)

anon-e-mouse said it right in a rational kind of way. However, communication between humans doesn't always naturally follow the most rational, least redundant paths.

Sometimes though, some sacrifices must be made in order to establish the reign of order. How many sacrifices, that is the question.

Just don't disable the popup...I see no reason to do so.Then maybe we should make the pop-up a default that cannot be changed? Maybe we should also force members to receive an email everytime they receive a PM? That could back-up the rule. :)

Then you get those who say "please post your portfolio here", "please post samples of your work" and some say PM sent. If we didn't get warnings for PM sent (because it is no longer a rule), previously banned members could easily be the ones sending their details via PM instead of posting it where it may be spotted by members/mods. If we aren't alerted, we can't investigate why they wouldn't post as requested.

Only problem with that is some plop-up blockers do block the private message thingy on the mboard (or any board).

Originally posted by ldcdc
It seems we agree all the way on this one SWR. :)

anon-e-mouse said it right in a rational kind of way. However, communication between humans doesn't always naturally follow the most rational, least redundant paths.

Sometimes though, some sacrifices must be made in order to establish the reign of order. How many sacrifices, that is the question.

Then maybe we should make the pop-up a default that cannot be changed? Maybe we should also force members to receive an email everytime they receive a PM? That could back-up the rule. :)

Keep the rule!!

Not only should you keep the rule, you should make a rule against the idiotic "google is your friend" or "search is your friend" replies.

People wouldn't be here asking these questions if they hadn't already searched.
If you have nothing to offer don't reply. Stop bumping the post count.

Since this isn't a poll I'll cast my vote here for keeping the rule.

I also like blue27's idea. Maybe ban people that just post "good luck with your next host" along with their fancy-pants signatures too. ;)

Posts that instruct users to check their pm's are useless, and very spammy.

Keep the rule.

"google is your friend" or "search is your friend" replies.

People wouldn't be here asking these questions if they hadn't already searched.I've seen new members asking for info on how to find a good host/what is the best host etc. I've also seen them not being aware of the search feature. As obvious as certain tools, techniques or ideas might seem to us, they are things that some members are simply not aware of. WHT doesn't come with a user's manual. Even if it would come with one, I'm sure many new members would have no idea where to find it, regardless of where you put it. You'd then have the "Check the WHT manual" kind of posts followed by "Thanks I did." or "Thank you! That's so cool!". :)

Whether we like it or not, some things will simply be repeated times and times again, for each user who needs to hear a particular answer.

You are pointing to other types of posts that should be banned for being useless or spammy or perhaps otherwise annoying. Personally, I do not agree with censoring specific types of posts.

IMO it is not the post that is useless, annoying, spammy. It is the way some members choose to post repeatedly that turns into an annoying and spammy behavior.

Rest assured, people will always find some allowed meaningless replies to post in order to add their signature to a given thread. That's what makes the human species so successful: the ability to adapt.

Posts that instruct users to check their pm's are useless, and very spammy. Sounds spamtastic! :D

Thought to self: Should this rule disappear, it is possible that I would find it annoying if each thread would have a "Check your PM" post. :)

Originally posted by blue27
People wouldn't be here asking these questions if they hadn't already searched.

I'd like to believe that. Really, I would! :D

I think this leaves space open for a lot of new mods.

The first feature would be a way to link PMs to posts. For example, you'd make `pm_posts` which would have a column for a post ID, and a column for a PM ID. The post author would see a short list at the top of the post of which users have PM'd him with a link to the PMs, and in the PM would be a new row which would show a link to the related thread. It could be used in other situations, too, if someone wanted to indicate a thread being referred to without actually having to link it in the PM.

The next mod is one that was on the old TutorialForums vB. Basically there's a SEARCH button next to THREAD TITLE, where it pops up a list of similar threads.

I think both of these would be very nice mods to have.

Edit: I forgot to address the topic. :P

I think SWR has a point about human nature, but I still think that you should not be able to post "PM Sent" messages.

However, thread bumping shouldn't be an issue since threads in advertising forums are automatically sorted by date posted, correct?

I'm assuming this relates to the advertisement forums and i've noticed that when you do reply to a thread it doesn't bump the thread anymore since a mod must be in place to keep it from doing this. In my personal opinon I think the rule should be revoked altogether. If you type "PM Sent", "You've got mail", etc it doesn't bump the thread anymore.

Usually people will post "Check your PM" after they PM them with spam, trying to get them to sign up with them. I personally feel that the rule should be left in place.

I don't think its spam most of the time as some people have pop up notification disabled. Its helpful when somebody says "Check your PM", because then I know for a fact i've recieved one. If it was in fact spam we could always forward it to a community leader. I mean if somebody wanted to spam they would do it anyways.

Originally posted by Kerry Jones
Its helpful when somebody says "Check your PM", because then I know for a fact i've recieved one.
Not necessarily :) I have seen some with only two posts (or less than five) say "PM sent" when it would be impossible.

I have seen some with only two posts (or less than five) say "PM sent" when it would be impossible.Maybe they were joking. Or maybe they had multiple accounts. :)

well they would obviously be a red flag anon-e-mouse, but i'm talking about general membership of the community and not newbies. ;)

I see nothing wrong with allowing people to post "PM Sent". Stating such is a valid statement in communiction. Like when your boss asks for something, and you call him up to say "The forms are in the mail". Or something of that sort.

It also lets other people gauge the amount of response someone has received. When someone asks for info via PM, and 6 people have already responded "PM Sent" I know there is a good likelyhood that they have already found someone, so I don't waste my time and theirs by responding.

I say keep it, with the certain post count required for some options such as posting urls I can imagine this would be abused even more then before.

Besides I think we got a lot of this before

Person 1: For info PM me
Person 2: PM Sent!
Person 1: PM Sent! Replied
Person 2: Replied Right back at you!

and so on, unless you just stumbled on to the internet and forums in general today you know how things work because we are not exactly talking about brain science here.

IN addition I believe the vB default is to email you when a PM is received and I am willing to bet the default settings are what 99.99% of new users leave things set as right after the rules page which again I am betting is not read by 99.99% of the new members.