Private Messaging - what are the pros and cons ?

[whiffey]

PMs to be introduced here apparently. I think good. Countless times I have wanted to PM X or Y to clear something up, take a discussion offline, or just generally get to know someone better.

On the downside, I have heard that things can get nasty in private (although it's only happened to me once fortunately).

Some of the mystery might disappear too, the who is who today and so on, although I quite like that when it's just playful.

Any strong views ? Sorry if this discussion has been had before, I did a quick site search first.

[redcrx]

PM wont mean that you have to talk to someone so i cant see how it will take away the mystery whiffey. Plus it may make things easier when discussions get out of hand to sort things out in private.
I think it will be a good idea.

[B00]

PM's? Where you heard that then? As far as I was aware Ed stated that they were only thinking about it.

[nursecarla]

makes a change from yet another "who is your favourite" post whiffey so dont apologise :)))) x x x x x

[azif]

I think its good but feel it's steering away from the main purpose of this website which is to exchange knowledge but I guess it'd be a nice feature if people wanted to use it.

[whiffey]

I agree redcrx, I think some of the more unpleasant situations could be defused. I strongly believe that a one-to-one conversation is conducive to calm, where the audience has been shut out, and where you have to be just plain you. There is an also a code of behaviour that PMs are kept strictly private.

On only one occasion did I find someone maintained an aggressive stance in private

[B00]

Errr hello????????????

[joby1]

Where did you here that then whiffey?

I think it would be a good idea btw.

[joby1]

sorry Boo :-)

[whiffey]

Sorry B00 !!

Ok, change the question to "IF PMs were to be introduced here......"

I read it as more probable than not however.

[suffragette]

Maybe I've been in solitary confinement too long, but I just cannot understand the appeal of getting to know strangers I've come across online.

Your question has actually got me thinking about what intrigues people about other people. Maybe, I need more of a visual interest to motivate me and obviously others are more accepting of a purely conversational approach. I'm not keen on telephones either, so maybe my visual hang up is stronger than I had previously realised. Food for thought.

You've got me thinking anyway, whiffey. Thanks!

[China Doll]

Might work, might not... won't know til it's tried I guess. I'm sure we'll all muddle along quite happily.

[stevec46]

I think it could be good, take an example:-

You Post an answer to a question that you and the person asking thinks should finish the Post, you then find something else that you think might be better, you post it, but there is nothing to say that the person that posted the question is still monitoring it.I know they may have Subscribed to the post, but they may as well have unscucribbed to the post when they thought it was completed.

Steve