I Don't Know What To Do.

[Barsel]

I don't have what you might call personal friends on Facebook, but I do belong to quite a few groups which I quite often contribute too.

Over time, people have seen my name and sent messages, 'How are you, message me etc'
but then they start asking for my phone number or my email address, and I don't want to do that, but how do I tell them?

More often than not I don't reply to them which I know is bad manners, but they still write, 'Hope you are ok, drop me a line'.
Most are from our time at school 50+ yrs ago and I don't even remember them.

What can I say (preferably in a nice way)to stop them from contacting me.

Have you ever ended contact with people before?

[naomi24]

Do what I do here and tell them sorry, but you don’t share personal information.

Yes, I have ended contact with people.

[Bobbisox1]

Just say you'd rather not be in personal contact with anyone ( not just them) and tell them you enjoy the group you're in, you could even say you have done this before and it never worked out so best left alone, good luck Barsel

[Peter Pedant]

I dont answer

one posted " I am only posting on this forum as I have been mentioned. I remember the school there was not a week where I wasnt beaten ( by nuns of course) - my time was not happy"

and I thought Christ that is not how I remember it - I went from convent to prep school, where the accent was now on - "dont prepare the lessons and make learning hell".

[Ellipsis]

Don't think badly of them for asking, and don't think badly of yourself for not wanting to. People are different ... sociable, antisocial, extrovert, introvert, shy, reserved, call it what you will. If they're nice people they'll understand, and if they're not nice people then you're doing yourself a favour!

[woofgang]

I think FB manners are different from "real life" in some respects....its kind of like a reversion to victorian times when not answering letters, having the butler say you are "not at home" when you are really and declining invitations by just saying you can't be there or "have a previous engagement" are acceptable. Its like people wanting to "friend" you. Refusing without comment is acceptable.

[LadyCG]

I have myself ended contact with people in the past, yes.

I wouldn't bother replying to any request for your phone number - the message will seep through eventually.

[jakep]

Just say something like: I prefer to keep in touch on this site and hope you can understand.
Yes, I deleted six FB ‘friends’ last weekend. They are not in my real life. No unpleasantness, we only had a tenuous connection when I accepted the request.

[Barsel]

I don't think any of them have asked me for personal info, and the ones who have asked to befriend me I have declined, but I made the mistake of giving some of them my email address . They seem like nice people, not at all nasty, but I don't remember them and they send emails that ask, 'Oh do you remember so and so, their brother went out with the girl from the corner shop' and other things like this and all I can do is write back and say 'No, I don't remember any of them.' I will have to decide whether to not reply and hope they will eventually get the hint, or write to say I won't be writing in future but I need to give it some thought as I wouldn't want to upset them. Thanks for your replies. x

[Ellipsis]

> I don't think any of them have asked me for personal info

I would class my email address and phone number as personal info.

[TonyV]

Just reply with "you don't share this kind of information online" or don't reply at all if you don't recognise the people. Certainly and I'm sure you will not share any personal information, they are just phishing for every 1000 automated emails if 1 replies they got a result.
After reviewing my 1st comment, just do not reply at all and block them.