PMs and new members

In my experience, abuse of the PM system tends only to carried out by new members. Such ``abuse'' may involve anything from asking personal help from those seen to be knowledgeable in a particular forum to outright spamming. ChiefWigs posted an example recently - spam from a new member who has never posted in the forums.

In general, folks who have been around long enough to see how the whole system works tend not to abuse the system like this (though I'm open to correction). I'd suggest that this could be cut down on hugely by imposing a lower post limit for use of PM - even if it was as low as needing 10 posts in the forums before you can send a PM.

Just a thought.

How bout making it so that only 'full' members, i.e. the ones who've
been here for 90 days and have 100 posts can send PMs...

90/100 might turn potential regulars away if applied to PM's. 10 would be plenty IMO

:bcon: agrees!

yep it can be useful for beginners if they need real help with something.

I suppose. If those beginners really do need to get their homework done quickly, sending PMs can sometimes be the quickest way to get responses.

I have had no difficulty in discouraging those who need to be (by my lights) discouraged. Only one even tried to come back at me with a subsequent PM. A couple requests (definite minority, of course) actually blossomed into friendly relationships.

I've received a few PMs from people asking me to do homework for them. They certainly get a response , but I doubt it's what they hope for: I'll willingly help people out who have put in effort and encountered trouble, but am .... how shall I put this? .... less sympathetic to people who are looking to have their homework done with no effort on their part.

PMs from people with genuine problems I'm willing to help, although I usually recommend they post in a forum so they benefit from sage advice from more people than myself.

PMs from people agreeing, disagreeing, thanking, or (in a couple of cases) expressing frustration, I don't object to.

I suggest a low threashold (eg 10 or so) is enough to slow down spammers without discouraging people from using it. Haven't checked if a feature for reporting PM spam exists (I haven't been troubled by PM spam on devshed) but such a feature, if it doesn't exist, would be useful.

I've only ever had 2 PM's, but both of them have been from new members under 10 posts and one of them was similar to the one that the Chief posted. Was wondering for ages what it was to do with

I'd agree with Ax and grumpy for a low number, about 10 - 15 posts as most spammers don't get past 10 posts before they get banned

People seem to be in agreement about this, but the admins haven't said anything yet. I'd guess they probably haven't seen this thread. Does someone (perhaps ishnid because it was his idea) want to go and report this at esupport and see what they say?

How about introducing a rule whereby warning points would be awarded if PMs were sent ton anyone who does not have in their signature words to the effect of "I allow people to PM me"?

I disagree with chiefwigs' idea because even when you havent been here long sometimes you need to talk privately with people, I sent one earlier (relating to how better help people in the antivirus forum, nothing reprehensible...)

Failing that we leave things as they are... and kill people who send inappropriate PMs