Instant Messages on the forums?

[Laura F.]

I can't turn on the feature at an arbitrary post count, it would have to correspond with our ranks (200, 2000 posts, etc.). 

Is private messenging abused by new users in other communities you are a member of (such as LAVA)?  It seems to me that the abuse would be minimal and you can use a macro to direct the user to post their question in the forums or you can just add them to your "blocked" list if it continues to be a problem.

[Dennis_Knutson]

I wasn't necessarily in favor of blocking new users from using the feature. More curious about what could be done. Your suggestions should work and if abuse got really bad, perhaps then new users could be blocked.

[Ben]

---

@Laura F. wrote:

I can't turn on the feature at an arbitrary post count, it would have to correspond with our ranks (200, 2000 posts, etc.). 

Is private messenging abused by new users in other communities you are a member of (such as LAVA)?  It seems to me that the abuse would be minimal and you can use a macro to direct the user to post their question in the forums or you can just add them to your "blocked" list if it continues to be a problem.

---

Yes!

I have recieved many via the PM on LAVA. I read it as "shyness" with the forums being viewed as a public forum and noos don't want to get up an the soap box and ask but would rather pull someone to the side and ask.

So if the PMing was limited to non-noobs it couldenhance the comm on the forums without opening us up to off-line Qs.

Ben

[JÞB]

---

@Ben wrote:

---

Laura F. Wrote:

I can't turn on the feature at an arbitrary post count, it would have to correspond with our ranks (200, 2000 posts, etc.). 

---

Yes!

So if the PMing was limited to non-noobs it could enhance the comm on the forums without opening us up to off-line Qs.

Ben

---

Frankly I like the Idea of off line non-public points of contact.  My e-mail is public for the same reason's as Ben- I work in this business and have been asked by both NI app engineers and customers if I am THAT Jeff Bohrer.  (and it seamed positive if you can believe that)

On occasion I've wished for a private means to poke a contact that seamed well positioned at a company I've recently worked on a quote for (HINT: ironically, Psst- hey Tim! Shhh.. )  certainly not a forum type of content but we do form a rather diverse network of professionals that could be value adding to the forum indirectly by incentivising forum participation (and get the bosses off our backs when we don't do "real work")

The value seems to me to be more suited to the 200+ crowd to "train" the users that it is preferable to direct LabVIEW discussion to the forum.  I'm am leary that some new members would "stalk" a regular and deprive the community due to shyness (noobs know they are going to get schooled and some may avoid posting if another option became available.)

[aeastet]

I like the idea of pinning it to the rank. I will take noobs time to figure things in the forums. Make them do the searches before you give access to the members directly. Plus I think it could be a real incentive to get people involved. We need a few more mile stones between 2000 and 10,000 that keep people coming back. If you get to 5,000 then this is turned on. Just a thought.