Rules Regarding the Use of Personal Messages (PMs)

[newey]

This comes to you courtesy of ReTreaD. As with most Rules, we shouldn't have to tell people these things, but we have found that we do.

Proper (and improper) use of Personal Messages

Personal Messages are almost unnecessary on GN2. We have Quotes, Likes, and Tags which will generate notifications to a user. Still there may be some instances where a PM is useful.

The following are ways you must NOT abuse the PM system:

Soliciting technical help

GN2 is an information-driven community. We all learn from information shared in the public space. Both from the information itself and the way it's conveyed by those with strong communication skills. Do NOT cheat the rest of the community the opportunity to learn because you want a private lesson. In most cases, the reply you'll get will be a lesson you should already know: "Please post your request for information in the appropriate forum."

Reasonable exceptions:

• You would like a brief clarification of a detail in a post and don't want to clutter the thread.  The author will then decide whether to answer privately or direct you to post your question in his thread.
  
• You spot an error and wish to politely advise the author rather than cluttering his thread or causing him embarrassment (or causing yourself embarrassment in the event you're wrong). "I'm not sure, but I think you might have made an error" could be a polite way to begin pointing out a potential error.
  

Soliciting guidance on proper use of the forum

This one is less egregious, since often a new member might be embarrassed because they don't understand forum operations. But there's no reason to be embarrassed. None of us were born with the knowledge of how a forum works. We all started from ground-zero. Most of us were treated politely when we were first getting started. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to pass that on.

Read the New Members Questions thread. The answer to your question may already be there. If not, feel free post your question there.

Harassment of other members

This will not be tolerated. Not in the public space. Not via PMs. If you think no one else will know you're harassing someone privately, think again. There are mechanisms which can be used to make the Staff aware of improper actions via the PM system. Recipients of abusive messages will notify the Staff if this becomes necessary. Appropriate action such as a documented warning, temporary BAN, or permanent BAN will be taken, when necessary.

Bringing the contents of a PM into the public space

As a general rule, DON'T.

A user shouldn't be sharing personal information with you, but if they do and you post that in the public space on GN2 in an effort to embarrass them, appropriate action will be taken against you.

If you've been the recipient of an abusive PM, contact the staff via PM. Do NOT bring that into the public space.

Victims

Don't be one.
Don't share personal information in PMs.
Don't reply to abusive messages. (Contact a member of the GN2 Staff)

Well, there you have it.  A whole lotta 'don't's.  Are there any 'do's regarding PMs?  Maybe one. 
Do use PMs when posting in the public space is inappropriate.  Use a post or thread whenever possible.


Well, there you have it. A whole lotta 'don't's. Are there any 'do's regarding PMs? Maybe one.
Do use PMs when posting in the public space is inappropriate. Use a post or thread whenever possible.

[sumgai]

As with newey above, I concur. reTrEaD has worked with input from the entire Staff to polish these rules, and we three Admins have given this final version our blessing. However, if you believe that something has been overlooked in some way, please contribute your thoughts without hesitation.

Thank you.





sumgai
co-Conspiritor Administrator