PMs Disabled?

[carpesomediem]

Private messaging has been disabled on this board.

Can I ask why this was disabled and whether or not it will be permanent or not?

[constant-content]

Hi -

We disabled PM's since writers (and non writers) were contacting customers. Sorry for this, but it has to be done. The only other option is to disable the customer forum.

Thank you

[carpesomediem]

Oh, well, some people are just unprofessional.

Good thing it was done, though, I must say if people are going to pollute a system like that.

[Melissa]

Sometimes I feel stupid, but I suspect in this instance it reaffirms I prefer honesty. It would never have occured to me to use Private Messaging to contact a customer.

Duh!

[carpesomediem]

It would never have occured to me to use Private Messaging to contact a customer.

I thought about it, but I never did it, because if they wanted to hire contract workers they would go elsewhere.

[Katie-Anne]

You and me both then Melissa! I get really ticked off when someone spoils something for others though by blatantly breaking the rules.

Katie-Anne

[carpesomediem]

You and me both then Melissa! I get really ticked off when someone spoils something for others though by blatantly breaking the rules.

Yeah. It's unfortunate, because I liked the ability to talk to a few writers on here about either things on the CC site or that came up related to here. It's so much easier to PM than to e-mail. C'est la vie!

[Katie-Anne]

The PM system was good for that. It gave us a way to communicate off the forums. I'm a freelance writer and so I'm often on job searches on the Internet - occasionally I see something and think hmmm I bet so-and-so at CC might be interested in that - but now I can't PM them. Would be good if we had a writer's only PM system so we can network etc. Please? Pretty please Chris?

Katie-Anne

[Melissa]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one (even though I was certain I wasn't the only one).

Although I'm over it, I'm still slightly miffed about the legal article request from several weeks ago. (Hopefully I won't get into trouble for mentioning this!) The Web site owner saw one or two of my pieces and emailed CC about purchasing exclusive rights at a particular price, in addition to wanting more similar articles (about legal forms on their Web site). So, I started cranking out articles but no purchases. Later came to hear someone went to their Web site and allegedly made direct contact with the client. Ugh!

[John Zee]

If what you heard is true, it shows a definite lack of ethics.

Any kind of end run like this is dishonest and cheats every writer here who adheres to the system.

[carpesomediem]

I totally agree, John, but I'm sure customers did the same thing.

Would it be possible to separate the forum accounts through either permission masks or groups - one for writers and one for customers - they could check a box when they sign-up with the mod not being that difficult to implement. That way one group, the writers, could use the PM system while the customers would not or even vice versa.

[constant-content]

Okay.. I'll put PM's back on.


Melissa - I have contacted another person that may be interested. I have sent them a couple of your articles and I'm waiting for a response. That was a strange situation.

Thanks

[carpesomediem]

Okay.. I'll put PM's back on.

Awesome! Thanks, Chris!

[John Zee]

Chris:

Does that mean the same problems can occur? Or have you fiigured out a way to limit PMs to buyers and back?

[Melissa]

You're a saint Chris! Thank you!