Eliminate Post Count Minimum for PM Feature

[WarriorINDGO]

I have been a member of IS for a couple of months now. I believe this is an excellent forum where individuals can quench their thirst for knowledge, better themselves, and seek assistance for anything that may be sitting heavily on their hearts. Throughout the time that I've been on IS, I have come across numerous threads/posts where individuals are going through some tough emotional times and need to reach out to someone. Perhaps, someone that they may have had a conversation with and rather chat with them using the private message (PM) feature. Or someone who joined IS specifically to find someone that they could vent or talk to about whatever is on their mind or spirit. Or someone who may be more comfortable talking on one-on-one than opening a thread to discuss their problems. However, they are completely unable to do so because of the 50 post count minimum that is required to enable an individual to send a PM.

Personally, I feel this forum is an opportunity for people to receive compassion here when they may be unable to receive it from family/friends. For people to receive Love here when they may be unable to receive it from where they reside. For people to receive guidance here when they may be unable to receive it from their close circle. For people to come on IS to regain strength so they can be strong in their own being in their day-to-day lives. For people to receive inspiration to express their ideas. The list goes on.

So, I humbly request that the 50 post count minimum be significantly reduced or eliminated so individuals who are drawn here can release what they are be holding on to without facing any difficulty with the PM feature. If you support this message, click the "Thank" tab.

Thank you,

Warrior

[rabana]

(moved this thread to Forum Help)

you're right, the 50 post thing is very inconvenient. but the reason it was put in place was to deter trolling and spam, which was once a problem here, and it works.

its very unfortunate in many ways that we have to do this but until someone has a better idea, it has to be this way. i've thought about it and haven't come up with any answers.

[WarriorINDGO]

(moved this thread to Forum Help)

you're right, the 50 post thing is very inconvenient. but the reason it was put in place was to deter trolling and spam, which was once a problem here, and it works.

its very unfortunate in many ways that we have to do this but until someone has a better idea, it has to be this way. i've thought about it and haven't come up with any answers.

Thanks for moving it, I didn't know where to open the thread. I keep seeing the word "trolling", what does it mean?

I started this thread because of seeing recent post from people who are on the "edge" emtionally and it makes it difficult to be of assistance.

[rabana]

i know. its all very regrettable. trolls are people who post on the internet in order to make trouble. they can destroy an entire forum. rules were no big deal at IS until they became necessary because of insults, threats, stalking, derailment, hi-jacking of threads etc. that is not the kind of forum the owner wants. its been about a 3 year battle to get it to this point where that is rare. thats why we have these rules.

[WarriorINDGO]

i know. its all very regrettable. trolls are people who post on the internet in order to make trouble. they can destroy an entire forum. rules were no big deal at IS until they became necessary because of insults, threats, stalking, derailment, hi-jacking of threads etc. that is not the kind of forum the owner wants. its been about a 3 year battle to get it to this point where that is rare. thats why we have these rules.

Alright. Understandable. I will do some brainstorming because there has to be a halfway point somewhere. Thanks for the info.

[julianblackstar]

can i can i please.....iv been through this before. lol. can we lower it back to 20 (or was it 30)
pwetty pwetty pwease with chweries on tops?

no really i thought id get to 50 faster.

[rabana]

its not up to me.

[julianblackstar]

lol. well. i got like 20 more to go and this helps any way. thxxxxxx

[Clear Blue Sky]

First I'd like to offer some hard observations, then some helpful suggestions I hope the forum owner considers.

Hard observations: A lot of people have left over the past 3 years. Some left because of the early trolling, harassment Rabana mentioned. Others left because in part what they perceived as harsh rules and moderators. Generally I think the forum has become less on both counts. One of its better values here is the new folks coming in and hopefully finding understand, help and support here as WarriorIndigo mentions. It is natural while this is beginning they may not want to bear their hearts to the entire forum, but find one or two sympathetic ears and private message them. To the degree that this forum states "you can't talk to them privately yet you need to post 50 times publically, so the trolls don't get us".... It's like walking into a lovely department store and seeing a humongous sign stretched wall to wall stating "NO SHOPLIFTING". Whatever its intent, it sends a poor message.


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Helpful suggestions:
1. What if new people with smaller post counts could PM people they put in their friend list and who agree to friend them? Then they could choose to friend/unfriend someone if they wanted to talk, or if they got trolled or harassed by a member (or vice versa) they could unfriend or block those people.
2. Does this forum have a way an individual can block messages from specific members, if those members become a problem troll to them?
3. Could there be a way to limit PM of new people to maybe 3 posts a day. That would contain any attempts to spam/troll from bogus accounts.
4. Could the moderators do a IP address check on new members, to ensure they are not coming from known troll computers?

[Verumi]

What if people who have been here for 3 months or more can volunteer to receive PMs from people with less than the 50 count to hear them out. Like mentors. That way new accounts can't troll, and there are people willing to talk one-on-one with those who show up with an emotional disturbance.

[WarriorINDGO]

What if people who have been here for 3 months or more can volunteer to receive PMs from people with less than the 50 count to hear them out. Like mentors. That way new accounts can't troll, and there are people willing to talk one-on-one with those who show up with an emotional disturbance.

Outfreakingstanding idea! Its a great halfway point.

What do you think Rabana? Could something along those line be implemented?

[rabana]

how would that prevent trolling?

if you are saying that special programming should be set up for mentors, that is just not going to happen.

[rabana]

how would that prevent trolling? you mean only the mentors could be trolled?

if you are saying that special programming should be set up for mentors, i doubt if thats going to happen going to happen. but keep thinking-- this is a real problem.

i wonder if something could be done with private groups?

[WarriorINDGO]

how would that prevent trolling?

if you are saying that special programming should be set up for mentors, that is just not going to happen.

Because the preventive measure for trolling for the members will still be set up in the manner that they currently are just modified for the members to reach out to others. Perhaps the word mentor may not be the right word but the intent would allow members to communicate on a 1-on-1 basis with any individuals who may be going through some difficult times and need to talk to someone. Or a member would be able to reach out to an individual who may be going through some difficult times.

[WarriorINDGO]

Here is an example

I'm a member and I've been here longer than 3 months. And some new individual registers by the name of "Xyz123abc" and he or she is emotionally bothered. According to Verumi's idea, there would be some type of function in place so I could talk 1on1 with "Xyz123abc" even though his or her post count is under 50. Only since they are going through a tough time. And Clearbluesky's idea of blocking would be helpful in case "Xyz123abc" decides to troll.

Now I understand what you mean by how that could prevent any old body from attempting to troll. So maybe IS can create a Section along the lines of "Emotionally down/confused/depressed/I feel worthless/I feel like committing suicide"or something. So those that post under that category can be found by the members on IS through the "New Posts" tab and they can reach out to them through the above means.

[Verumi]

I like the group idea, or a beginner's forum, so genuine people can reach out but new members still can't troll in PMs and visitor messages.

[froebellian]

I am on other forums and the 50 posts is high..it deters people from staying on the forum like myself..

The deterrent of trolls and spamming? These people have nothing better to do and will always find a way..look at the people doing double posts.. one word posts etc..it prevents the forum from moving forward and being progressive IMHO..

Oh it encourages people to make useless and non contributory posts just to hit the 50.. I did not bother.. as I have better things to do and I have integrity rather than to do something for no real reason..

[Nespese]

Excellent idea.

[Clear Blue Sky]

well, if new members could only PM friends then anyone who wanted them to talk woul dhave to friend them first, and if that new person turned out to be a trolll the member would just have to unfriend them to shut them up.

[Nespese]

Profoundly simple. Let people make their own choices.