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Hey guys:

Is private messaging working? I sent messages to 2 people and haven't heard back. Maybe I have worn out my welcome.......:)

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Yes, Private Messaging is working.

It may simply be that your recipients have not yet seen their messages. I suggest sending them an email.

I very much prefer to receive email for several reasons, the most important being that I will get the message very quickly, wherever I am.

With a PM, I may not see it for days or weeks. On one web site I participate in, I did not see a PM for several months because I didn't notice it.

With email, you are far ore likely to get my attention and I will have a record of the message indefinitely and it does not burden the web site to store the information. PM's need to get cleared out periodically.

With email, you can also compose a much more sophisticated and useful exchange of information.

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I agree with Tom.

I have actually thought about turning off the PM's lately and just might do so.
Just something else not to worry about or checking...

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Perhaps you should consider turning on the send email on PM option by default for everyone?

I know I missed a PM for a while as it doesn't really stick out when you visit the site, and I didn't even know the email option was there until I dug around a little.

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Just curious as to how it is being missed...........every time I get one I see the PM message blinking that gets my attention......If you're taking votes, I vote to keep it..........I've used it a lot

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I can try email. I was just curious if their was a technical glitch. One reason I asked was that one of my messages was to Joe Kriz and I know he is always checking the site.

Giving it more thought, I can't say that I notice right away the blinking pm notice; I have it linked to my email. I get the email "ding" on my blackberry so that's my prompt.

Anyway, thanks for the test messages. Mine is working. I'll consider shooting emails. Have a nice evening everyone.

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I for one prefer the PM setup - Mine is setup to send me an email notifying me its there.

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X2

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X3
I have mine set to email me that way I remember to go look.

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I do find this option working and reliable enough.
When being notified by personal email;
I have then clicked on the link and viewed the content.
Works very well for me so far.
And I have enjoyed to hear from all of my Whaler Friends with questions and Salutations.

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Joe,
One though on turning it off. If you do so there will be no way to contact members that choose to hide or not allow email contact? Would you force folks those folks to accept email or force other members to post forum messages seeking contact?

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This is why I was suggesting enabling email notifications of PM's by default, it combines the notification reliability of email without exposing your email as some of us would rather not do. Most forums I use tend to do this in order to make PM's "just work" by default making you specifically opt out if you don't like the emails for some reason.

All good for me now that I have enabled PM emails.

My vote would def be to keep PM's.

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I can understand where the members are coming from.

However, I am sometimes bombarded with PM's and Emails. So much so, it is very hard to even try to keep up with both of them.
It would be much easier for me to be only bombarded on one email account rather then trying to keep up with 2 different sources.

Unfortunately I get far too many emails and PM questions that really should be asked in the forum section of this site. After all, the site is about sharing questions and answers and should NOT be kept private... If I answer someone's private question, then no on this site will benefit and many times, I get the same questions over and over. If the question was asked in the forum section, then I or anyone else can answer it and it would be done. Rather then me answering the same question over and over in private messages. I no longer have time to answer the same question over and over 100 times.

I even see some members have the nerve of asking other members to send them private messages stating they will answer any of their questions there. To me this is hijacking this sites intentions. This is not fair to the rest of the members here. This is another reason for not having Private Messages.
Private Messages to me are to be used for things like "How's the wife and family", etc... or something else private that isn't intended to be shared publicly... All Whaler related things should be shared here on this site in the Discussion Area.
NOT by, send me a PM and I will tell you how to fix this or where to buy that.... This is not sharing and is totally discouraged here...

For now we will keep the Private Messages up and running...

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I think the idea of changing the default setting to email notification is a good one. I just discovered this option after being here for about 3 years. Hey, I'm a slow learner. I also discovered why I never had a record of my sent PM's, you have to set that option as well. I think changing the default of this one might be good, also. I too, really like the PM option.

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Joe, one other valuable use of PM, at least for people who don't want to share their email address, is for buy/sell transactions where the details of the barter or trade or money exchange are not anyone else's business. That's how I've mainly used PM in the past.

Otherwise, I'm with you - open and honest is the way to go.

ps - I PM'd you with this and emailed you too. Could you get back to me right away please? Huh? Can't wait. Oh, and uh could you tell me what size motor I should put on my Whaler? :)

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Ha;
It is true that sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.
And in the defense of some of us who will recommend to go to the private message;
This observed explanation will be offered..

There is times when detailed descriptions of repairs as seen in numerous topics here have not been enough for..the person asking the questions.
And to burden the site with time and time again reminders to go here and there within the site for possible answers may or may not apply to the specific subject.
An assessment of the conditions requiring refit's attention will demand a generous scads of photos;
And this being the next best thing to be assessing the boat in person.
And the posting of photos are a bit of a problem for our good host Joe here, hence the invitation to email directly to the requested Parties.
I think that there is nothing malicious about responding to a potential advice on a private level.
Having assessed the situation;
A posting of the repairs have always been suggested so far to my knowledge.
It is actually refreshing to see that the Whaler Central Host Joe Kriz has jealously scolded the practice of depriving the Central's of these possible inputs.
In my books it shows a professional commitment to this great site.

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Serge - Who is Jim?

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Joe:

I see your point about using the boards as opposed to the private messaging. I sent the two private messages specifically seeking out 2 individuals because of information I had seen them post in the past and from pictures on their personal pages. In retrospect, going to the boards would have been better. Other members may have had the same questions and they would have benefited from the answers I received. True, the site is about sharing information. Myself, I have gotten many ideas for my Montauk just by surfing the site and seeing what others were asking and replying. Thanks.

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My first reaction when reading the comments above was "Now What???"
I will be used to editing my posts but in this instance;
It has been an honest mistake and no pun was ever intended.
What was entered as the name Jim was actually to be stated to Joe;
Our Whaler Central Host.
My apologies to Joe for having used the name Jim while I was clearly addressing his comments.
My compliments to his commitment will remain though.
And I will now use the handy EDIT option to correct this misnomer and will hope to in time be forgiven.
I will remain Yours as ever.

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PS-
I have corrected some typos and think that the editing option on this site is the best thing available since sliced bread was invented.
On the other hand;
I have not heard of answers submitted to my personal messages on the Central.
A temporary setback I am sure.

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I didn't intend on anyone taking this personally.
I really wasn't talking about anyone in particular. I really wasn't talking about "You".... (whoever you is)

I was only referring to the amount of PM's I get that could have been posted in the forum section for anyone and everyone to answer.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone sending me a PM.. Just use common sense. Remember, I can also answer or provide my input to your questions in the forum section...

Hope this helps to clear some things up.

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Please keep it as is.
And this in spite of whatever the delays in responding may be.
Thanks again for the good service.

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Keep it like it is! I like the PM feature.

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Yes, I agree with keeping PM as it is. Thanks Joe for a fantastic site!!!

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PMs are for private messages. If others would benifit from the answers, the message should be posted. jm2