Update Private Messages -- Waste of Time or Helpful Convenience? A Discussion

Do you as an author like sending them out?

Yes, I'm a feedback junkie. No, really is part of the ceremony of updating for me.

If you don't send them out, why not?

N/A

How do you feel about giving them to lurkers?

I found it strange at first, but then I realized that out there there were really shy people... I had a case of someone commenting on the story by replying to the PM... Another one finally delurked and I was very glad about it.

Do you expect replies whenever someone requests one?

I learned not to.

What about unopened pm's, how do you deal with those?

That's a real problem in this stupid system. I one case where the person had 5 unopened PMs from me and still asked me to send some PM bonus, I asked a mod to send a PM explaining the situation. No big deal. But I think there should be more awareness about the 100-unopened PMs limit.

Why do you as a reader like receiving them?

Because my old brain can't keep track of all the stories I'm reading and that's a fact.

How helpful are they in really keeping track of stories?

Very.

 

Yeah, IE7. It works fine with 6, and yes, I have to enable activeX or something.

But with 7, regardless of what I opened first, I close out the other. So, if I'm ready to "send" I lose the entire PM when I open IE; if IE7 is already open, I can't open the program. One closes out the other.

Works just fine with IE6.

 

Do you as an author like sending them out?

It's not fantastic, only because I feel internal pressure to come up with something more loquacious and witty than what I wind up sending out. But in the end, I don't mind. It means people are reading.

If you don't send them out, why not?

I'll come back and answer this one when I decide to adopt this policy (don't know if that will happen, but if it does...).

How do you feel about giving them to lurkers?

I don't like it, and I will no longer do it. It's not a major problem, but it is incredibly annoying, and bloody rude as well.

Do you expect replies whenever someone requests one?

Yes, because it's called common courtesy. Don't blow smoke by requesting PM'S on a story you have no further intention of reading. You're also wasting my time by doing this.

What about unopened pm's, how do you deal with those?

If one doesn't get opened, then I don't bother that person. They'll either come back and read at some point, or they'll open it and ignore. Fine, whatever, just another person who I'll avoid reading in the future if they choose to ignore. Again, it's all about courtesy. If you don't extend it, or at least make an attempt, you aren't getting it.

Why do you as a reader like receiving them?

See answer below.

How helpful are they in really keeping track of stories?

Quite useful. I will admit that much.

 

Do you as an author like sending them out?

I?ve got a system that?s not lazy?s that works well for me, so no, I don?t mind. Though, there are enough un-read ones out there I may have to stop. I tend to keep my list (hyperlinks and all) in word and then go from there.

If you don't send them out, why not?

If I wasn?t going to, it would be a time constraint. While it doesn?t take long for me to do it, I may simply not have the time to do it. If I ever view sending PMs as a waste of my time, I may stop this practice.

How do you feel about giving them to lurkers?

As I write for me more than my readers (which are an unexpected bonus) I have no problem sending them to lurkers. Mostly because when I do, the lurkers who do read my fics are kind enough to PM me a response even if they don?t want to post in the thread. This doesn?t always happen

Do you expect replies whenever someone requests one?

Nah. It?d be nice to get replies when you send them, but if they?ve opened the PM I assume they?re reading. If they don?t want to get PMs anymore I expect people to be adult about it and tell me so. It won?t hurt me feelings if someone asks to stop receiving them.

What about unopened pm's, how do you deal with those?

It depends. Sometimes I get on a roll and PM everyone on my list without looking. Other times, if I?m updating everything I?m writing, I check to see who hasn?t opened their PMs in a while to avoid further unopened PMs and ensure all my readers who do open their PMs get new ones. It just again depends on time.

Why do you as a reader like receiving them and how helpful are they in really keeping track of stories?

I adore getting PMs for stories, mostly because I?m horrible at being able to keep track of all the titles and authors that I do read. I love knowing when a story?s been updated and try to get to them as soon as I can, because I only ask for PMs on stories that I want to continue following.

But, I don?t like getting unsolicited PMs and I?m not shy about telling someone if they send me one.



Note: anyone else notice that PMs is also P.M.S.? Hmm, I wonder if there?s a connection...

 

Update

Tallied 40 responses.

Do you as an author like sending them out?

Yes, I like sending PMs and I do. ? 22/40
I enjoy it a lot.
It?s extremely easy with lazy?s code.
I make my PMs fun.
I feel obligated to send PMs.
I like knowing who?s reading.

No, I don?t like sending PMs but I send them anyway. ? 10/40
Let down when people don?t review immediately.
Extra work and so little time to do it.
I like getting them.
Flattered by the number of people that asked.
Asked a friend to duty it for a while.
I feel pressured to send something witty.

No, I don?t like sending PMs and I don?t send PMs. ? 4/40
I?m irritated whenever I?m accidentally put on a PM list (2).
I used to but found out it made no difference.

Yes, I like sending PMs but I don?t ? 4/40
I?m honored when people ask but I don?t have the time.
I haven?t written anything lengthy.





If you don't send them out, why not?

Not Applicable ? 32/40

Applicable ? 8/40
I have a regular posting schedule.
I?m too busy/ I have no time!
It doesn?t make any difference to my feedback pool
If reader is interested, he/she will read it with/without a PM.
People don?t un-ask when they lose interest.
(From a reader) I link to stories I read. I don?t need the PMs
I have not written anything lengthy enough.




How do you feel about giving them to lurkers?

No problem, I?ll do it anyway ? 26/40
They can all be lurkers for all I care.
May still be out there reading.
Ticked off by authors who complain about lurkers.
I can?t even tell who is lurking or not.
Post-script in the PM that you can be taken off the list on request is enough.
I found it strange at first.

N/A. I don?t send PMs out at all. ? 6/40

N/A. I?ve never had this problem. ? 2/40

I don?t. ? 2/40
They can lurk without a PM.
It's annoying and rude.

None of the above ? 4/40
If they?re lurking, how do you know they?re there?
I give only if they specifically ask for PMs



Do you expect replies whenever someone requests one?

No ? 22/40
But it would be nice to get replies on occasion.
Sometimes people don?t have time.
Some people prefer to lurk.
It makes me nervous. I feel the quality of my story has fallen.
Perhaps they did not like the update.

Yes ? 8/40
It's common courtesy.

N/A. I don?t send PMs out at all. ? 6/40
I feel PMs guilt people into receiving replies

No. I used to but not any longer. ? 3/40

No answer ? 1/40



What about unopened pm's, how do you deal with those?

N/A. I don?t send PMs out at all ? 6/40

I don?t send a PM unless the previous one has been opened. ?6/40

I don?t send a PM if 2-4 have not been opened. ? 7/40

I don?t send a PM if the maximum limit has been reached [or more]. ? 3/40

I ask the reader specifically if he/she wants PMs? 2/40

I wait a month then bump the person [regardless of the number] ?1/40

I drop off readers who reply elsewhere. ?1/40

Never happened to me. ? 5/40

None of the above ? 8/40
I never noticed.
It?s the user?s problem, not mine.
I just growl silently.
I leave one of my own PMs unopened.
I wish they would because of spamming.
My biggest pet peeve.
One of my readers reached the maximum and still wanted PMs.



Why do you as a reader like receiving them?

Yes, I like receiving them. ? 31/40
Helps me keep track of stories.
I read a lot of stories.
I have a bad memory/forget things.
I?d probably never know a story I was reading was updated.
The boards move quickly.
It helps me schedule when to read them.
Active Topic Notification is not effective.
I only ask for PMs from stories that have a small reader-ship.
I only ask for PMs from stories t

 

Thanks so much for tallying these, Leia_naberrie! You did a lot of work there!

 

I?m kinda late with this but why not.


Do you as an author like sending them out?

I don?t mind sending out pm?s when people ask for them.

If you don't send them out, why not?

---

How do you feel about giving them to lurkers?

I don?t mind sending them out to lurker although, I must say that it would be ratter helpful if I knew that they were lurkers. I hate sending out pm?s if someone don?t want them.
I have to say that I don?t get lurking because I?ve never lurked, at least not on a board where I?ve been a member, even if it is just great job. I don?t ask to be on a pm list

Do you expect replies whenever someone requests one?

I did at first but then you get used to not always getting a reply and I?m okay with it. When someone replies to any of my stories makes me so happy.

What about unopened pm's, how do you deal with those?

Before I send out pm?s I always check if the last pm I sent have been opened, if it haven?t then I?m not sending one.

Why do you as a reader like receiving them?

Very helpful and if I've asked to be on a pm list then I'm staying on that pm list.

How helpful are they in really keeping track of stories?

For me, who is reading so many stories at the same time (I?ve been gone a week and once I got back I have around 50 un opened pm?s, I kept getting more while I was reading and I still have a lot left) it?s very helpful otherwise I risk missing a story update although, even if I read this many stories I?ve never forgotten one. It have happened though that I?ve asked to be on a pm list but not been added (I never understood why) but then I usually forget about the story.

I can?t do anything but agree with you on that one even if I hadn?t thought about it that way before. I always keep a pm list in my first post, it helps me keep up.

 

That's awesome, l_n!!