I receive this message when I try to pm a person. I know spamming through pms have been a problem on this forum, is there some sort of minimum post requirement to use pms? or is this some sort of software glitch?

There is a minimum number of post req'd to pm but I forgot what it is. Maybe 25? or 50?

I recv'd a PM from somebody a couple days ago that had 0 posts...

What's up with that?

There's something wrong because I can't send you a PM either; I get the message:



This happens to everyone with low post counts; you can't send them any messages but they may be able to send you some. Perhaps it's a method of finding out who is soliciting by PM, but not allowing the solicitation to go ahead.

Well there seems to be a problem with PM's as it is not only people with Low Post Counts! I am sure it will be fixed! ...or something is in the works!

There is no problem that we know about
This is how it works:
To send or receive PM's, or to participate in private topics, members need to have 25 posts... but they also need to have posted recently... if a member has 1000 posts and has not posted since the changes have been made... that member will not be able to PM, send or receive, till he makes a post...

This is new

To make this change we had to set all users to "No private messages" and the only way to get out of there is to make one post above post 24...
Even if you have 300 posts you will have to make a post so our system knows you are still around and changes your settings...

Also note that members can have a maximum number of PM's and when that quota is reached they can not send or receive PM's till they clean up their PM box a bit...

We are sort of suspicious of people that PM and do not post... please help by letting me know if anyone is sending you unsolicited PM's with offers or recommendations of any kind... specially if they ask you to keep it secret...

We feel it is best if all info, except for private info, is posted for all to see and comment... better and safer for all if everything is out in hte open and everybody can comment...

Crooks love secrets and keeping people in the dark... we like info out there in the open for all to see, comment, and benefit...

And we ask all users to report any unsolicitied PM if it includes a recommendation of any kind...

IMPORTANT: It is quite obvious that making silly worthless posts to gain permissions is not allowed... and any poster making silly posts just to ad to their post count will simply be deleted or banned just as soon as we notice

I get all my pms and I try to keep my mail box clear.

I think new members should not be able to pm. I get so many asking where to get medication or telling me about a great site.

Then too when members are here for many years and have only a few posts I don't trust them. I don't believe this" I am shy stuff.' No one knows who we are and there is no need to hide.

How true
The excuses and tactics crooks use are endless but they require their victims to play along... to keep the secret till it is too late
They are too shy to PM, can not post because they do not have 200 posts, do not want to be called shills, do not want the site to get too many customers, the vendors had requested to keep it "low profile", and any kind of BS you can imagine so you do not report them...

Do not help them with your silence. If you do not report all PM solicitation more people will be scammed...

Some have multiple accounts and work you over time... scamming is a full time job...

It is not only newbies... please report any solicitation even if it comes from a person with 2000 posts...

Stop crooks and scammers and the people soliciting by PM by reporting them the minute they solicit you... reporting them when you know you lost your money is fine but it is too late for you and for the rest of the board...

Make it harder for them...

In any case... no restriction is going to stop crooks from working the board... the only defense is to report the ones that break the Rules and to post for all to see and comment...

Let the mods or me know by PM or just post on the board that so and so is sending you unsolicited PM's with recommendation and sources... report them anyway you can...

What do you mean what's up with that? We are not lepers, not all of us new folks are shills, spammers or whatever.

I think it's called a generalization. I don't think anyone is saying all strangers are shills....but it seems like there are quite a few on this board these days...

Correct and it is a good idea. Because they do this is why admin changed the post. Just an extra precaution. The scammers and shills can get caught much earlier. JMO

Admin is explaining some tactics shills use and by no means is admin saying everyone new is a Shill.

As the previous poster said it is a generalization.

The explanation is above on my previous post and the posts by others.
Can you not post the question?

I was wondering why mine wasn't working. I guess I just need to get my post count up.

Admin, maybe you should start a thread explaining this so we don't get so many threads opened for the same stuff about PM's. Just my 02cents of course.

I for one appreciate all you do for us and this message board. Surely I can speak for many others as well, as a group we're all considerably happy that you take so much time and thought and apply that here.

Speak up if you feel the same way

You know I do. I would never want that job or the Moderator's job. I would go crazy.

I appreciate the new/former/current Rules as I have received a couple of PM's soliciting info that I have no use for and if that person knew me by my short time and posts would know they had the wrong person. So I totally understand.

Plus just by reading posts it is so easy to pick up styles and those who have been banned in the past as reappearing as a new Nick. I find it amusing that it seems many wait only a day before starting the cycle all over again.

Well not amusing, but annoying. Sorry wrong choice of word.

Can't be an easy job. Alot of posts, alot of posters. Some of my posts I fully expect to not be counted. Silly or OT. But I also try to provide support and any info I have.

That's all that is required. An honest approach to the site. I love PMs, but I don't rely on them. I have my "favorites", but it is mainly because they NEED (and I need) the interaction. It is a blessing.

I have had a couple of PMs wanting to know of "good" sites. I always say - " find a local doc, present your condition, blah, blah" - they never PM me back, lol.

OK, I'm back (typical of me to go away and then come back). Anyway, all who are straight forward are going to be welcome by Admin.

Maybe naive, but why can't it just be simple?---give accurate info. to get it with an honest motive. I get a headache reading all the posts about shills, fakes, rip-off's, etc. It is getting harder just to trust the posts for truth AND now, I cannot even PM until I get my posts up?

It is for a good reason. To limit the shills and scammers. Have you been around when the same day they are registered they go around and PM about their secret sites. Do you want to be one of those victims and lose your money? This gives you the time to post questions and read the threads. There are a lot of good people on this board with good information.
There are many here than you could imagine and admin and the moderators are doing the best they can to clean up this site. When a scammer wants to come on this site to sell, they do not like the idea of having to wait. They want to make their money and get on with the scamming. They will PM you with something that may be too good to resists.
This is for your own protection. What I see is admin looking out for the new posters so they will not get sucked in to getting scammed.

The Rules on this board are oppressive. I have never heard of a minimum post count to pm anyone. This is ridiculous. I thought the point of community sites like these was to foster communication, develop relationships how can this be accomplished if there is a caste system?

Nice 3rd Post!! I can see you have Not been here before!!! The Rules used to be just That...You could not PM until you had 25 Meaningful Posts and also you could Not Post Until after 3 Days of Registering...It kinda Keeps the Trolls/Shills /Scammers at Bay!!
Good Luck to You Painboy

sounds goood

a caste system? Come on, being a bit dramatic are we not? Participate a bit and you will have all the PM privelages you want. Who knows, you might even make a friend or 2. You have 3 posts, do you know anyone here well enough yet to want to PM them and discuss anything?

Well... if it was simple and info was accurate and everybody was honest and delivered as promised... our forum would not exist

We, and you, are here because the internet is full of swindlers scammers, shills, and crooks trying to cheat us anyway they can...

For ten years our site has been known for reliable info that save the people that follow our Rules and guideline a lot of money...

And yes, unless you are pretending, you are naive and need to read a lot and catch up fast...

On the other hand it is simple: you post a question for all to see and comment and everybody replies for all to see and comments. It is transparent... and quite effective...

Nice 2380th post!!! I realize that there is an over abundance of scammers, shills, trolls etc. here and something needs to be done to keep them at bay - But I am not one. Your post, stevo1, is an example of how new folks are treated around here.

I simply have and need useful information for folks that participate in the BI section and since I cannot post there and now cannot pm anyone, i have no way to communicate. Bummer.

Actually, I have been reading the boards for sometime and finally decided to start participating at an increased level. Since I don't spend my life here as some seem to do, it will take a while to get 25 posts, nevermind 200.

FWIW, I thought that I had registered sometime ago, but I guess my "registered" date is from the date of my first post, or something like that. I dunno.

The problem is, of course that all the shills and scammers say they are not one. As Administrator has pointed out, in a perfect world these Rules would not be needed, but the world is not perfect and this board certainly is not perfect. The Rules for this board have not eliminated the problem but the board sure is better than it used to be. Just be patient and soon enough you will be able to participate.

otcpainboy We all had Rules to follow when we were new too.

We still do.

As do I.

Please also be advised that questioning Rules, even sometimes breaking them, results in a more robust community than simply walking in lockstep by following Rules simply because they are the Rules.