#18 VMs/PMs

[El Héroe Oscuro]

Question Of The Day #18: What is your preference of style when it comes to VMs/PMs?

PokeCommunity has 4 primary means of communication: indirect replies within threads, direct replies via the "quote" function, visitor messaging and private messaging. Today, we're going to focus on the latter two. Visitor messaging (VM) is a service that PC provides where you can leave messages for not just the user to see but for the public as well. Private message (PM), as it's name most likely dictates, allows users to chat with one another without the scrutiny of the public's eye. But all this is besides the point: what I'd really like to ask you all is how punctual are y'all when it comes to replying to peoples VMs/PMs? Are you one of those people that will immediately respond to a person's message, or will you let it sit for a few minutes/hours so you don't come off as an eager beaver? Have you ever judged someone's character by the speed at which they've sent their replies? Do you prefer one set of communication more than another? Why? If you're a person whose chosen to disable VMs at one point or another, why did you choose to do so?

Feel free to discuss all entities of this topic down below.​

 

[Hiatus]

I definitely am not a private messaging person, that's for sure. You'd have to click a couple of extra buttons than usual in order to reach it, which doesn't take much effort at all, but something about it just doesn't seem to give off a laid-back vibe to me, unfortunately. It could sort of stall you when it comes to carrying conversations within the system, so I suppose that could be it? I really don't know; wish I did, haha.

As for visitor messaging, it's a-OK with me. You're able to check all things you receive right from your profile page without loading any additional page, and I personally find that to be very convenient. Of course, you're required to click "view conversation" link before replying and whatnot, but I just don't feel that it's something to get bothered or annoyed by, if at all.

One thing I wish VMing system had is live-updating feature. This would allow you to treat conversation pages as chat-box, so to speak. For example, if you've got one of these pages open in a tab or window and your friend sends something, it would be shown instantly without you having to reload. A lot of people would enjoy it, I'm sure, including myself.

 

[Auticorn]

I will always reply to VMs/PMs. However, it does depend on the person too, especially when someone PMs me. I'm not really into VMs/PMs, but I do try to engage in them if people use those things to communicate with me though. I'm not a very social person either, so often times I can get overwhelmed by it. I don't MIND when people send them to me, it's just hard for me sometimes.

 

[Sonata]

I try to reply to people's messages as quickly as I can because if they've messaged me about something then it's probably something important enough to merit a response from me so I wouldn't want to keep them waiting. I definitely prefer PM's because if I say something dumb I don't want it to be out there for everyone to easily view, sure the person I messaged can share it with everyone and make fun of me, but at least I don't know about it for the most part. And I definitely wouldn't judge someone based on how they choose to message me or the speed of which they do it. People have more important things to do than to worry about how fast they're getting back to me, and I don't really look in too deep about how private people want to be with me about what we're talking about.

 

[Hikamaru]

I tend to reply to VMs more, since they are faster to respond to and given how hectic my life is (it mainly involves doing chores because my mother is fairly crippled) I need to be someone who responds quickly.

I don't use PMs much and there's a reason why. I disabled them two years ago because I was often asked by ROM hackers to help them with their hacks, completely unaware that I don't know anything about hacks, and of course my non-existence in the ROM Hacking boards. Most of said hackers were usually people I welcomed to PC through The Welcome Lounge, where I'm very active. I kept my PMs disabled for a long time until earlier this year (because I was not as fearful now compared to 2012) so I may respond to them but I usually just recommend VMs since they are easier.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

I always try to respond to VMs but sometimes I check the notification with intent to respond, but instead forget and get distracted haha. I never intentionally ignore messages though and always try my best to respond asap! As for PMs, usually they are urgent or at least should be in most cases. I always respond to those right away even if it is just letting the other person know I read it and will give a full response when I can. I prefer not to use PMs though.

 

[Pendraflare]

When it comes to VMs, I tend to reply to them at my leisure, sometimes i'll reply right away others I won't and i'll be slow because of what I have to attend to. If I don't really feel I have anything to say then I won't reply if the conversation has gone on a while. But as for PMs I only do that if I feel a need to ask a specific question to a moderator or something, or if it's a really personal matter I want to share.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I prefer to communicate with VMs rather than PMs to conserve space in my inbox. I only PM if it's something important.

 

[moon]

When I reply I often reply quickly. I'm happy to be a eager beaver :3 but sometimes it can slip my mind when I'm doing other things and too much time can pass until I see the message again.

PMs though, I nearly always reply to. If you really want my attention, PM.

 

[Musicality]

Hardly ever use PM unless the need arises (ie. the message is private).
I'm nearly always lighting fast when it comes to responses, provided I'm online. It just dosen't feel right to have the person waiting there for a response when you could just take a few seconds and type a few words.

I'll usually check my Profile multiple times a day to change avatars/settings, to check messages or to just play around with it so it's rather unlikely that I wouldn't read a visitor message or PM.

 

[Morgnarok]

I will immediately respond to a person's message upon seeing it. I don't really use VM or PM now a days though because I don't really know anyone or have anything to talk with people much anymore so I really don't have much other than that to give feedback on.

 

[Aquacorde]

- im super punctual like the second i see a message i have to reply
- its rude to keep people waiting
- VMs are the best ever
- i hate PMs they are such a hassle; just that many more steps
- i remember when the only options were PMs and thread replying with no notifications
- that sucked
- ease of communication 4eva

 

[TwilightBlade]

punctual? I'm so far in the red for visitor messages, I need my own secretary... you'd get a faster response from me in the trade chatroom or skype. Whenever I get it down to 0, I will get a dozen overnight and then several more dozen by the end of the month. Furthermore, seeing as other folks respond so quickly, I am often buried in new messages while still needing to respond to older messages. lol. I have no problem for someone who doesn't respond to me (or else I'd be hypocritical). I really want to respond to everyone as I don't like the feeling of being left hanging, but I'm just terrible, see

 

[Meganium]

If I get a lot of VMs in a few hours, I end up putting them off till tomorrow. xD I only use VMs for friendly communication with friends and other users. For staff matters, I use PMs. I do not respond to PMs that are not staff-related, unless if there's anything that is deemed "private" and not worth of a visitor message.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I prefer to use VMs over PMs and only use PMs in emergencies because I don't want my inbox to get cluttered.

 

[Legobricks]

I only do PMs for two reasons.
– I joined before VMs were implemeneted. They're redundant since I don't find them more convenient.
– Given the choice, I'd rather not publicise my conversations.

I'm as punctual as I can form a response. That could be immediately, or days later.