@COMystery wrote:
This forum should be used to help each other grow in this industry, not to be mean to others. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Agreed, we can all attempt to make this a more welcoming place.
@COMystery wrote:
I question the intent of anyone sending an unsolicited PM (whether it be one PM or more). To me that indicates that whatever they are saying, they don't want others to read. If they are providing advice that may be beneficial, why not post for everyone to read.
As a counter-point, I have received and sent unsolicited PM's on occasion. In all cases, the messages were respectful and I have never received an unsolicited PM that I think the sender would be ashamed for others to read, nor would I ever consider sending something through PM that I would not also be comfortable saying on the public forum. And subsequently, I wouldn't post anything to an internet forum using a handle that I would feel uncomfortable putting my real name behind. PM's should not be used to say something nasty so others can't publically read them. I find PM's useful more for discussion that would distract from others' use of the forum, particularly when wanting to discuss something that would be off topic or not be useful for others to read.
Also, parkcitybrian mentioned the downside of PM's being the attempt to stay anonymous which I take as being along the same lines as using PM's to direct nastygrams. For my personal use, PM's are the opposite of anonymous as I will sign a PM with my real name and have had some great interactions with folks on the forum.