private messaging?

[phantasm777]

64,
are you open to private msging rather than taking something in the open forum? I never saw anything relating to this in any topic, and I know your busy so I certainly do not intend on just doing it.
just a question, in case an issue comes up, I would rather not post some of the things i might ask or already have asked in the open, when it probably isn't even necessary!

i do not expect you to say yes, especially to me, but seems i should at least know if it is possible rather than taking anything questionable into the open forum!
that, assuredly would lessen any site disruptions that aren't intended to be as such!

[64Guitars]

It depends on the nature of the question. I do receive PMs from our members occasionally and it's usually not a problem as long as the question is fairly brief and doesn't lead to a long debate. So, if anyone has a brief question that they'd prefer to ask me privately, feel free.

However, there's one very important thing to consider before sending me a PM. That is, would your question be of interest to other members and visitors to the site? For example, I occasionally get a PM asking questions about the BR, home recording, etc. Usually, these come from new members who are a bit shy about asking their question publicly. I will almost always reply to these PMs by asking the person to post his or her question in the forum and I will answer it there rather than privately. That way, other members and visitors who may be wondering about the same topic can benefit from the discussion. Also, other members may have some helpful information to add to the topic. There's no need for anyone to be shy about asking questions about home recording publicly. Nobody at Songcrafters has ever been rudely told to RTFM or FAQ, or had their head bitten off for asking a question, regardless of how obvious the answer might seem to the more experienced members. I know that happens frequently at other sites but not here. We were all beginners once, so we know that no question is stupid and nobody should be embarrassed to ask any question.

The same could apply to questions about the site, such as how to use BBCode, how to embed pictures or videos in your posts, how to edit your signature, etc. These types of questions are probably of interest to some other members too, so they should be asked publicly in the forums, not privately. Many of these questions are already answered in the Guides or in other topics, but I don't mind answering again or directing people to the appropriate guide or topic, as long as the question is asked publicly.

Even more general questions or concerns about the site such as the recent thread about commenting, "Thank You" posts, etc. are usually best posted publicly since they affect all members and everyone should have the right to read the comments and add their own if they choose.

Where it might make more sense to send me a PM is when, for example, your question or concern might embarrass or offend another member. In that case, by all means send me a PM. Or maybe you just want to direct my attention to some trivial mistake I've made somewhere on the site; perhaps a typo or other error in a jukebox, guide, or menu, for example. That might be another good reason to send me a PM as there's no benefit to other members in posting it publicly.

So, before sending me a PM, I'd ask everyone to consider whether the discussion might benefit other members or visitors. If the answer is yes, then please post your question or concern publicly in the appropriate forum. If the answer is no or you're not sure what the answer is, then send me a PM. I'll either try to answer it (if it's reasonably brief) or ask you to post it in the forum if I think others might benefit.

[Hilary]

I was thinking of making a comment on the previous thread about this but 64G makes a great point - no-one here ever makes anyone feel uncomfortable about asking a question (no matter how obvious it might seem to the experienced) and they always give their time to answer no-matter how tedious it must be for them and regardless of how many times they might have previously answered the question or similar questions. I'm using general terms as this applies to the Songcrafter site but in particular to 64G. So thanks, it's a great ethos and you lead by example.

[phantasm777]

that is exactly why I asked this question, when I tried to get answers in the other topic, I never got any direct answers from anyone, many just wanted to praise you and the site as if I were trying to put it down, which I wasn't, I thought I was very civil. and that was just sidetracking my concerns, which never got a direct answer, and started to make the topic be a  us vs them when it shouldn't have been.

I have plenty to say in the other topic in reply but why keep asking the same things over and over and get no direct help but unintentionally make people seemingly take sides instead of answering a legit question. that is exactly what I hoped to avoid. when you are talking about a couple issues seriously and ask a question no one bothers to tackle, and you get people going off on how good the site is when it has nothing to do with that, it kinda makes you look like the bad guy! so be it, even if it isn't true.

so yes I was uncomfortable posting my questions or issues in that topic, and made so when some would go to the defense of the site as basic replies rather than honestly commenting on what the subjects were. especially since I for one was not attacking the site or its members, nor admin in any way! I was just adamant in getting some direct replies and had to intentionally repeat myself and to no avail.

that is why I asked if it would be better to msg, rather than have some not get where I am coming from and making it an us vs them as if I were attacking the site, in no shape or form was that ever my goal. if it was, I wouldn't be staying around to see the replies.

seems to me if my our concerns on the other topic were directly addressed there might have been some resolve, or at least agree to disagree, but oh well! seems to me taking it public did not work at least this time!

so apparently only if you have an issue with someone on the site, is when you can be contacted, I will keep that in mind.