Quite recently one of our members contacted me via pm asking for advice because they are being pretty much pestered via pm for requests for help with computer issues and didn't know how to put a stop to it without being rude or causing distress.
This isn't a very nice situation for any member to be in, and with that in mind would all you guys please take note of the following, which I'll hopefully be incorporating into the forum rules shortly.
All members please note that the pm (private messaging) system isn't to be used for requests for help with computer issues.
All requests for help must be posted in a topic on the forum where the poster will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of all members, and many others will benefit from the answers and solutions provided.
If any member (which includes moderators) wants to volunteer aid by pm after a topic has first been opened, then that's up to him or her and is perfectly acceptable.
Using the pm system as an alternative to opening a topic where everyone may benefit, isn't the correct or fair way to use that system, and could put members into the uncomfortable position of having to refuse requests for help, or worse still, being unable to refuse.
If any member is in that position, and still doesn't know what to do, then please pm one of the moderators, and they will sort it out in as friendly a way as possible.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
It's common sense really to share the pool of knowledge on here for everyones benefit, and this will spell that out for anyone who doesn't see that.