</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
_Sky said:
Hmmm I think that borders on feelings of paranoia? I have often come on site and read a thread and found something all on my own, with no PMs (which I pick up first.) I have been notified of a thread in a PM, sure... but even that doesn't automatically evoke a response. I think there are just as many PMs that say, will you look at that thread, am I reading them right? Am I overreacting???

I don't know, what else do you want members to use the PM capability for? If they want an offsite friendship, they can email. hmmmmmm

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I am not quite sure what in my post you feel "borders on feelings of paranoia"? But anyway........

To me, PMs seem to be as much trouble as they are worth at times. When someone PMs you to "look at a thread" even though it may not be a subject that you would initially be interested in, and asks for your reaction to a response they received, generally you bring both of your "historys" to that interpretation. Sometimes, because of that history (good and bad), either with the poster or responder it influences your interpretation.......human nature I guess.

I just wish each thread and a specific posters response to that "specific thread" could stand on it's own merits.

But, I do think LMo's response would be best:
"And in my 3+ years here, I've found that when I'm being attacked, the best response is a short "I'll take that under consideration" and leave it at that. Anything else is perceived as defensive and makes me looks WORSE than if I were to just let it go.

I think that people are less likely to continue attacking if they feel that their opinions have been heard. "

It will be hard to put into practice 100% of the time, but I am going to try! Maybe everyone could try too??

Again JMHO