Unable to send private message

[FlutterbyCZ]

Hi,

  I have tried since Sunday to send a private message to my friend.  I keep getting an error message something along the lines of request denied" or that I need to log in again.

 I didn't type a super long email, so I know I should not need to re-login again. 

Please help,

Christine

[Cynthia Mosher]

Hi there! 

We have restrictions on Private Messages. You must be a member for at least 14 days and have a least 10 posts before you can send a PM. Looks liken you only have a couple more posts to make to meet the requirement. 

[astromum]

2 weeks? Long wait! I was wondering why I kept getting an error message... Also, I've been posting just fine, but suddenly got  a message when I tried to write something saying "you're new here, so you have to wait for your post to be reviewed before posting." is that normal, or just a blip? thanks!

[Cynthia Mosher]

Questions and Suggestions is a moderated forum, which is why you got that message. It applies to every post, no matter how long you've been a member. 

I know two weeks is a long wait but we have had some abuse of the PM system and this was the easiest way to address it. I'll see if we can reduce it to ten days. :)

[Cynthia Mosher]

My mistake. We switched it to 7 days about a month ago. Have you tried sending a PM recently? I think you registered over a week ago, right?

[astromum]

It was in a different forum, actually, over in Natural Family Living. I've been registered for 6 days, so I guess tomorrow I'll be able to send messages. Thanks for your help.

[Cynthia Mosher]

Our spam filter will often flag new member posts that contain links to websites or products. I'm guessing this is the case. I'll check...

[Cynthia Mosher]

You have two posts to this thread: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1360492/downsized-mostly-great-but-what-i-miss/0_100#post_17076713 that are being held for moderation  by the spam filter because there are Amazon links in them. I checked the links and there seems to be an affiliate code in the URL. It may or may not be your affiliate link. Either way, we don't permit affiliate linking in discussions.  I'll remove that and place the generic link for the product and approve your post. 

[astromum]

Oooh, okay, mystery solved! Yeah I was trying to describe a product to someone and didn't feel like I did a very good job so wanted to put in a photo, lol. I don't know what affiliate linking is, but I'll just keep amazon links out of my posts. Thanks again! :)

[Cynthia Mosher]

No problem. :)

[Mensch00]

I want to pipe in and say that this is an odd requirement. I joined mothering.com and immediately participated in a thread.  In response to what I wrote I have received several private emails and I cannot write back to these people because I don't have authorization.  Now I will have to post several random messages (like this one), which are not necessary ... in order to accumulate enough posts in order to reply to the people who wrote to me privately. 

And meanwhile the people will believe that I'm deciding not to reply to themt. This situation does not seem like it fulfills your objective.

[Cynthia Mosher]

We should block messages from members to new members I suppose. Thanks for pointing that out. 

[guenhwyvar]

Does this include PMs to Mothering?  I created a new account a week or so ago because I couldn't access my old one.  When my new account was activated, I got a welcome message from Mothering.  I tried to reply to that message, asking for help figuring out what became of my old account.  Was it deleted due to inactivity?  Even if I'd logged in within the last year?  But I wasn't allowed to send the message.  There didn't seem to be any way to contact anyone.  I tried posting the same question here, but that post was held for moderation and still hasn't shown up.  I'm feeling frustrated, especially as I've been a (admittedly sporadic) member of the Mothering community for years.  

And one non-related question:  Under my profile there is the message "The rest of your profile will become visible after you've been active in the forums" .... But I have been active in the forums.  At least, I've been posting (though several posts seem to be waiting moderation and still aren't showing up).  So, if posting does not constitute "active", what does?

I'm feeling confused and a bit frustrated.  Any help, advice or insight would be greatly appreciated! :-)

Edited by guenhwyvar - 9/6/12 at 10:59am

[guen]

Never mind the above post from guenhwyvar!  I've recovered my old account now. :-)