Scratch

JSO wrote:

This has been discussed on the forums several times, and I am sure it would be useful in some cases. But, with all messages public, anyone can read posts. So, when someone posts an inappropriate message, it can be flagged. With private, people can send harmfull messages without anyone seeing it...

That is true, but I think it's a good idea, to stop that, make a filter system that checks the messages, if they're harmful, it could not send them, if not, send it on it's way, that way no harmful messages could get through. Kinda like a metal dectector or something like that at an airport or train station. 

You can easily avoid those filters using s p a c e s , d.o.t.s Num83rs etc... So a filter is not that good idea.

Is it possible to change your mind? If it is, here's the arguement:

If we have a filtering for both the user and the webpage. For example, Scratch can have a filter that will get rid of swearing. And I can have a private filter that automatically deletes messages with over 2 hyperlinks or messages with the word "mortagage" (spam).

Also, I seriously believe that PM will greatly enhance Scratch experience for educators and kids. To back up my statement, I have another example. If a teacher posts a physics test project on the web and if you pass the quiz, the project emits a passcode. Now the teacher wants every student in the class to submit their passcode, but if they just post it on the project, everyone can see! Even if the teacher is a fast clicker, it will be impossible to delete all the messages before someone sees them. PM will be perfect.
It will also be useful for people like me. (For the excellent reasons and discussions above.)
Also, many people are concerned with saftey. Even though I will not really be spooked by a PM, I cannot be selfish and ignore the wellbeing of others. So, you can simply add a checkbox that says: No private messages for me, only PM from friends, and accept all PM. Besides these three choices, there should be a user blacklist that blocks people when you "mark as spam".
Thus I conclude my short persuasion with the statement that PM are indeed safe if filtered properly and will be very entertaining for people, which will, in the end, make Scratch a better experience.
Thank you for reading the whole thing and HAPPY SCRATCHING!!!

Rukqo summed up my point nicely on who can message you. If you have people sending you inappropriate messages, simply add them {like many mmorpg's} to your ignore list. Then they cannot PM you. Flag the user and that user can be checked to see if they frequently do this. This would provide the same if not better security of the forums, and they are still here!


Uses, no doubt companys like the successful Crank Inc would find PMing extremely useful. It allows people to work together, one of the key ellements of scratch I thought, whilst cutting down on spamming and copying. I fail to see how you cannot see the uses of PMing.

Last edited by messd002 (2008-03-01 06:34:01)

this is a great idea!

seriouslly fix your bunny its...had better days.