How about a feature of Direct Message?

I welcome this new feature. Would love to get this introduced in IB. Just one concern, will that make indiBlogger just another social networking platform. I agree that, the basic purpose of IB will still remain the same. Willn't that motivate interaction among the bloggers on indiBlogger rather than our Blogs?

If I see pros, then I do see some cons too! Just my opinion - Other bloggers can add their views!

There is noting like one to one message that shows a gap.  When bloggers want to create a network of equal minded people then a short message will do miracle in fostering friendship and closeness.  When i read and subscribe to the views of a bloggers i should like to have a one to one message with a blogger. When we are connected here for friendship we will have to choose Orkut, Facebook or Myspace for friendship, this is really absurd. 

Of course there is chances of pros and cons but there are certain features of pirvacy that can be introduced to check spams and unnecessary messages.  There are feature like Report or Block in other networking sites.  In Orkut if one sets then non other than friend can send a scrap.  if such a feature is introduced here then other tweaking can be done by and by to make messaging healthy and not bothering. 

Thanks

I agree.

Even a simple - send the message from A->B as an email to B should be sufficient to start with.

Noted  - keep the suggestions coming in. Looks like the "my network" feature is due for a major upgrade now!

@Renie really a major head ache for you, isn't it?  LOl. Bust rest assured will b a sweet headache.  @Ds You are right a simple send a message or mail to someone will do. 

Thanks.

Come on friends.  Do contribute freely your views both for and against so that Renie can take note and change accordingly. 

Thanks

Renie, in the past also we have had this discussion. That idea was turn down coz we are not a social networking site. But with all new members also in, we should think of change. I am not in for scraps or walls or ims. A direct send mail will just work.

Topic sticky!

Am not sure about a direct send mail option - personally I would not want messages from a social site in my mailbox. I like the way Linkedin has reminders every once in a while letting me know that I have unread message.

How about am IndiBlogger inbox? Something like Flickr Emails?

I'm also thinking that we first need to intoduce the other feature we discussed - where IndiBloggers come under different "levels" based on their IndiBlogger participation. I think we called it IndiPoints? Once a blogger reaches a "Guru" or "Master" level they can send messages to other bloggers... of course, a blogger can always reply to a message they have recieved. But a new email conversation cannot be started if the trust level is low.

What say? I'm only thinking along these lines cause things like spam and shameless self promotion should never become a part of IndiBlogger. I avoid Orkut for this same reason!

I recently started posting in the forum and I am not sure when the interest will wane. I’ve seen on other sites that once you start posting in the forum and then if you quit they deluge you with spam messages like “we are missing you”. Good to know that Indiblogger is resolute to not tread that beaten path.

On the topic itself, I think only a direct message option should be enough. I am not in favor of “master’ “guru” levels coz that would propel some of us to post irrelevant messages only for obtaining a coveted tag like ‘guru’. I am all for “egalitarianism” and personally do not approve of such classifications as those can overwhelm a beginner but if increasing the forum posts is the related idea behind those tags then.. fine. If we frequent this place few times we come to know on our own who are the active forum members and then there is already a featured-frame on the main site.

Renie, I liked the idea about ranking as Master or Guru. If we are changing the name of IndiRank to IndiScore, then we can use IndiRank for these ranks. A newbie cannot send mails and that will encourage more participation to attain that status. I am not sure on how do we judge the ranks, if you can share the methodology?

Also, if all the mails go to an IndiBlogger inbox, that would just be superb.

Very good idea Renie.  But it is not easy to categorise all bloggers as Guru or Master.  In other sites like Blogcatalog, mybloglog there is a feature to send messages.  Of course, there is chances of Spam.  And again we cannot stop spamming too.  In blogcatalog there is features like Block, Spam.  When someone pressess Spam then the message is taken into view and if found spam or something objectionable the profile is blacklisted.  Of course in Blogcatalog there is also a feature to give a blog rank. 

Here the ranking feature you talk of is something new and unless the criterias of categorisation is known, it cannot be said now.  I know something is breqing in your learned mind.   A direct message will certainly foster easy and close networking, i think.  if i want to praise or suggest something to a blogger at present there is no such mechanism here though the same thing is available in other sites.   In orkut the scrap can be set to private and unless one is friend one cannot send a scrap.  this feature can be tried here as well. 

I have seen a majority of blogs without having any contact details and it is not advisable to send a message using the comment feature that is available to the post proper.  many blogs lack a Contact Us Tab.   Anyway, this is my view as i have got closer contact with my friends in other sites.  I even chat with them frequently.  When a blogger is open to reveal his or her mail id to facilitate chatting then there is no justification, I think to deny a DM feature here. 

Further, a chatting feature can also be introduced as in Ning, Facebook, orkut, Ibibo and others.  

I was away from my computer but following all from my cell.  thanks all for sharing your learned views as your views i think will go a long way in fine tuning and upgrading this site.  The forum here is good and clean as some good people are out here. 

thanks

Lots of Ideas pouring in...

Personally I like the "send a mail" kinda thingy which (I hope) is similar to Messages/Inbox in Orkut/Facebook. This system has a few advantages over the scraps/blurbs/wall kind of messaging system;

1. Scraps/Blurbs are short and very-very easy to send though this increases ease of use, it also increases the possibility of spam. A proper "Messaging System" where you need to first access an inbox then click "compose" and type a message makes sure that you don't waste all that effort in writing just stupid spam!!!

2.A proper inbox/account ensures that the person visits IB regularly to check his/her account thereby increasing traffic.

However the "Master/Guru" idea kinda freaks me out, I mean not everyone is a frequent blogger or frequent net user (that does not reduce his importance as an essential member of IB) in such a case he may not get many "points" or a good "rank" which in turn will deprive him of the messaging privileges and dissuade him from using IB or worse such people may start spamming the Forum with their personal messages!!!

All in all a simple Send A Message feature will make IB a more wholesome and dynamic environment for all bloggers!!!

follow the blogcatalog model..short shouts or something...:)

We've started working on this!

I think this feature will also help you the Indi Blogger webmasters to communicate with the users better like in the case when a 'reported' topic is removed-the user can be informed immediately that his topic had to be removed due to so and so reason.

"What happens when I report this topic???" link to the thread

http://www.indiblogger.in/forum/topic.php?action=replied&p=21126&id=3227

IndiMail is a few days away from going live.

Also, the "My Network" feature has been upgraded. To send a private message to another blogger, both bloggers need to be in each other's network.

We'll also integrate the same with the profile pages - so it's easy to quickly send someone a personal message.

As a bonus,  an all new dashboard is coming soon to monitor all your IndiBlogger activities. All this should be rolled out over the weekend. (Fingers crossed)

A big thank you to everyone on this forum!

Renie,

Hats Off to your dedication! Your consistent efforts have kept this place interesting! Kudos to Sudama and all those who contributed with their valuable thoughts for this new feature!

Best Regards,

Neeraj

http://shindeneeraj.blogspot.com

Hey

Is this feature live?

IndiMail has been launched - thanks a ton, everybody! Am going to put up a blog post and sticky topic now.

Update: Here's the blog post.