[Decentlady]

This is becoming a bit odd. Few weeks back I received a private message on the TFW dashboard from some new user asking me to guide how to go about getting started. I did my best to guide and it got over.

Today again, I received a similar message by another new user asking for the same guidance. How do people find me or my id and why should they ask me for guidance when there is the whole forum and guidelines. I am not a moderator either nor an Admin.

Can someone help me make sense of this situation?

[suny]

That should not be a disturbing factor because we all get such messages due to complication at the starting point. I have seen people posting more than 100 posts at gateway and when they get nothing seek help of other members. There is nothing wrong in that and PM is common facility available to all members.

[Lexi]

I got one too, and I see it as spam. I get quite a few spam messages and ignore them all.

[Decentlady]

I see. Thank you for the feedback. I wasnot sure that users could get each other's ids so easily. May be it's just me who doesn't know how to message someone else on TFW.

[moondebi]

So far I've not get any such message. However, this could be a kind of spam. But since you've got the message from two different users so these could be genuine as well. Anyway you can report it to community and I guess admin will come up with an answer. So far all my queries has been answered within 24 hours.

[blair]

This post made me visit the site after a long hiatus. I was surprised to see there are new forums now and some of them I used to see on Postloop. Now, regarding the personal messages, I never receive any. Maybe these are members who are indeed needing some help.

[Lexi]

Yes, but the polite thing is to do that on the support forum and not ask random strangers for help. This particular person had such poor grammar, basically I think they needed help in trying to write posts in order to even get accepted.

[Decentlady]

I had the first person from Pakistan and the second stranger from Nigeria and both sounded geniune.

[Sam]

Perhaps this would be an excellent opportunity to write an article or guide on getting started on theforumwheel here on FC. Then, if you receive more PMs, you can refer them to the guide.

[suny]

I see. Thank you for the feedback. I wasnot sure that users could get each other's ids so easily. May be it's just me who doesn't know how to message someone else on TFW.

They don't get your ID but forums have a feature PM. You can send a PM to anyone but that does not disclose your ID. It's same here on Forumcoin.

[nakitakona]

How long have been a member in TFW? If you have been new to the site, it is no wonder why you are asking that someone has sent you message on the basic function of TFW. Have you not noticed that you avatar, the tiger head is the same avatar used by TFW admin, Kenbrace. They thought that you and TFW admin are one. In fact, I even suspected you that you are Kenbrace because of such avatar you are using. But I never dare to ask you for that.

[SushiForLife]

How long have been a member in TFW? If you have been new to the site, it is no wonder why you are asking that someone has sent you message on the basic function of TFW. Have you not noticed that you avatar, the tiger head is the same avatar used by TFW admin, Kenbrace. They thought that you and TFW admin are one. In fact, I even suspected you that you are Kenbrace because of such avatar you are using. But I never dare to ask you for that.

...That's actually very insightful. So far my best guess on Decentlady's problem was that people found a bunch of users in these forums who made 10 posts of some quality but no more (therefore they either quit or they passed) and spammed them all for instructions or insider tips.

[chikitta]

I don't think you should get kisses or worried about people asking you for guidance it could be a new opening for you for something bigger so do it in good faith not unless you get the same messages over and over again then you can start worrying.

[FuZyOn]

I guess people are perceiving you as a veteran, it's pretty common for newbies to ask for help from established members.

[Decentlady]

I appreciate your insight, thank you all. Yeah, it could be that my avatar did have something to do with this but that would probably make someone likely to address me as an Admin or at least inquire about it. Since neither happened I doubt that, that was the case. However, it is still a possibility.

@nakitona I must look a fierce tigress but no I am NOT Kenbrace

I am not new to the site and do NOT mind guiding anyone and I did that in both the occassion but just wanted to cross check if that was the pattern with others too. So was not looking for kisses nor was worried.

Thanks @Sam at such a constructive idea but I really am not good enough to be the "Ambassador" for TFW walkthrough. As you might get the picture from this thread that there are many other knowledgable and experienced people who could do a much better job of writing the guideline. I appreciate your thought though.

[thisnthat]

I had the first person from Pakistan and the second stranger from Nigeria and both sounded geniune.

Maybe they've seen you posting here or elsewhere and thought you were nice, so they figured you would be a good person to ask for help. Your name is the same there, so that could be it.

Good idea, Sam.

[tpicks]

See it as a good opportunity to serve others so long it's genuine request. On the other if you can't or you don't have the time direct them to the community or the admin