Forum:Pm In Biostar

Question

[Emily]

Hello all. I got this personal message last night from rohan. Did anybody else get the same message? It looks like it was sent out in bulk as it refers to me as "Sir".

Rohan, firstly don't send these as personal messages, post them publicly like everybody else. Secondly, if you're going bulk send PMs, at least try to make it look like you're addressing them directly - I'm not "Sir", I'm a woman (as you can see in my picture) and we're not on Battlestar Galactica, and I have a name (as you can see in my pseudonym).

5 hours ago PM from rohan: Hello Sir, How are you doing? I want a bit of guidance from you,since you have huge experience in Bioinformatics. I did my MS in Bioinformatics from NYU(2011),currently working at Columbia Med as Bioinformatics Analyst. I am looking to apply for another Masters program next year,but thinking of Data Science vs Computer Science.What will you recommend, considering the future of Bioinformatics? Keeping in mind Big Data, and how important Programming as well as Algorithms (from CS) and even deeper knowledge of Programming, which Science Course would sound better? In Data Science Programs, definitely there will be Algorithms course,as well as some Object oriented Programming in Java, along with Stats,machine Learning,Data mining etc,but would that be enough of Computer Science knowledge or CS degree with some data science courses would be beneficial? Let me know your thoughts on this.Since I want to have a good amount of Machine learning as well as CS background. Thanks, Rohan

[Pierre Lindenbaum]

I received the same very same DM yesterday. I usually don't answer (+1 what Neil said below)

[Emily]

At least you're "Sir".

[onuralp]

Maybe he has not seen the final season yet! :)

[Istvan Albert]

I go that too, looks like someone is using the PM for mass contacting - I wonder if they scripted it or just click and paste.

[Emily]

If they scripted, +1 for ingenuity, but -∞ for all the people who'll be getting this message.

[Istvan Albert]

A note: PM (private messages) have not yet been reimplemented. It is one of those features that I've used very rarely.

We can put them back if there is strong support for it, but we need to account for the fact that every feature is also a drag on a system, more things can go bad. more features need to be supported etc.

Answer 1

[Neilfws]

Yes, this is not appropriate at all. Reminder to all new users: please be considerate, use basic standards of online etiquette and put a little effort into figuring out how this site works and how users interact. Just reading some posts and responses will give you an impression.

As a side issue; I'm not keen on PMs, largely because they get lost amongst the regular comments and I can't figure out how/if they can be viewed/managed separately?

[Istvan Albert]

PM's were added because there was a strong support from users, and there is a value in occasionally sending someone a note or a message that is not for public view. But it is true that it has not really been developed that much, and I think the number of PMs sent is very low. I get one once a month at most.

I can have it highlighted in a different color in the new release, perhaps that would help.

[Chris Miller]

Seems like maybe an option to receive an email when you get a new PM would be useful.

[Istvan Albert]

Here is how the new Biostar (in beta now) messaging system works.

There is a user profile setting, that can be set to either 'email' or 'local notification'. All messages go to that destination.

In addition one can "follow" (and unfollow) any post at either of these settings, with that one can fine tune what type of messages they get to which destination.

[Emily]

Yes, it took me a while to work it what it was. I don't think I've had a PM on here before.

[Michael]

I think the pm feature is possibly one of those that should have minimum reputation requirement, in addition to creating new tags.