I removed the private messaging function

Wastelandlive says on Feb 28, 2006, 13:03:

Peter... Wow. What a bummer dude.

Several folks have given me contacts and advice regarding real estate buying in Colombia... the names of agents, lawyers.

I had those saved in my mailbox for reference. Are they gone forever?

Wasteland

southernman says on Feb 28, 2006, 13:23:

Private Messaging I truly understand that you had to stop the private messaging, and this is your forum, so you can do whatever you like, but it really would have been the kind thing to let everyone know you will be stopping that function, so people can get the emails, and or address. No one knew that this aspect would stop, but it would have been the noble thing to allow persons to move information that they want to move for their personal use.
Not trying to be rude ugly, I appreciate being let on this forum to use, but I have to speak my mind too.

fugdis says on Feb 28, 2006, 16:20:

PM`s peter i had info and numbers saved in my mailbox.like wasteland says is it gone for good?

Lucia Rojas says on Feb 28, 2006, 16:49:

Me too.. I had info there...Plus I never had any problems with my messages. Thats sad.. is everything lost for good?
Colombiano X is going to have to come out from the PM world.

juanalejo says on Feb 28, 2006, 17:22:

SAD Sad, it was the only way of getting information across without having to deal with the usual looooong threads that lead to no where.

Atrevido says on Feb 28, 2006, 17:43:

That's all right Peter, you've done a great job on this site over the years. People could put their e-mail on an image in the image gallery if they want to communicate privately.

adela says on Feb 28, 2006, 18:42:

I hope the mails stored here are saved in some part. Aren't? If not...well, nothing is that bad, except when the site is down.

CaliCalor

webmanco says on Feb 28, 2006, 18:43:

I didn´t have Spam

I wonder how many posters did get spam.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Monpirri says on Feb 28, 2006, 20:20:

Not to worry hi-tech PM would prevail Peter understands how important the private message function is for the Poorbuthappy members.
I am confident that he is going to resolve it very soon.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

utopiacowboy says on Feb 28, 2006, 21:37:

The PM feature was completely worthless and just gave people an opportunity to say things they didn't have the guts to say publicly. I'd have to say 98% of it was hate mail and I didn't read any of it! Just delete, delete, delete....

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

sweetcalena says on Feb 28, 2006, 21:37:

:( That's very sad!!! that means all my PMs are gone, hope you guys can solve the problem soon.

“Sit down to write what you have thought, and not to think about what you shall write.�William Cobbett

Lionheart says on Feb 28, 2006, 22:15:

I requested to turn it on ... ... until we find a solution. We moderators need the PM communication. If you get too much spam, you can turn PMs off.

tomtom33 says on Mar 1, 2006, 05:18:

UC I have never had any hate mail. Of course I'm not nearly as active as you are. And it does take people a while to figure out your warped sense of humor.

Just think of that fun night you had with Silvie. You couldn't have done that had you not been able to turn on your PM.

My contact info is tomtom33 at gmail.com

kernow62 says on Mar 1, 2006, 06:18:

I wonder why UTC got so much hate mail? I think I received one rude PM the whole time I was actively participating in the forum... and it wasn't exactly hate mail.

I found the feature extremely useful and if I didn't I could just turn it off. UTC you could have done the same thing. ... Or are you just saying things to be contrary?

anonimo says on Mar 1, 2006, 06:35:

It is very disappointing that the PM feature would be turned off without warning, or giving us a chance to save info from messages that were stored in the inbox.

If people did not want to use the messaging, was is not possible for members to select their own oprions about to disable messaging & email, etc?

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 07:23:

A few points I think it's a good thing Peter eliminated the PM function. There clearly was the danger of abuse. I am sure it was done for security and safety purposes. Certainly once can recognizwe the dangers such a function poses if it is used in excess. Just a joke!! :)

Well, maybe Peter should have notified us. Maybe he could not have done so. Like others have said here a gazillion times, it's his forum. At the same time, I think I am a decent judge of people and i have to believe Peter had a legitimate reason for doing so. Remember everyone, he is incurring the cost to keep this site up, and we reap the benefit from it. That being the case, we have NO standing to complain. Friendly suggestions are always acceptable however.

I think it is a shame it's gone. For one thing, the PM function has been valuable to me. One of the functions it serves is to allow people to communicate off the threads and bring resolution to differences that start on the threads. I think many people have been able to clarify their points or view, and communicate on a more personal level which then allows them to speak with a greater degree of civility in a public forum. It's not as though people will not be able to email each other, but it now would require people to post their addresses for all to see. For me that is not a problem. I already have an email account dedicated to the people I have met on this site. Remeber, email if free so....you can have as many accounts as you want. For those who wish to communicate with me by email, you can find me at:

Gomezman5 at hotmail.com

I think Lucia Rojas made the best comment above:

"Colombiano X is going to have to come out from the PM world."

I agree. And who knows, maybe that is why Peter turned off the PM. I have a lot of respect for this person, even if we did not always agree. At the same time, after his departure, threads and posts "out of the blue" were posted, often appearing in a form as if he was deceased (God Forbid). Then, he just started PM everbody. In fact, he only recently started PMing me. But there are several others who have said they have heard from him in both a positive and negative way. I have not responded to his PMs. My feeling is if he want to participate and make comments about what people set forth here, than they need to do it directly. PM has its place, but it should not be used in the manner he has used it.

Besides, I think all (most) would agree, Cx added a lot to this site, and I appreciated all the comments and special posts he would make. He even knew how to make me more open minded regarding security. He never hurled insults at me...

OK just my comments

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 09:17:

Peter Hi Peter,
I request that you restore back the PM functionality because private messages are one of the most important features that Poorbuthappy has. We are able to communicate almost in real time via the PM, we are able to create a network of friends who love Colombia.
The PM feature allows us to participate in professional discussions, in business, tourism, travel, cooking, music, etc. etc.
I am 100% sure that the problem has been caused by three people, and by one who claims to be Colombian and his friend who always cites examples of another country that is not Colombia. The third person is a female who reflects a hysterical personality, she always complaints about the PM that someone sends to her.
All 3 personalities have posted their opinions above.

If you wish please send me the problem log and I will contact a team of engineers to fix it for you ASAP and for your Poorbuthappy family.

Respectfully,
Monpirri

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 09:45:

Hey Monirri...are you insulting Peter? It sure sounds like you are. Why don't you give Peter a bit more credit than you are giving him? Do you really think that Peter would eliminate the PM function because of three people? Of all the silly reasons that one could contrive, that has to be the most one of all. How many members do you think PBH has. I'm not talking about regular posters....I'm speaking of members in general? And you think Peter would eliminate the function because of three people?

You seriously better rethink that assertion, because you are calling Peter a liar and a fool all in the same line.

First, Peter stated why he is eliminating the PM function. "Ongoing Problems." There is your reason. (perhaps you missed that) Are you doubting his word? In fact, to further prove you wrong, he wrote that when the software is changed in the future, he contemplates bringing the PM function back.

Second, why would you accuse Peter of using the excuse of three people as a reason to eliminate it altogether? You also seem to be implying that he is being foolish.Because to do so, would be foolish.As I said above, and I will now say it again (but I'll add one time) It has been said here a Gazillion and one times, that Peter owns this site. He decides who stays,and who goes. He can't decide who decides by fire and who dies by sword, but he can determine the destiny of anyone as it relates to PBH. That said, don't you think that if he thought that three people were the cause of all the PM functions, he would just banish these people to another dimension...any dimension other than PBH? HUH? Am I making sense? You think Peter would eliminate the entire PM system because of three (3) people? Yea sure. You don't think that Peter had/has the common sense to recognize that threads like this would go on and on, asking for the PM function to return. Hell, there was even one guy up here already that acutually had the chutzpah to scold Peter for doing so. Observe:

"but it would have been the noble thing to allow persons to move information that they want to move for their personal use."
Southernman

OK, so that is what you think of Peter Monpirri. Hey, I'm just telling you how any rational and logical person would interpret your post.

From
"A person that claims to be Colombian"

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 09:50:

No G5 I would never insult Peter, he is the greatess person I have ever met!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 09:55:

G5 I must say,it was a good try and good tactic, to deviate the content of my message towards Peter.
The problem is you and the other two individuals!!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 10:05:

"The problem is you and the other two individuals!!" Of course...the problem is me!! Of with my head!!

How dare I come to this board and state or imply anything negative about the great Republica de Colombiana? Matame, por favor.

Colombiche says on Mar 1, 2006, 10:14:

gomezman I think your parrot found out what your login and password was and he is now posting under your handle...... pilas!!! he he he, just kidding (wink wink).

If Peter decides to do away with PM's that is his prerogative, it's his site. However, I would kindly ask him if he can at least restore it for a few hours so I can get all my info out of there, I had a bunch of email addresses and I kept in touch with people who are no longer posting. I would really hate to never hear from them again.

On the other hand, I am going to open up an email account to replace the PM...


Saludos

Colombiche

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 10:28:

Good Morning Colombiche My parrot would probably do something like that. He is really pissed at me for clipping his wings again. I try to hold off as long as I possible can, but.....when it's time, it's time. And he never very cooperative about the whole thing. His displeasure shows for a while. But sooner or later he realizes that I'm the hand that feeds him so....things start to become more clear.

Anyway..my Email is Gomezman5 at hotmail.com
(This is my email account dedicated to my PBH friends and foes alike)


Now, everyone can fill my email box with the type of hate mail that I normally receive when I express my less than patriotic sentiments.

One thing I will always say about you Colombiche, we may not always agree, but your arguments are cogent and logical, and you never get personal and insulting like a majority of the characters here. The funny part about it all is that it is mostly the Gringos, who run off to Colombia to fulfill "certain carnal desires" that get most angry with me. It was almost as if there were no more Colombia, there would not be any other place in the world for them to fulfill this particular need..........

Anyway Colombiche, have a good day!

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 10:33:

The importance of PM I just made an error about the third person, I said she has posted here a complaint about the PM.
I was going to send her a PM to apologize for the gross error and to let her know that she is NOT the person that I meant! However, I cannot do it now because the PM is not available.
I guess I am going to have to wait until she reads this post and hopefully she would understand my error and she won't get into an unnecessary debate.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 10:44:

No G5 it's not a gringo problem Now you are trying hard to polarize the matter, and now you are trying to launch anti-American sentiment on this site.
The problem is NOT the gringos on this particular case, but the problem is with the anti-Colombians on PBH.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Colombiche says on Mar 1, 2006, 11:37:

PBH Email To replace my PM function, I hope those people who I kept in touch with will contact me there:

colombiche2006 at yahoo.com

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 11:40:

No monpirri....not really There isn't much of a problem at all. I just like "yanking your chain"
Flush, Flush.....

Colombiche says on Mar 1, 2006, 11:45:

Monpirri Who is the lady you are apologizing to?

I hope it's not me, I never got any hate PM's (except from the trolls).

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

utopiacowboy says on Mar 1, 2006, 12:20:

I'm not pulling anyone's leg. Occasionally I would turn on PM if Kat asked me so she could send me something. During those brief intervals I would also receive flaming PMs from individuals that I will not name. And Monpirri, how could I be anti-Colombian when I'm married to a Colombian with three Colombian step children????? On a daily basis I think I have more interactions with Colombians than anyone who posts here and does not live in Colombia.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Wastelandlive says on Mar 1, 2006, 13:14:

No word from Peter, eh? He must have a real life, as opposed to the rest of us.

Speaking of real lives... I don't really get the idea behind private hate-mails. I mean a good public flame war is always entertaining... kind of a performance art even.

But a hate mail? Who's got the time?

Wierd.

Wasteland

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 13:18:

Gomezman5, Colombiche and Utopiacowboy Gomezman5, I just thought that you were trying to bring up a group together to attack American citizens on this subject because you posted this, "The funny part about it all is that it is mostly the Gringos, who run off to Colombia to fulfill "certain carnal desires"
But I guess you just were "yanking your chain" Flush, Flush....." or pulling my leg.
Colombiche, I do not think you posted here at the beginning when I made my first comment, the description above does not match your profile and the woman is not you.

Utopiacowboy, I believe you know what do I mean. You just like to give a lot of positive and free advertising to other country and usually undermine the status of Colombia or Colombians. Just check your threads. You are not the big fish.
I do not plan to continue to post on this subject because that it is not my goal here; I am trying to see if Peter honors my request to repair the PM.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Gomezman5 says on Mar 1, 2006, 13:42:

Monpirri and UC Monpirri, since I am one of those people that "claims to be Colombian" and I am really not, I guess I fall into the category of people with those carnal desires too. So I'm just busy yanking everyone's chain today. Hey, its better than yanking something else...or is it????

And UC

As far as I'm concerned, you can be the "Big Fish" anytime you want to. Just make sure that you're not around when Monpirri and I are yanking that chain, because I don't want to see you go down stream.

Monpirri says on Mar 1, 2006, 13:52:

Gomezman5 Stop the blah, blah, blah, please
I would like Peter to check this out, there is something more important here the PM!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

platano says on Mar 1, 2006, 21:59:

I never received spam... My two centsplátano

plátano

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 2, 2006, 11:36:

I did receive spams, it was driving me crazy.

engage brain before opening mouth

morphus says on Mar 2, 2006, 13:30:

The only spam I received was to join other Colombia message boards. Thats nothing to get alarmed over. Unless of couse the mods are afraid of losing members. I checked out the other boards and they are all dead. PBH will never have to worry about any competition.

Peter (Moderator) says on Mar 2, 2006, 13:38:

My apologies I was too hasty in this. I have re-activated the function, and I will leave it on until Sunday. On Sunday I will turn it off again.

The reason is that the function is sending unwanted emails and causing people to report poorbuthappy as a spammer to AOL and others. This was bringing my hosting contract in danger. I don't want poorbuthappy to be listed as a spammer domain, so I turned it off. Once your domain gets listed as a spammer, it's very hard to get off that list, even if it's not true.

But I should not have been so fast. So again, it is on until Sunday, then it goes of until I can upgrade the sofware..

So again, sorry about being so fast with turning this off. I will be more careful next time.

Poor but snappy

Peter (Moderator) says on Mar 2, 2006, 13:40:

And it will come back And to be clear: I plan to bring it back in the future, or a similar function. The only thing is, it can't have bugs so people get spammed. So this will have to wait until we upgrade the forum software (in a few months hopefully).

Poor but snappy

Lucia Rojas says on Mar 2, 2006, 15:29:

Thank you Peter. It is very appreciated... :):)

Gomezman5 says on Mar 2, 2006, 17:35:

Thanks Peter....but I'm not thanking you because I needed any messages off of there. I am thanking you for the second time because you explained why you shut the program down. Unfortunately, some Rocket Scientist, pardon me, clown, named Monpirri, did not believe you when you explained why you shut it down the first time. He actually fabricated some silly story about you shuting it down because of the certain activites of three individuals of which I was one named as one of them (See his above post)He also accused of sending private PMs scaring people about Colombia......(another lie)

Thanks for setting the record straight. And yes, I am getting personal because I am sick of this guys personal shots at me because he disagrees with my point of view as to Colombia's security situation.

Monpirri says on Mar 2, 2006, 18:30:

Peter, thanks for your concern and our requests I am sorry I have to bring this topic back on again, but G5 wish to continue this affair. I posted a thread requesting you to restore the PM function but it has been deleted. I do not know if you had a change to see it? I am posting it again because Gomezman5 has started this issue again. This is what he says above. "He actually fabricated some silly story about you shuting it down because of the certain activites of three individuals of which I was one named as one of them (See his above post)He also accused of sending private PMs scaring people about Colombia......(another lie)" Furthermore, I have several complaints from other members against Gomezman5 concerning his campaign or his view towards Colombia! This is what I posted earlier or this morning, March 2, 20006 Peter Hi Peter, I request that you restore back the PM functionality because private messages are one of the most important features that Poorbuthappy has. We are able to communicate almost in real time via the PM, we are able to create a network of friends who love Colombia. The PM feature allows us to participate in professional discussions, in business, tourism, travel, cooking, music, etc. etc. I am 100% sure that the problem has been caused by three people, and by one who claims to be Colombian and his friend who always cites examples of another country that is not Colombia. The third person is a female who reflects a hysterical personality, she always complaints about the PM that someone sends to her. All 3 personalities have posted their opinions above. If you wish please send me the problem log and I will contact a team of engineers to fix it for you ASAP and for your Poorbuthappy family. Respectfully, Monpirri And I added this because Utopiacowpay was addressing you in French about my request to restore the PM. I do not know what are you doing here. This post was addressed to Peter, but since you are here, let me share this with Peter. Here's one of the reasons why people feel offended and why Utopiacowboy complained about unwanted PM's sent to him. On this topic “Colombia a top 10 tourist destination� "Prefiero sin turistas. Muerte Prefiero sin turistas. Muerte para los gringos!" By utopiacowboy at Tue, 02/28/2006 - 21:36 | reply The other reason is Gomezman5, a "Colombian,� he began an anti-travel campaign to Colombia here at Poorbuthappy. He began to send PM's to anybody who exhibited interest to travel to Colombia. And of course, he made a lot of people upset here. Last night in Caracol TV, SignosPesos reported "900,000, an increase of 25%, tourists visited Colombia in 20005" and the Agencia de viajes y Turismo expects to reach 2 million in 2006"

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Gomezman5 says on Mar 2, 2006, 22:12:

monpirri ?? Your thread was deleted.....Hmmmm. I wonder why? So you post it again.
You just can't seem to get the message can you? Try new meds. The current ones aren't helping

Monpirri says on Mar 2, 2006, 23:21:

World time Clock Peter, since you mentioned to enhancement or to upgrade the PBH site, could you add the World Clock Time on the top of the homepage? Sometimes when we PM each other with members in other countries we would like to know the real time. Here are few links that I found.

www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_CO.aspx http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/ Thank you again!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Monpirri says on Mar 5, 2006, 07:02:

Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Ding Dong, Dang Dung; Bing Bong, Bang Bung Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! 12:00 PM
It is lunch time! Sancho de gallina with empanadas vallunas or caribañolas and jugo de lulo.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Peter (Moderator) says on Mar 5, 2006, 13:08:

Off for good now The PM function is off for good now, until I upgrade the software at least..

Poor but snappy

mrlarotta says on Mar 9, 2006, 20:03:

Hi Peter! I just created an account to praise you by your work, I'm realy amazed because I can not believe that a foreigner could love this country so much, and can spent his time and money showing to the world the true face of this land. I hope you enjoy Colombia so much, as a reward for your work. Remember, you have a new friend here in Bogota! :)

Cat says on Apr 7, 2006, 07:39:

Regarding Coral Reefs Hi Peter,

I was wondering if you could help me and point me in the right direction. I'm an undergrad at Florida State and I'm working with on a Marine exhibition. I was wondering if you know the best places I can get some information on the Coral Reefs of Colombia. I have conducted a google search and I'm branching off from there. I was wondering if maybe you could point me on how to obtain pictures of the coral reefs inorder to educate others on how important it is to safe them before it is too late. I thank you for your help

Catalina