"Unsend" a Private Message

[todd2000]

Does deleating a PM before it is read "unsend" it? Is there any way to unsend a PM?

 

[Doctor Q]

Does deleating a PM before it is read "unsend" it?

I believe sending a PM causes one copy of the message to be put in your Outbox and another copy in the recipient's Inbox. Deleting the copy in your Outbox therefore would not prevent delivery.

Any two members could test this theory by having one send a message and then immediately delete it, before the other member tries to read it.

Is there any way to unsend a PM?

Not by yourself via the forum software. arn (the site owner) or somebody else with suitable administration privileges could in theory expunge messages from the underlying databases, or erase PMs for a given member with an administrative tool, but we have never done such a thing before, as far as I know.

We moderators never read or access PMs between members, other than those sent to us.

If you are asking because of a particular message you sent, and you consider it an emergency, send me more information by PM, even though it may be too late.

 

[lexus]

Why would you do this?

 

[mkrishnan]

This thread is worthless without sordid details! 😱 😉 😀

I don't know of a way to do it, though...sorry. 🙁 Maybe PM a mod or admin....

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

This thread is worthless without sordid details! 😱 😉 😀

I don't know of a way to do it, though...sorry. 🙁 Maybe PM a mod or admin....

I was thinking the same thing. 😀

IIRC, AOL had the ability at one time to delete an email before it was read. A nice safety perhaps.

 

[bousozoku]

I just want to say that I got your message and I'll be glad to join you on your Carribean Island getaway. 😀 j/k

Sorry, too late. Once you're bad, you're in trouble.

 

[redAPPLE]

well this happens sometimes, when sending email.

you typed in the name "john" and once a person is preoccupied for a couple of seconds, it could happen that the wrong john gets the email.

 

[Doctor Q]

well this happens sometimes, when sending email.

you typed in the name "john" and once a person is preoccupied for a couple of seconds, it could happen that the wrong john gets the email.

Yes, it's especially awkward when you send a Dear John letter to the wrong person! 😱

 

[baby duck monge]

I was thinking the same thing. 😀

IIRC, AOL had the ability at one time to delete an email before it was read. A nice safety perhaps.

Yeah, that was kinda a sweet feature. You could check the status of messages sent to other AOL subscribers and delete them if they were still 'unread.' It was definitely nice. Not just being able to delete the messages, but also see if someone hasn't responded because they haven't read something as opposed to them just being lazy or mad 😛

 

[Blue Velvet]

There are a few PM's I've sent, these forums and elsewhere, that in hindsight could've benefited from such a feature and/or a little 'cooling off' period of self moderation/common sense😱

Believe me; you're not alone. 😱
But damn the torpedoes...