What Do I Say?

[bubblebubba]

I just got a very strange PM in my ffnet inbox:

Hello there? You seem to be a fan-fiction writer, and well, I want to tell you, I have several ideas related to fan-fiction, and I wonder if you would like to discuss with me about these ideas. I just want to share these ideas with someone, and perhaps you could give me some additional thoughts about

Comments

[mesmerising]

Wow, um... I would probably ignore the message. It seems like a spam-ish thing that they sent on a wide basis, and I wouldn't take it too seriously. I think it's rude to randomly send a message like that to someone, so I don't think it'll be particularly rude if you ignore it. If they had worded things with a bit more thought and consideration into the message and showed that they're actually aware of and had read what you've written (because they're from a completely different fandom) and be more apologetic about the random intrusion, then I'd probably consider giving them a reply. It's more a matter of Internet etiquette than fanficcing to me (but then again, I might just be making too much out of it...) Hope that kinda helps! ^_^;

[bubblebubba]

Yeah, thanks! I guess it would make sense to expect a bit more personal interest, especially since they said "You seem to be a fanfiction writer," which is sort of an "uhh..." ^^ I wonder if it's the user who's spamming or a hacker, and if ffnet knows about it?

[amethysth]

I agree with mesmerising . Honestly, if it had just been the first half of the PM, I would have been somewhat comfortable replying (somewhat because the words "you appear to be a fanfic writer" give the impression that this person hasn't actually read your work and isn't exactly sure if you are a writer, so it does make it seem really really spammish) with, based on if you had the time or even wanted to talk to this person about fanfiction, some short message. But that second segment really was incredibly rude. What kind of question is that? I mean, you can't really tell if it's meant to be insulting, but it comes across that way. It sounds also a little like this person isn't terribly comfortable with english because of the formal/robotic way the whole PM is, so that could have added to why the message just seems stilted and strange and (maybe unintentionally? I don't know; it's so hard to tell!) rude

[bubblebubba]

Really? I hadn't even heard about the spam up until now, but apparently everyone else already has. But yes, no need to apologize--I completely agree, and thank you! I was afraid that if this was an actual message (and not a bot, or whatever it is), I would have to seriously question the person's upbringing ^^

[amethysth]

No problem! I actually haven't heard of PM spam before, but that's the first thing I thought about when I saw the way the message was written, and when mesmerising mentioned it in her comment, it just made sense.

[bubblebubba]

I'm glad you told me it was the same person, maybe I"ll report them *twitch*

[bubblebubba]

I will *definitely* delete it. Thanks! And I hope you don't get it (spam sucks!)...

[goddess_of_ice]

After reading everyone else's comments (especially kaitlynfall's) and finding out the decision is that it is spam, I'd like to say I'm really glad you posted about this. I probably would have replied to the person, apologizing and saying I already had worked with someone in fanfiction and it didn't work out, so I would pass on the collab thing....or something.

Sorry, if I'm not making much sense. My brain is pounding and it makes focusing on words kind of difficult ^_^;;