# Is it possible to disable private messaging for a specific user?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-private-messaging-for-a-specific-user/46391
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [24 Junio, 2016 08:59 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-private-messaging-for-a-specific-user/46391 "2016-06-24T08:59:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 8

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### Author: ![purldator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@purldator](https://meta.discourse.org/u/purldator)
#### Post date: [24 Junio, 2016 14:05 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-private-messaging-for-a-specific-user/46391/8 "2016-06-24T14:05:56Z")

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> [@brunoedigital](#):
>
> Well, actually, I’m happy with disabling PM entirely for my account as an admin

You may also consider idea I have put into practice with a previous (almost ten year old; now closed) community I ran–

> [@Ability for admin to completely hide a category and its topics?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/ability-for-admin-to-completely-hide-a-category-and-its-topics/25141/6):
>
> Don’t know if there’s a way for the admin’s IP to be logged in on two accounts at once. For now, if I was in this situation, I would maybe add your ‘civilian’ account to that /about page. If something is wrong, they can PM your civilian account and you can hop onto the admin account. Or you can have any PMs that are sent to the admin also emailed to you so you know when/if to hop accounts. I was thinking of having two accounts: one ‘civilian’ and the admin. The civilian is set with the high…

Make the admin account a strict “root/utility-only” account and then make a Leader-level account for yourself. Now you can disable PMs on that Leader-only account. Admin account becomes the “if I _need_ to send a PM for technical reasons, then **here** : not related to conversation and/or business dealings.” And those who insist on sending you these “just want your small opinion” PMs to your admin account shall go unanswered–as long as you make it clear the admin account is only as a tech-support channel; reporting issues RE: using your site or Discourse instance et al.

> [@brunoedigital](#):
>
> Because even with multiple tries to make them read the bloody rules, still a lot don’t even bother (I know… frustrating). Then they still PM me expecting an answer. **And since they are paid customers it looks bad if I don’t or if they haven’t read the rules saying that I won’t respond.**

That sounds like they _know_ that too and are taking advantage of you **from** that: they are previous clients, paid for some classes already gone and archived, or some freelance. That does **not** give them carte blanche to pinch free intel off you because of a past that is open and closed; paid and done.

And if they get upset, learn the lesson I learned long ago: you are not going to please everyone. After you accept that truth, you get more respect when you stand up for yourself, even though from that you are now not necessarily _liked_ first. I–from personal experience–prefer that. Respect be business gold versus the lowly pewter: only being liked or seen as “nice”. And thus seen as possibly a pushover.

(Apologies; this second suggestion does not really attempt to “answer” your technical question. It does offer insight into a larger situation I see, that this technical question only seeks to avoid or hide from and ultimately be part of your paid membership biz model–and a weakness in it some be exploiting.)

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