Community - ability to message users without having to follow/be followed

[Devraj_Grewal]

Currently, the only way to directly message users is if you are both following them and they are following you. It would be a great feature to be able to directly message without needing to follow/be followed.

Think of the possibilities:

- network with old colleagues

- message a job poster about a position privately

- message your User Group leaders

- ask a user a specific question about something they posted in the Community

The only workaround is to mention them in a comment.

Also vote for the similar idea:

[SanfordWhiteman]

It's a tough call. I upvoted, but people might overuse the ability to DM and deprive the wider/later Community of information that doesn't have to be confidential.

But to me the far bigger problem is the DM interface. I don't want anyone DMing me code in that (un)format. Drives me crazy!

[Devraj_Grewal]

Understandable, even in cases of direct messages for the purpose of spam. But I honestly agree the many benefits outweigh the setbacks.