When initiating a chat with someone in Makerworld there are several restrictions for the message that initiates the chat - No links, no attachments, no pictures until after the recipient responds which indicates their willingness to have a conversation. Makes sense, reduces spam, and I’m totally on board.
However, you are also restricted from sending a second message until you receive a reply. This is not great. The one message restriction is not presented to the sender until attempting to send a second message, at which point it’s too late. The recipient is not presented with the information that unless they respond they are blocking the sender from ever sending them another message.
I send you a message with a piece of information. After sending I realize I left something out, then discover I can not send another message. The recipient gets the message, has no way to know some information is missing and from their perspective have no reason to reply except perhaps to say thanks, but decide not to distract the sender with a thanks and that’s it, the sender can never communicate directly with them again.
The number of scenarios that can follow this pattern feels potentially very large. User puts in comments on a model “I’d love a version of this that is a cat” Creator sends them a direct message saying they were already planning to make a cat version and will send them a message when it’s ready. Recipient does not respond, assuming another message will be coming shortly. Creator can’t send the message that the new model is ready, so unless the person is following them, they get no notification. Perhaps they come across it later, and now think that creator is a jerk, since he said he was going to message the person and didn’t, when in reality he couldn’t. Etc, etc etc …
… and so, ideas off the top of my head:
A1) Let the sender know before actually sending the initial message that they should ask for a reply because otherwise no more messages.
A2) Let the recipient know if they do not respond, they are essentially blocking the sender
- or -
B) Even better: A1 and A2 but with an increase to two messages from the sender allowed before needing a reply - or -
C) Open the message stream to more messages after the initial message has been read - since the recipient has the option to block the sender from the same screen they read the message in if it was spam or not desired for whatever reason. Could still block links and attachments until a reply is sent. The bad thing is the sender has no idea when the message is read, so for a follow-up correction or something they’d just have to keep trying I guess? - or -
D) Something smart someone reading this comes up with and replies below