You get a "write" message from an unfamiliar user. After some
innocuous exchange of information, he/she writes an unmistakably
suggestive statement. How do you handle it?

21 responses total.

 oh I'd probably ask. uh, did you really mean that last statement?
and then I would inform them IN BOLD LETTERS THAT THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE
BEHAVIOR FOR THIS SETTING.

EOF(dang)

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This doesn't apply to sexual innuendos, which i would put a stop to
immediately, but the other night, I got a help request taht, after
about 5 lines turned into a user trying to convert me.  I talked
to him for nearly an hour and a half, arguing every single point
with him.  As mean as it is, this was a source of GREAT amusement
for me.  I did warn him, though, that it was inappropriate, and
very many users would be deeply offended by this type of thing.

I would simply exit if I was in "talk".  WE can even leave grex and go home if
things are too hard to handle or refuse messages.  We don't have to take it.
the choice is ours.

(I wonder what was meant by "suggestive".)

Convert you to what?  A religious point of view?

yes.  He was a fundamental Christian, as a matter of fact.  

ARRGH!! I find them annoying as all get out not amusing.
You probably have a better mind set than me.

A problem I have is that just about every person who just messages me who
I don't know is 1) male and 2) starts typing things like "you have a 
beautiful name" and borderline things like that.  It's not like they're
suggestive or anything, but it's like, you just don't know how to be nice
and at the same time try not to jump to conclusions like "oh my god, i feel \
like i'm being hunted!"
I really don't know what to do in a general sense, I usually play the situation
by ear...

[side comment]

(but Anita... you DO have a beautiful name...)

Re #10:  from the other side, it's difficult to know what to say that
will sound friendly but not sleazy, if you're a man talking to a woman.
At least, I'm always afraid that I'll say something that will be taken
the wrong way, if the person doesn't know me yet.  One more barrier to
meeting people.

Some sort of comment about a name is considered neutral ground,
I think -- 20 years ago total strangers who saw my name (store 
clerks, etc.) would ask if I was related to Linda, while 
obviously not intending to be sexually suggestive. 

(I still wonder what was meant by "suggestive".)

Sorry I didn't answer sooner -- I'm just back from vacation.

"Suggestive" means that I got a chat message along the lines of
"Hi, my name is ****, and I do *** for a living.  I'm sitting here
naken in front of my computer.  I love thinking sexy thoughts when
I'm on the computer.  How about you?"  It really has nothing to
do with someone saying I have a nice name, or anything.

The way I handled it was to say goodbye.  The next time I got
a message from that person, I said that I preferred e-mail to
real-time, so if they wanted to reach me, send me mail.  I 
wanted to be able to keep a copy of whatever went on.

(in that case, I'd not even bother with a goodbye. It'd be a !mesg N 
from me.)

I would stay neutral.

I reply with a mistakably unsuggestive comment.

hello that happened to me the first night i was here the guy wanted to talk
and i could not figure out how at first so he told me how to to a party what
ever that is and he asked me if i was married and where my husband was i told
him the truth that he was sitting beside me and helping me figure out what
i was doinf and he asked if i liked grex and at first it was a freindly
conversation but then he said we might as well get on with it and i did not
understand what he was saying when i asked what he ment he said i knew what
he was talkind about and to stop messing around and start doing it well i
still did not know so my husband had to tell me what was happening i told him
that i wanted to talk and make new friends and he was not going to be one of
them and then said bye and quit i havent heared from him since lucky me
,

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At first, I'd be highly amused, since I am, of course, hideously deformed.
Then, I would tell them to use e-mail, and once I had copies of their mail,
I would use them to implicate them in child pornography.It is late, and I am
feeling silly.

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