Disturbing trend
I know of two large online communities (in the tens of thousands of users) that have disabled the ability to privately message or email other users, and have outlawed the discussion of personal contact information on the boards. This seems to me to be defeating the purpose of a community per se, by not allowing connections to happen organically and grow to possible real-life friendships or networking. It also adds yet another layer of anonymity? Non-accountability? If you KNOW you’re never going to be held accountable for your online posts in real life, why bother to be helpful?
I read a thread of an attempted real-life meetup from one of those boards, where, since they were unable to share cell numbers or exchange names, it failed miserably and those people who tried to make it were discouraged.
Information is like water. It seeks its own level. If it is blocked in one direction, it will make another path – one that those board owners won’t be able to control so easily.