# Increase private message storage MASSIVELY **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 3, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608 "2012-03-03T01:17:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/1 "2012-03-03T01:17:57Z")
My gmail inbox is allowed to reach 7685MB as of today. I currently have thirty thousand, nine hundred and thirteen emails in my inbox, excluding the many others marked as spam. And that takes up only 3310MB. And there are shedloads of attachments and all sorts of things like that, duplicated in many cases, in my email. Meanwhile my straight dope private message box has forty messages and consequently is only ten away from hitting the limit. Additionally I am awaiting replies to three private messages and may get replies to another two, so that would bring me to 90% of my quota. While I have been a member here quite a while, it is only recently that I have started posting substantially. These limits are utterly, utterly, ridiculous. I am a member of various forums and most of them either have no limit or have a limit in the order of ten thousand or more as the admin is too lazy or whatever to sort the thing out properly. I can see no sane reason for limiting private messages like this. The cost of increased storage is basically nothing. I will give you $10 to remove the limitation for everyone if you like - and I think you will make a profit from it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/2 "2012-03-03T01:24:16Z")
Marketing. This is one of the (very weak) levers used by TPTB to get people to pay for the service. If you can possibly fight the moths in your wallet for the £8 a year needed to subscribe, you’d get 100 each way (I think). ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/3 "2012-03-03T02:09:34Z")
hahahahahahahahahah “100”?!?!?!?!?!? If they gave unlimited then I could possibly consider it. But since every other forum in the world, basically, gives unlimited that is actually quite an offensive offer. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/4 "2012-03-03T02:12:54Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > If they gave unlimited then I could possibly consider it. But since every other forum in the world, basically, gives unlimited that is actually quite an offensive offer. Then why are you here, instead of those places that let you keep your dated and meaningless messages forever? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/5 "2012-03-03T02:31:29Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > hahahahahahahahahah > > “100”?!?!?!?!?!? > > If they gave unlimited then I could possibly consider it. But since every other forum in the world, basically, gives unlimited that is actually quite an offensive offer. This place is about communicating with the group, not lots of private conversations. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/6 "2012-03-03T02:43:46Z")
“Offensive”? May I suggest a nice walk in the countryside? I suspect you’re unaware of just how crap the technical side of the SDMB is. It’s run off an old 486 with a 300 baud acoustic couple and cassette tape storage. Any decision has to be run through the Committee for Obfuscation and receive seventeen signatures in triplicate including that of the late Earl Warren. In seriousness, many professionals have over the years offered their services - and actual cash and materials - to improve the software, networking, database, hardware, and admin, and all have been turned down, often ungraciously. We’re on a legacy version of vBulletin with a search choke (due to malicious behaviour in the past) rather than a more creative solution, and there are no plans to upgrade as I believe **TubaDiva** rudely admonished someone in the recent past. But this is the SDMB. It’s like that. It’s primarily for public discourse and for that it’s one of the best boards out there. I’ve tried a few and none of them approach the quality of this one. Your complaint is like moaning that you can only balance a few envelopes on top of your radio set. If it’s storage you’re after, why not stick with Gmail? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/7 "2012-03-03T03:01:36Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > In seriousness, many professionals have over the years offered their services - and actual cash and materials - to improve the software, networking, database, hardware, and admin, and all have been turned down, often ungraciously. We’re on a legacy version of vBulletin with a search choke (due to malicious behaviour in the past) rather than a more creative solution, and there are no plans to upgrade as I believe **TubaDiva** rudely admonished someone in the recent past. > > But this is the SDMB. It’s like that. It’s primarily for public discourse and for that it’s one of the best boards out there. I’ve tried a few and none of them approach the quality of this one. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/8 "2012-03-03T03:06:02Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > This place is about communicating with the group, not lots of private conversations. No kidding. I have maybe 10 pm’s total in the time and post count that I have. If someone was corresponding enough via PM with me, I’d switch to email anyway. And then there’s, you know, that handy delete button. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/9 "2012-03-03T04:47:19Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > … And then there’s, you know, that handy delete button. Hell, if ya actually, really, need to save 'em there’s that handy “Download all Private Messages as: XML | CSV | Text” thingy that might as well be a button. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/10 "2012-03-03T04:52:02Z")
Yeah, it’s silly but it’s not going to change. I wouldn’t even bother with it and just let it be full if I didn’t need it for mafia games so every once in a while, I just sweep through and delete everything. Sometimes I think, I should save this, and then I remember, I don’t save actual real life things that I need, there’s no way I’m saving internet stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/11 "2012-03-03T05:34:02Z")
The SDMB is intended to be a message board, not an email service. If you want a greater amount of storage, then you can subscribe, but it won’t be a massive upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/12 "2012-03-03T06:16:19Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > No kidding. I have maybe 10 pm’s total in the time and post count that I have. If someone was corresponding enough via PM with me, I’d switch to email anyway. And then there’s, you know, that handy delete button. Oh, and I take it back, looking at the top of the page and paying attention for once, I have a whole 22 PM’s, you hear that? TVENTY-TWOO!! Mwah ha-ha. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/13 "2012-03-03T07:13:13Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The SDMB is intended to be a message board, not an email service. If you want a greater amount of storage, then you can subscribe, but it won’t be a massive upgrade. FTR, I have a total capacity of 200, including sent messages. I’ve used 5-10% of that. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/14 "2012-03-03T09:07:17Z")
Why are you obsessed with using PM? Most members allow email contact, and that’s just as fast and private. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/15 "2012-03-03T10:18:12Z")
a tiny box is getting you DOWN? are you gaping with envy at the 100" members have on here at the DOPE? sign up NOW and be the most endowed MEMBER among your peers. GUARANTEED to increase your size by at least 100%!!!11!!! no wait, there’s MORE! PICK up the phone in the next 5 minutes and pay only $7.99 and get a FREE pdf set of 15-course lessons to using the email on your computer! whilst stocks last! HURRY!!!1!1!1!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/16 "2012-03-03T13:33:34Z")
There are a lot of harsh people here. Sure it is a message board and its prime function is open communication. However, it does allow PM’s so I see nothing wrong in requesting an increased storage if it is easily done. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/17 "2012-03-03T13:39:10Z")
I think it was this post (bolded mine) that started it… > [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > hahahahahahahahahah > > “100”?!?!?!?!?!? > > If they gave unlimited then I could possibly consider it. But since every other forum in the world, basically, gives unlimited that is **actually quite an offensive offer**. “Offensive”, really? ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/18 "2012-03-03T14:23:52Z")
I’ve been here like 11 years, and I just looked… I have a total of 19 PMs to show for that time. One of us is doing it wrong. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/19 "2012-03-03T14:39:34Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > “Offensive”, really? I would say that’s fair, yes. Imagine if McDonalds gave you 1 sachet of ketchup for free, but charged $50 for the next one - while Burger King and everyone else continued to give out free ketchup to all. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608/20 "2012-03-03T14:46:54Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > I would say that’s fair, yes. Imagine if McDonalds gave you 1 sachet of ketchup for free, but charged $50 for the next one - while Burger King and everyone else continued to give out free ketchup to all. First, I wouldn’t be “offended”- your scenario would be just a dumb rule at McDonald’s, nothing offensive. It might make me not go back and shake my head at how stupid they were, but offended? No. I might even bring my own ketchup (like switching conversations to email, for example) if I liked McD’s so much I couldn’t stay away. Second- these “ketchup packets” here at the SDMB are automatically refillable- just delete old PMs. Third- most people don’t see PM storage capacity as integral to the SDMB experience, so to be offended about something that appears secondary to most people’s wants or needs seems silly. It’s fine to ask, of course, but to be personally offended seems over the top. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-private-message-storage-massively/614608.md?page=2)