Email System Update

Ever since they changed the IM system, it is virtually a duplicate of the mail system.

Previously, you had the choice to be open to receiving IM's. And if you were, and one came in, you received an audible doorbell ring so that you knew an instant message was in.

Now you receive an IM in a similar way you'd receive Mail. And if you're working in another tab or walk away from your computer, you don't know if someone is trying to contact you. So an Instant Message isn't all that instant.

Yes Mail works. And sure, it could be better organized. I like that the Mail icon highlights and links on a profile when you have a Mail history with that profile.

While not the best we definitely prefer the Mail system over the IM system. The reason? I the male tends to log in and read and reply to the forums, check out profiles, and yes even check for mail. I just moments ago got an IM from a single male saying basically "Hi how are you?" then a minute later he said "Have a nice day." all in all friendly enough but without her here I am not getting into a conversation. With a mail I can read it, tell her about it while say cooking dinner, then later we can come in the office and write up a reply together. I would make a bet that the majority of couples do something similar.

BTW I'm also thinking he was just scanning the who is online when he sent the mail and did not even look at or read our profile. In fact I'm pretty sure that is exactly what happened.

@RogerNJess, I agree, while the email system here may be in need of an upgrade, it still works, and we prefer it over the IM for contacting members. I recently contacted Wayne (tech support) and he told me the same thing...the powers that be are thinking of doing away with the mail system and just going to IM. I told him it's a bad idea, I would imagine that most of the "active" members here prefer the mail message system over IM. I thought they are doing away with the mail message system due to storage limitations but Wayne tells me that is not the case.

So we're not sure how to try to convince the folks that run this to leave the email system in place, but if enough people made a stink about it maybe they will listen? Thoughts?

Max
P. S. I don't care what others have said about the tech support here, but Wayne is great, he has answered all our site related questions in a timely fashion.

I asked tech support about email and email notification. This is the answer I got, "My understanding is that they will be discontinuing this Mailbox feature at some point and the site will use the new IM System. I'm not sure if it will have an e-mail notification. People need to be logging into the site to use it.
Techsupport"

So it seems that they are going to do away with email, go to the IM system that sucks and leave us high and dry. You will need to log in EVERY day if you want to keep up with those who wish to contact you!

Maybe the newer users like it that way? Personally I think that the IM system encourages those who have not bothered to read your profile to send an IM that simply says DOH. "How ya doin'?"

If there is a way to tell SLS our preferences for the website I don't know what it is. It would be nice if we could give feedback and SLS would post the results!

Yes for the love of God fix this damn email. This is absolutely horrible and the site is completely unusable.
Hire a damn developer

The site is in desperate need to uodate the email system. It is very difficult to find an email even if is only a month or so old. Update to a normal Inbox, Sent, Outbox, Archive. Kind of like Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.