If I think they're not one of the fakes I always respond. I think it's just flat out rude and very inconsiderate to not answer a message.

I've sent a few messages without receiving a response. Each man made me feel as if 'he' thought I wasn't worth one minute of his time. Especially after it was clear he must have read the message because he viewed my profile.

Everyone has feelings and I can be stubborn as a mule so when one of those men contacted me a few weeks later and was supposedly very attracted to me? I answered his message with a 'Then you should have answered the message I sent you.'

So yes, I answer messages. Do you?

Yes I would... even if not interested in them. You may end up having a very nice conversation with them.

I respond to some..

Why should I send a message to a guy to say I'm not interested? If I wrote to a guy I liked and he didn't like me, I'd rather he didn't right back. No answer is an answer. Why would I want to hear someone say why they don't like me or not interested?

I am very selective of whom I should respond to but does not necessarily mean I am interested but out of politeness I respond to a nice message or whom I think really shows true interest, and get the feel of that person if he's real or fake. If I have a feeling he's fake, I ignore, delete or block . I haven't ever tried sending email to initiate conversation with anyone online and I don't respond to hi or hello messages except when the profile is good, have sent me a substantial message and he's in the forum and somehow have a view of his personality in his comments or have been viewing my profile many times then I give a chance to get to know someone to become a friend. And I'm glad I did, I found a few good people

initial interest is a factor to consider before they could get a response coming from me....

a simple hi or hello is a big no for me.no matter how good looking or smart you are claiming to be.

Depends on what exactly they write.
But for the most part, no.
Especially on this site.

Too many people hold others responsible for their own mental/emotional insecurities.

e.g."...without receiving a response. Each man made me feel..."

An email is not the same as a face to face approach.

I also wouldn't feel someone was "making me feel" I wasn't worth their time if I could peek into their home and watch them screen their phone calls and not immediately answer one from me.

There's just no winning online.

No matter what you do some people are simply going to interpret what you do, or do not say, according to how they want to.

"You didn't write back! You made me feel small and worthless!"
"You wrote back you aren't interested! You are shallow and small and make me feel fat and ugly!"
"You wrote back vague and civil! Like I wasn't even worth being honest with!"
"Thanks for writing back and being honest! I know you have no interest in talking to me, but can you keep talking to me and give me pointers on my profile, and why you're not interested, and how I can improve, and what's going on?"


So no, I don't really answer messages. Their impotent rage and mental/emotional insecurities are driven to the forums and other people so I don't have to deal with their issues, I can just move on.

oops messed that one up,,, anyway I would have everything she says I don't mess with anybody if I'm not interested in her and it's no big deal if she's not interested in me, I don't dwell on it I just move on. her loss.

nope

I tend to view a profile before I respond. I like to go ahead and report those I see as a potential fake/scam profiles.

Most of the time I just get hi as a message. With that, I usually don't respond.

If there may be some substance to the message, then I will usually respond, even if there may not be any interest on my part. Mostly because I know I don't like to be ignored completely after putting in thought to a message I've sent to a potential person who I have interest in.

I'm surprised by the responses. I guess I'm just different to feeling as if it's the polite thing to do.

I respond to most of the emailers even when its a "Hi" greeting. Although I do agree with you that its the polite thing to do, ClintiGal, politeness actually works against you in the chatroom sometimes.

Some of the men after I sent the polite rejection still attempt to carry on a conversation. Some ask why. A few have insulted me for rejecting them.

I have had to block people after I see that they have read the message.

I will continue to respond to most emailers because it feels like the right thing for me, but I totally understand why most people don't bother. It feels like more of a hassle than its worth

I use to respond to all e-mails now if it is just a hi or hey no answer.. give me something to go off of..

Most all others I do send a reply saying thanks but not seeking anyone ect...

Even some of those will come back with a pissy answer..

To me no answer is a answer.. but when I'm being polite and answering them to come back with something stupid like age is only a number what ever.. I have a answer for them come back when I turn 70 and tell me that... lol

I don't mind friendly e-mails from those that just want to chat ect for if they don't live local that is all it will be for me just friends not looking for a LDR been there done that I would rather have someone around I can go places with and do things with face to face..

This is a confusing topic as some women get hundreds of responses in a day and so answering is not sensible. The preferred way would only be to respond when actually interested as no response is no interest. Given some women send responses just to get a response bur are not interested is also an issue. The safe bet is to only respond when interested...

Getting a private message from a complete stranger is like getting a telephone call from a scammer or a telemarketer. No rule requires one to answer.

Just feel the need to add this:

Straight up, I believe it's more than fair to say that comments regarding one's (meaning me) seemingly mental/emotional insecurities is unwarranted. I did not ask for a mental evaluation nor do I expect to receive one by asking a very simple question on a dating site forum.

I'm not qualified to analyze anyone so I'll refrain from sharing my two cents as to what someone's comment(s) say about them.

Be nice if the personal remarks were only made when appropriate.

Your a nice lady! Accept the compliment. No jokes will follow it.

I always respond too. I usually point them to the forums to find "REAL" people though. Some show up. Some deactivate. But, at least I tried.

No, I don't feel obligated to reply. If I guy I message doesn't respond I don't take it personally, I just assume he isn't interested or is maybe communicating with someone special. I do check out his profile and if it is blank and "I'll tell you later" I don't respond. Some men just say "Hi", if I think his profile is real I will reply in kind just to see if he is going to come back with his phone number or some offsite chat link. Then I hit the delete button. Also, if after reading his profile I am just not interested, I don't answer simply because I think it would hurt more for me to send him a message that says I'm not interested. No response seems kinder and as I said, if someone doesn't respond to me that's okay. I would rather he not respond than send me a message that says I'm really not interested in you. Just my two cents worth.

You will most likely find that the great majority of women will say "NO" on this thread. While the great majority of men will say, "YES." This has been covered on another site. Over 50 pages worth. What it is, Men say YES interested or not because they, or a good majority subconsciously, and some not so subconsciously think it might lead to something. Usually sex. Whereas, a woman will take one look at a man and know within a few seconds to a few minutes whether she will have sex, or is attracted to this guy. No matter what he writes in his first contact letter or profile. As long as it isn't vulgar.

When you get right down to it. No matter how shallow it may sound. To a certain degree, it doesn't matter what you write in your profile or first contact message. If you are not attracted to each other, it ain't happening. So, as far as answering goes, I at one time would answer all messages attracted or not. Just because I thought it was the right thing to do. Someone took time out of their day to write me. I should at least answer. I no longer think that way. I see no point in wasting my time with someone I'm not interested in. They can find another just as easy as they found me. It's a dating site.