I am a very brave person...I would def. send someone an email...and I always respond to the emails I receive. I think it is only fair. Heck, they took the time to write .. should be respectful enough to reply ... even if it is to say thanks but no thanks...I am pretty forward and not in a bad way. I am a friendly person..and I enjoy making friends..so sure..I would sent a random "Hey..how are ya" to someone...:)

If you have settings to limit emails, then you shouldn't get too many and could still take the 3 seconds to say hi back. ;-)

I think if a person wants to ask a random question of a person they can do that in a forum question. To be able to send an anonomous message to and individual not only is cowardly I feel like it would be a golden opportunity for abusesive posts that noone would be held accountable for. To me the privilege of freedom of speech is accepting the the responsibility of what you say.

The emails aren't exactly anonymous. Whats the point of email if not for a different type of conversation anyway?

My feeling is if someone sends just a hello it is just and effort to get me to look at their profile and it might be considerate to respond I am not obligated to. Especially if when I recieve it they are no longer on line; which frequently happens.

That pretty much stands for most initial e-mails.

If I get a considerate letter I do my best to respond promptly. Sometimes that just isn't possible. If it is someone long distance they have to recognize the reality that nothing more than a pen freindship will likely ever exist and I may not have time to pursue that kind of friendship.

If someone responds to a forum post personally I will read it but if it is just restateing what has already been said I am probably not going to take a lot of time on a response.

I have gotten where if I don't tell someone to IM me I won't accept it. Too many people get you on and IM then try to talk to another which I find incredibly rude.

It is not unusual for me to send holiday greetings or send birthday greetings or sympathy greetings wheather I know someone really well or not. I try to Welcome new members routinely unless they are looking for a sexual encounter. But if I am busy I may go for days with out even going on the computer. Lately I have been laid up so I have been watching the forums and trying to catch up. Sweet Dreams you all.