Enhancement to the Journal Program

[alt_selwyn]

I am pleased to announce a new enhancement to the journals. It is now possible to communicate more privately with one or two people using your journal. Simply write 'Private Message to' followed by one or two names, and then write the rest of your entry as usual. The content of your message will be invisible to all but the intended recipients, who will be able to reply to it as they would any other journal entry.

So, for instance, if I wished to send a message to Robert and Sarah Smith, I would write 'Private Message to Robert and Sarah Smith' in the subject line. Anyone who regularly reads my journal would see that I had written a private message to the Smiths, but would be unable to read anything further.

To answer a few of the questions I have already been asked:

* You may send a private message to only two people at once, but there is no limit to the number of such messages you may write.

* If two individuals share the same name, any additional description (such as an address, a town, or a personal description) will suffice. You do not need to write out the exact name provided that no one else shares the nickname (so, 'Private Message to the Razzer' will reach Mr Lestrange unless there is another Razzer with whom we are not acquainted.)

* All regulations and policies regarding communication by owl apply to this method of communication as well.

* Muggleborns in service who are in possession of journals may use this feature, but their owner of record must always be one of the two people who may view the message.

Many thanks to our gracious and glorious Lord Protector! Any further questions may be left as replies to this entry.

Comments

[alt_rodolphus]

I somehow doubt there are many more folk named "Rabastan" than there are "Razzer."

Really, though, what a clever method for making the journals more useful than they already are. I don't suppose that the upgrade was inspired by necessary ban of owls this spring past? The journals were enormously helpful for keeping in touch during that period, but it did show the downside of their (previously, at least) very public nature. Especially for those of a relatively taciturn character.

[alt_rabastan]

What do you know? Could be loads of people out there who've named their first born after me!

[alt_rodolphus]

Fair point. But would they have named said first born Rabastan or Razzer?

Or Basil?

[alt_rabastan]

They could use all three names and it would still be better than a certain name that begins with M.

[alt_lucius]

Indeed.

One hopes, however, you will not be inundated with dozens of 'test' messages by enterprising witches hoping to verify that the nickname will, in fact, find you.

[alt_selwyn]

Come, Lucius, surely that would be an unexpected bonus from the Razzer's perspective.

[alt_lucius]

Provided they are not young ladies already of his acquaintance, you're quite correct!

[alt_rabastan]

Oh, now you've gone and turned my head! Who are these young ladies who are not already of my acquaintance? Why are they so bashful? Now I dare to hope that this new journal feature shall embolden them so that they may finally seek me out, quills trembling from their fingers.

[alt_lucius]

Well, I'm certain even one as gregarious as you must have missed a witch or two in this glorious nation. Perhaps in Hunspow or Laxford Bridge there are, unaccountably, a handful who have not experienced your personal attention.


As for the ones who have had that happy honour, you might be wise to open their private messages with wand at the ready.

[alt_rabastan]

But do the ladies of such Highland regions still have all their own teeth?

I do prefer teeth. Prevents lisping.

[alt_lucius]

Precisely. So are you sure you want every woman in the realm to write to you, expressing her undying devotion?

Consider the unfortunate (and distasteful) woman who committed the faux pas of Saturday evening. More like that and I fear even your good humour would suffer an injury we can ill-afford. It is too essential to the continued vitality of the Protectorate to allow it to be damaged!

[alt_selwyn]

It was indeed inspired in part by the many obstacles to normal owl traffic last year. This provides an alternative to the owl post system that is faster and nearly as private.

[alt_draco]

Pardon me, Sir, but what do you mean exactly when you say "nearly as private?"

[alt_selwyn]

The subject line of your entry will still be visible to anyone who looks at your journal. So, should you send a private message to someone, everyone will know that you sent a private message to this person, though they won't be able to read the content. If you send an owl, you will have to wait longer for a response, but it is less instantly obvious to whom you sent it.

[alt_draco]

Ah, yes, that makes sense then. Thank you, Sir.