I don't consider anything on this forum private. I am confident that there are people who can read PMs so the privacy that exists it conditional.

So if you send something to me and want it to be just between us, say so, and let me decide if I want to continue the conversation on that basis.

I like the idea of using PMs to communicate with people when it would bore others. I like to use them to keep misunderstandings and such private. But as others have said in different words, you have to to keep my respect to earn my discretion.

Is there anything in the Mudcat Terms of use about keeping unsolicited private messages private? I don't think so. Nor should there be.