As we're sick of posting a reminder of the rules every time a member asks for a PM we issue an automatic 14 day ban for anyone who asks.
I can send limited PMs. I don't send or receive many, probably only once or twice a year.
I don't want to get a ban!
I want to reply to a PM from a forum helper.
Do I have to wait 12 hours and does he/she have to wait 12 hours to reply to me. - I just want to understand the time. I'm fine by abiding. I like to plan stuff.
If I PM a moderator do the same rules apply? presumably not, although I did get the message when I tried to PM Daviemac
I don't think I'm attempting to circumvent / reveal inner workings of the PM system.
I realise I can use the contact button, but I want to converse with a particular forum_helper about a technical subject and that might be long winded if the person on the end of the contact form has to send it to the person, they reply and it is sent back. That would seem to me to be an abuse of the contact system.
I don't want to take the discussion outside UKP as that might mean revealing real(other fake) email addresses and unintended consequences.