MESG(1)                      BSD Reference Manual                      MESG(1)

NAME
     mesg - Display (do not display) messages from other users

SYNOPSIS
     mesg [n | y]

DESCRIPTION
     The mesg utility is invoked by a user to control write access others have
     to her or his terminal.  By default, write access is allowed, and pro-
     grams such as talk(1),  write(1) and echo(1) may display messages on the
     target user's terminal.

     Options available:

     n     Disallows messages and informs the sender that `Your party is re-
           fusing messages'.

     y     Allows messages to be displayed.

     If no arguments are given, mesg displays the present message status.

     The mesg utility exits with one of the following values:

            0    Messages are allowed.
            1    Messages are not allowed.
           -1    An error has occurred.

FILES
     /dev/[pt]ty[pq]?

SEE ALSO
     write(1),  talk(1),  echo(1),  biff(1)

HISTORY
     A mesg command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

BSDI BSD/386                    March 27, 1993                               1