MESG(1)                    OpenBSD Reference Manual                    MESG(1)

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

SYNOPSIS
     mesg [y | n]

DESCRIPTION
     The mesg utility is invoked by a user to control write access others have
     to the terminal device associated with the standard error output.  Write
     access is allowed by default, and programs such as talk(1) and write(1)
     may display messages on the terminal.

     The options are as follows:

     n       Disallows messages.

     y       Permits messages to be displayed.

     If no arguments are given, mesg displays the present message status to
     the standard error output.

     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
     biff(1), talk(1), write(1)

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

OpenBSD 2.9                      June 6, 1993                                1
