mesg

Check current status

$ mesg

$ mesg n

$ mesg y

$ mesg --verbose

mesg [y | n]

mesg controls whether other users can send messages to your terminal using the write command. Without arguments, it displays the current setting.

y

Allow messages from other users

Disallow messages from other users

Print warning if not executed from terminal

Without arguments shows:
is y: Messages allowed
is n: Messages disallowed

Affects the current terminal only. Setting is not persistent across sessions. Some terminals may default to denying messages.

write(1), talk(1), wall(1)