How to send and receive private messages/ pm

[SeaDawg]

David S. brought this to our attention sime time ago. We ask people to use private messages, or pms, when sharing contact info (email addresses, phone numbers,et), to avoid that information being swept up by spammers, bots, and bad guys. Private messages are just that-- private. Only you, and the intended recipient can see them.

 

But, some members are new to forums, and our private message system can be a multistep process.

The simplest way to send a private message (pm) is to log in, click on the three horizontal bars top right ( dropdown menu button.) Click on the envelope. Click on compose new. Start typing the first few letters of the user's screen name, and when you see the correct name, start writing your email. Proofread, and hit send. Done.

( note: this is a much simpler process than our old system!)

 

Alternatively, if the person you would like to pm has a recent post, click on his username anywhere it appears in bold... in a post, at the recent users at the bottom of the page, or even in the "thanked by" section at the bottom of a post.

Clicking on the username will take you to the user profile, and you'll see an envelope. Clicking here will take you to the message box, where you can type your message, proofread, and hit send.

 

I added a few screenshots in the next post below as visual aids.

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2019 by SeaDawg
Update for new forum software

[JWalmsley]

The way email notifications for pms work is:

 

If you have not been logged in for more than 1 hour = sends email notification for pms.

 

If you are logged in or have been logged in within the last 1 hour = no email notification for pms.

[John E Davies]

There is a little button at the very bottom of your Messages page called Download Chats History. I just discovered it. You get an unformatted text file showing all the conversations. I am not sure why you might want to do that.......?

 

 

Does anybody use this feature, and why? Am I missing out on something useful?

 

Thanks,

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[mossemi]

Nope!  Never pushed that button.

[John E Davies]

Nope! Never pushed that button.

 

Mike, go ahead and push it, I know you want to...

 

John Davies

 

Spokan eWA

[SeaDawg]

It's a nice feature for people who use private messaging a lot. You can download history, and delete old messages without losing the info.

Not a big deal for light users. There is a limit to stored messages. In the old dsys, it was 100. I think it's a lot more, now.

Sherry

[John & Nancy]

I don't see anything you took a screen shot of nor do I see a drop down menu when I put the mouse over ... I usually get it but not this.

 

 

[John & Nancy]

The screen doesn't have 3 horizontal bars until you click on the envelope!  Step 1 click on envelope.  Then you see the bars.

 

 

[SeaDawg]

John and  Nancy, Perhaps it works that way on  a desktop version. I work from an android phone or tablet. Here's how it looks on mine. 

If it's different on a desktop, I need to add that info in an edit to my post. Thank you!

Sherry

[SeaDawg]

And, it's easier on a desktop. One less step. As John & Nancy said, just click on the envelope in the upper right hand corner of the screen, after signing in. 

Thanks so much for letting me know this, John&Nancy!

Sherry