Privacy note

[4815162342]

I just clicked on someone's name and saw this:

"Viewing Private Message ******"

Replace the ****** with the name of another board member. Basically, it told me that the board member I clicked on was reading a private message from another board member. I don't mean to cause any alarm or anything, just thought it was strange.

[Tcards-Please]

What you were probably seeing was the board member was reading a private message that was sent to him or her. People can send each other Private Messages (PM's). If you look at the top right hand corner just below your "Welcome, user name", you will see private messages.

r/

[4815162342]

Thanks Frank, but I know about PMs. What I thought was strange was that I could see that someone was reading a PM, *and* I could see who had sent them the PM.

[Steve D]

So basically, what you're saying is that you (a third party), can see that one person is reading a "private message" from another person, and also what their names are.

If this is the case, I'd say that those "private messages" may not be so "private" after all!


Steve

[4815162342]

Exactly.

[Leon]

I can't see private messages nor do I want to. Every now and then one gets sent to my email because someone accidentally hits a wrong button, I guess. I don't even know why it happens nor do I care nor do I read them. IF you are freaked about something then either don't send PM's or go someplace else. Big Brother on this board could care less. There is no conspiracy to see PM's...trust me (or don't, I don't really care). thanks

[Kawika]

What are the chances that you will be checking someone's profile at the exact time he is reading a PM? Kind of random I think and, even so, you'd only learn that a private message has been exchanged and not its contents. Not exactly a major breach of privacy. I did however see that one of our regular posters was logged onto www.donkeys-and-leatherqueens.com whilst I was checking his profile so maybe it pays to be careful.

[barrysloate]

Could someone explain the difference between a PM and a regular email? If I get a PM from someone on the board, I just look for the link in his profile and send him an email. I think it is easier that way.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Could someone explain the difference between a PM and a regular email? If I get a PM from someone on the board, I just look for the link in his profile and send him an email. I think it is easier that way.

I think the only difference is that a PM is on this board's s/w and an email is on your own s/w. That's what I would guess though I wouldn't swear to it . I use both interchangably and quite a few members send me PM's....whatever is easiest, makes no difference to me. If I am interacting with a board member that I don't usually email with, then it's more commonly done on the board, at least for me.

[barrysloate]

Thanks Leon. I find emails easier to use, but I am also a little computer challenged...not to mention mentally imbalanced.

[Steve D]

Basically Barry, a "private message" is internal to Net54. If you look at the upper right-hand corner of your screen where your login information is, you'll see "Private messages: Unread #, Total #." If you click on the hotlink there, you'll pull up any messages there.

If someone sends you an email, it goes outside Net54, to whatever your email address is.


Steve

[drc]

If someone sends you a private message on Net54, you will get a notification in your normal email inbox telling you what to do. Also, I think you get a notification when you're on the board. So if you get one, you'll know. It's essentially like an email system, but to and from board members. I think I've got about 4 in total since this board has been up, and each time was notified via my normal email.

[barrysloate]

Steve- I do know about the box in the upper right, but if I get a private message and hit the link to respond, I don't get a clear area to write back. I get the sender's email and it looks like it needs to be deleted (unless I am doing something wrong).

By the way, did you see I fixed that grammatical error? Sometimes I go into brain lock. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Steve D]

Barry,

I just went back to the other thread and saw the fix. I wasn't gonna say anything, but right after that thread, I went to another thread where someone asked you to check their spelling, so after that, I had to point it out! I see grammatical errors on CNN.com and other places all the time, and each time, I end up feeling like the AFLAC Duck after hearing Yogi Berra!

Now back to the private messages (PMs).....

Once you click on the hotlink in the top right corner of the screen, you should get a list of all the PMs you've received. Then, if you click on an individual message, it will bring up that message. In the bottom right corner of the message, you should have two buttons: "Forward" and "Reply".

If you click on "Reply", you should next see the "Send New Private Message" screen. Then, you simply type your message in the bottom (biggest) box, and click the "Submit Message" button, and you should be all set.


Steve

[Fred]

Leon,

Are you reading our private messages?

Hey, I really didn't mean those things I wrote about you when I sent those PMs to the other board members.

Is this how you know what everybody is thinking? I always thought you were omnipotent, I guess it aint so... you're just a cyber hack that likes to read everyone's PMs...

Ah, just funnin with you mi amigo...

[barrysloate]

Thanks Steve. Next one I get I'll try it.