Splitter7,
Here is a copy of the PM explanation I just sent to 43momma in response to her e-mail:
When another member sends you a personal/private message (PM), it actually looks like a thread in the public forums, except that only the members invited to the PM can see the thread or reply to it. None of the moderators or administrators, including me, can get in to look at your PMs - only the member who started the PM thread and the member(s) who are invited.
Here’s how you can view all of your PM threads:
On any page of our forums, look for the green Go button near the top left.
Click
Go, then
Personal Zone, then
Private Messaging. You should then see your list of private threads. Just click on one of them like you do in the public forums to read it, and use the Reply button at the bottom of the thread to respond to the other member(s).
You can also turn on e-mail notifications for new private messages, so that any time another member invites you to a new PM thread or replies in an existing PM thread, the system automatically sends you an e-mail.
Again click
Go, then
Personal Zone, then
Notifications. On the Notifications screen, look for Private Messages, and follow the on-screen hints to turn on your notifications if they are not on.
I hope this helps!
Julie