Use of Private Messages (PMs) to stay on-topic

I can only detail how to work private messaging (PM) on a desktop so perhaps someone else will need to explain if the phone version differs significantly.

To send someone a PM, hover your cursor over their avatar. This will bring up a block with basic information and another representation of the avatar.  Click on that avatar and it will bring up the person's activity page where they have posted more basic information and expat experience.  There is a box on this page that simply says:  Send a message.  Click on that and you will arrive on the messaging page.  Compose and send your message.  One caveat is that there is no edit function for PM's so read twice before you hit Send.

There is another box to add to contacts but personally I see no use for it.  The only contact requests I have received have been from real estate agents and questionable females.  They think this is Facebook.  I recall one French Expat who decreed that only those who joined his contact list could send him PM's but I don't hear much from him lately.

To be sure to know if you receive private messages, check that your personal settings are correct.  Click on your own avatar that you will see in the upper right corner of the page.  This will show a drop down menu.  The last item on that menu is Notification Settings.  Open this item and Private messaging and contacts is near the bottom of the options.  Set up to receive notifications and you will get an email from Expat.com with a link that will open the message and a reply box whenever anyone sends you a PM.  You can adjust the other settings to your own preferences.

I am sorry if this was a little long, but I hope that it answers your question.

TLDR answer -
Travelfar, in a post, just click on the avatar. Works on laptop or iPhone.
On the next page, click on 'Send a message' button.

I just sent you one. If you are set up right, you should get an email to warn you some jerk just sent you a Private Message.
ok! 

THIGV wrote:

I can only detail how to work private messaging (PM) on a desktop so perhaps someone else will need to explain if the phone version differs significantly.

To send someone a PM, hover your cursor over their avatar.

Yes!  After playing around with this a bit, if their name is clicked, it brings up the "Send a message" directly.

This will bring up a block with basic information and another representation of the avatar.  Click on that avatar and it will bring up the person's activity page where they have posted more basic information and expat experience.  There is a box on this page that simply says:  Send a message.  Click on that and you will arrive on the messaging page.  Compose and send your message.  One caveat is that there is no edit function for PM's so read twice before you hit Send.

[snip]

I am sorry if this was a little long, but I hope that it answers your question.

It answered my question, and then some!  Thank you.

It is a shame the forum doesn't have a drop-down when someone hovers over an avatar or person's name to show "Send a message" to them.  I looked all over for such and found none.

Now I plan to use PMs to stay on-topic within threads.

@ gobot:

Got it!  Thanks for the test message.  PMs work fine for me now.

Hello Travelfar,

I am happy that you now know how PMs work. 
Thanks to THIGV and gobot for their help. 

I am now closing your thread since you have already obtained the answers to your questions.

Thanks,

Priscilla
Expat.com team

[Thread closed ]