PRIVATE MESSAGES are ST's 'internal email' system. Once you are in the Forum section, in the top right hand corner of the page, you will see your SCREEN NAME, SIGN OUT, HELP & INBOX.
INBOX is the place where Private Messages are stored.
If you wish to send someone a PM, just go to any of their previous FORUM POSTINGS (only--not sweep's page posts) and CLICK on the LAST BOX ON THE RIGHT - CONTACT. It will give you a choice of 4 options:
1. Send _________ an email (this means an off-site email and you cannot do it unless that person has 'enabled' that function and I doubt than any, or few have.
2. Send a Private Message to ____________
3. See a Profile of ___________
4. See posts by _____________
When you CLICK on PM you will see a page which basically looks just like a regular email after you have hit the reply button--and by that I mean you will see the message on which you originally chose to click and an email-looking place for your 'response'. Once you have finished your message, you go to the bottom and CLICK on POST, as usual.
Your PM will be sent to that member's Inbox. If you don't receive a response they may not know how to: a) use the system, or b) not wish to add to their list of correspondents. You can usually tell the difference as there is a column showing the Number of Times your PM has been Viewed. If, after a suitable waiting period, you see that no one has ever viewed your PM (other than yourself) you may choose to leave a message elsewhere directing them to this post.
Something I wish I had thought of doing/creating, etc. before I ever posted my own private off-site email onsite. Mea culpa, even though I didn't know about the PM system the first time I left my Yahoo address.
Hope this helps! Happy and Healthy Winning To All!
Lisa