# PM / Private Message Notifications **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 4, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587 "2007-03-04T22:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/1 "2007-03-04T22:35:54Z")
When we activated Private Messages, I clicked on **User CP** , then, under **Control Panel** on the left, I selected **Edit Options**. On that page, I scrolled down to the **Messaging & Notification** section and, under the **Private Messaging** subsection, I clicked the boxes for “Enable Private Messaging” and “Show New Private Message Notification Pop-up” although I left the “Receive Email Notification of New Private Messages” box unchecked on the grounds that I do not need even more e-mail just telling me that I have a different fom of message. Before exiting the page, I clicked the **Save Changes** buttonm at the bottom of the page and when I return to the options page, the correct boxes have been checked. On other message boards where I use this configuration, I get a big honking NOTIFICATION POP-UP WINDOW in the middle of my screen when I receive a Private Message. I have received **no** such notifications on the SDMB. (AS a consequence, I only notice that I have received a PM when the number of “Unread” messages in the upper right corner changes from 0 to a higher number. Since I am not in the habit of searching out that information, (and since I often enter threads in the middle to see recent posts, where I do not even see the Private Message counter), I keep missing PMs for hours, even days. I am sure that I am now developing a solid reputation as a rude poster who does not bother responding to PM communications, (I’m tough, I can handle the contempt), but I am more concerned that I am going to miss an important contact because I have missed the fact that I have an incoming PM. I have now added the e-mail notification, so I should see the PMs at least a few times a day (as I look for reported posts), but I am curious whether there is something I have done inadvertantly to prevent notification from working even though I have selected to receive a notification pop-up. (Despite the derision to which I am sure I have opened myself with this blatant admission, I am posting this publicly so that if anyoine else has had similar problems, they will also see the resolution.) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/2 "2007-03-04T22:43:16Z")
Because of this, I am now in the habit of periodically glancing up to the top right corner of the screen to see if there are any new PMs. Once you get used to doing this, the bold numbers when you have new messages jumps out at you. I kind of wonder why the popup doesn’t work, but I assume it was deliberately disabled. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/3 "2007-03-04T22:44:39Z")
I don’t always see that I have a PM. A few times it has said Unread 0, and I’ve had a PM. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/4 "2007-03-04T23:39:09Z")
It could be IE? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/5 "2007-03-04T23:45:18Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] It could be IE? [/QUOTE] I’m using Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/6 "2007-03-06T03:27:53Z")
Ok, that was bizarre. I was checking out the boards, as I’m wont to do, and I suddenly get the popup notification that I had a PM. That in itself wasn’t very strange; I figured they’d seen this thread and fixed it. But…when I went to read the PM I was told I had, there weren’t any. Not new ones anyway. The last one I got was a few days ago. Da hell? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/7 "2007-03-06T03:38:49Z")
I just changed the settings that apparently turn the pop-off on and off. I thought I originally turned it on, but looking at the setting, I may have had concerns, as it says: > [@](#): > > Instant Messaging Support - Check for New Private Messages > Selecting ‘Yes’ for this option will cause the system to check the private message database every time a user loads a page, and will display a visible prompt if a new message has just been saved. What the heck, let’s see if it slows down the board. I turned it on. Let me know if it negatively impacts things; I can always uncheck it. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/8 "2007-03-06T03:41:17Z")
I just got the same thing. I thought it was from someone I was IMing with. I’m not popular enough to get private messages, on any of my forums, so I was quite confused. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/9 "2007-03-06T03:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] I just changed the settings that apparently turn the pop-off on and off. [/QUOTE] Oh, so _that’s_ what that was. Well, I don’t see any change in board speed. I don’t see why it would, anyway; it’s just one little additional SQL query in a page you were loading anyway. The popup itself is a client side browser dialog box. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/10 "2007-03-06T03:48:00Z")
I wondered what those were. But none of them registered in my PM counter at the top of the page. I also couldn’t view them because my pop-up blocker stopped them. Somebody send me one, please? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/11 "2007-03-06T03:58:20Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Somebody send me one, please? [/QUOTE] Done. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/12 "2007-03-06T04:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Done. [/QUOTE] Thanks. That allowed me to turn off the pop-up blocker, but that message was lost. One more? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/13 "2007-03-06T04:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] One more? [/QUOTE] Okily Dokily. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/14 "2007-03-06T04:26:30Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Ok, that was bizarre. I was checking out the boards, as I’m wont to do, and I suddenly get the popup notification that I had a PM. That in itself wasn’t very strange; I figured they’d seen this thread and fixed it. But…when I went to read the PM I was told I had, there weren’t any. Not new ones anyway. The last one I got was a few days ago. Da hell? [/QUOTE] Me too! Odd? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/15 "2007-03-06T12:05:20Z")
I got a pop-up announcing a PM – but it referred to one that I sent about three weeks ago. (The last one I sent, FWIW.) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/16 "2007-03-06T18:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] I got a pop-up announcing a PM – but it referred to one that I sent about three weeks ago. (The last one I sent, FWIW.) [/QUOTE] Same here. And I have notification turned off. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/17 "2007-03-07T20:39:33Z")
Well, now you know it works. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-private-message-notifications/394587/18 "2007-03-08T15:20:53Z")
I was trying to figure out how to check whether I had any PMs or not. Turns out you have to enable it in you account options. Just wanted to mention that in case anyone else didn’t know what was going on.