Patti....everyone has to have a valid e-mail address in order to have signed on here as a member in the first place. Lots of us have it 'hidden' but we all have to have one.
Mine, for instance in my username @ yahoo.com. That's a "real" e-mail address where messages can be sent to me from anywhere, including this forum when we go down for some reason, and the PTB want to let us know.
It is NOT my "personal" e-mail address which I have never shared on this forum because that's a rule in our house.
And it's NOT the way in which our "messages" to one another come and go. That's something completely internal.
MB's address is the one HERE. If, for instance, you were ON your computer, but OFF the forum and couldn't seem to log back on, you could send him a message (via YOUR regular e-mail) letting him know you were having trouble and asking for assistance.
I know....look who's trying to explain something technical
....but this is something I'm pretty sure of because I had to have it explained to me.