Here's how it works:

• Announcements will display briefly and disappear.
• If the message requires an action from you, like clicking a button, the message will flash and wait for you to make a choice.
• Messages from other people will both flash and ring and then time out after a short time.
• View your Message Bar at any time from the menu at the bottom of your screen by selecting There > Customize > Toolbars and Tips > Message Bar.
• The Message Bar stores your last 20 messages which you can browse through by using the arrow buttons.
• You can turn certain types of messages on and off under There > Customize > Messages, including notifications when your buddies log in and out, and permissions messages that appear when you enter areas in the world where various activities (i.e., driving, dropping) are/aren't permitted.