Notifying network contacts of inquiries

A method for notifying one or more users of a message submitted to a network message forum, the method comprising:

• posting a message to a network message forum, where the message comprises text submitted to the network message forum by a first user, and where the network message forum allows users to, via the network, submit for posting new messages and responses to posted messages in a public forum and where messages are stored for future viewing and responding-to by users;
• and
• responsive to the posting of the message by the first user, automatically identifying one or more network contacts of the first user and automatically transmitting notice of the posted message to the one or more network contacts of the first user.

A graphical user interface embodied on a computer-readable medium and executable on a computer, said graphical user interface comprising:

• a first display area on a user's computer configured for displaying at least one inquiry indication, the inquiry indication indicating that an inquiring user has posted an inquiry on a message board forum, where the inquiry notification is displayed in response to a notice sent to the user based on information indicating a personal relationship between the inquiring user and the user receiving the notice, and where the message board forum allows users to, via the network, submit for posting new messages and responses to posted messages in a public forum and where messages are stored for future viewing and responding to by user.