Originally posted by KingOnPoint
As for sending an IM in a special message to my opponents, I can't tell if they even read my messages. For instance, I can't get Luigi to respond to why he resigned our game? Telling all my opponents that I will be on a "vacation" may not even get read to start with.
When you send a private message to someone you can tell if they have opened it or not on the "sent items" page. There is an icon of an envelope that will appear as either sealed or opened. Click the "view legends" link down at the bottom of that page for more details.
Also on the messages pages there is a selection box on the upper right part of the page that allows you to show 'All, read, or unread messages.'
Perhaps you are playing against someone who does not read english or who does not understand how to use all of the features of the site, such as the private message system.
I don't see how anyone here can help explain why people do not respond to your messages, If you send an "in-game message" and tell an opponent that you are going to be away that's about all you can do.
Whether or not they read it is up to them. Whether or not they time you out if they can is also up to them.
Subscribers get only two vacation-related things that you do not already have:
They get a little icon of an airplane that indicates they are on a booked vacation.
They get protection from losing regular games if they run out of time while on a booked vacation.
Other than that you have the same options as they do.
They can provide information in a 'vacation message'.
You can put the same kind of information in you profile.
There is no way to guarantee that your or their messages will be read by anyone.