the message id is the number you see at the end of reply and edit linksif you hover the mouse over the white tag at the top of each message you get the direct url of that message and any replies will appear.
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Professor Fnord Regius Professor of B3ta Chronology,
Tue 2 Sep 2003, 1:15,
archived)
I don't see numbers andif I hover it just says "this is a normal post"
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faithy,
Tue 2 Sep 2003, 1:17,
archived)