There are multiple ways to do this:
(1) upload an image to imageshack.com, photobucket or any number of free image hosting sites. Once uploaded, you should see an URL for a clickable thumbnail. You can then copy the URL address and insert it into your forum message. Also make sure to hit the PREVIEW button below - I know that the imageshack.com thumbnail URL link has some extra junk you have to delete
(2) go to google.com or a search engine and look up images. Once you find an image you like, you can:
(a) click on it, so a separate window will pop up just with that image and it's web address. Scroll over the address with your mouse, right click and select COPY.
(b) you can right click the image on the web page, go to PROPERTIES, where an image address will pop up. You scroll over that, right click and copy that.
(c) when you are creating a message, you will notice a grey bar above the white area that you actually type in. You will see the options for B(old face), I(talics) and U(nderline) on the top left. If you move over to the center-right side, you will have some other extra options:
- the " symbol creates "block quotes". This is what those grey boxes are that contain other people's messages; this allows you to separate your comments from others in a nice and clean way that everyone can distinguish from. This can be HELL since it tend to do random things (like block quote your ENTIRE MESSAGE when you just want the highlighted section blocked off).
- the CHAIN LINK symbol allows you to add a link to any word or phrase you highlight with your mouse. So instead of having some mile-long website link address in your message, you could type "AT-AT green laser test", highlight those words, click on the CHAIN LINK button, go to another window with say the Youtube video that has said test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KifI32YTwE), copy that link and insert it into the small box that pops up after you hit the CHAIN LINK button and Wala! The phrase "AT-AT green laser test" is now blue and underlined, as well as linked to said Youtube page. Now people can clearly see what the link is about as opposed to a jumble of internet nonsense.
The BROKEN CHAIN LINK button undos any links you may have.
- the GREEN PC MONITOR/ TREE (?) button allows you to edit/insert images. A small box will pop up, where you can take the web address of your Imageshack, Google image or any web image address and insert it into the top line. This can be a pain because it takes a good 10 to 30 seconds for the box to pop up. Once you add the address and click ENTER, the image should pop up within the white area you are composing your message within.
NOTE: make sure that when you use the BLOCK QUOTE or INSERT IMAGE options to hit the SPACE or ENTER key in the message area about 5 to 10 times to create some extra space below where you are going to create the block quote section or insert the image. That way you will have some room to write about said quote or image.
(3) if you find an image within the forum that you want to use (or a link to youtube or even an entire message), you can choose the "reply with quote" option or just scroll over the area you want to use, right click with your mouse and COPY. In this case, make sure you open 2 or more windows, so one can have your message in progress while you use the other window to access the forum for the images and/or messages you want to add to your own.
Hope that helps.