2 simple questions about private messaging/following
Installation and Configuration
Strumelia:To clarify though, it had to be a two way thing on Ning as well before being able to send messages: in Ning, you can't just 'friend' someone on your own- you had to send them a friend Request. The request had option to accept or decline it. If the person accepted it, then you were both 'friends' (both following each other). Only once a friend request was accepted could either of you send the other private messages. And neither person would appear on the other's profile page 'friend list' until a friend request was accepted, thus sealing the connection.
But, Jamroom is not Ning!

Yeah that's a traditional "friends" setup which is a little bit different than Jamroom's "followers" but for the most part they get you a really similar setup.