I found the answer to my posted question.
Bulletin boards like this generally do not use html (HyperText Markup Language) anymore in the messages listings because it made the bulletin board susceptible to hacking. Bulletin boards have now implemented a lightweight markup language called BBCode which allows very limited formatting including
bold, italic, underlined, etc.
An article on BBCode is in Wikipedia here:
Wikipedia BBCode entry
Michael A. Learmonth, B.A.Sc., M.B.A., M.Eng., J.D., LL.B., C.F.E.I., P.Eng.
Senior Associate,
Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering and Science
Michael A. Learmonth, B.A.Sc., M.B.A., M.Eng., J.D., LL.B., C.F.E.I., P.Eng.
Senior Associate,
Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering and Science
40 University Avenue, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 1T1
Phone: 416-368-1700 ext. 225
Fax: 416-368-5576