Friends, For years people have been asking us to add chat to the site. I have resisted this but the calls have kept coming from those interested. My feeling is that this may take away from the site in that some people will chat endlessly rather than participate in the forums. Also, the TrainBoard Live feature is not far from chat. It's not exactly chat but lets you participate in all threads that interest you as posts are made. It brings up the issue of another thing that has to be policed and monitored and could be abused. A possibility is that a small group of people would be the main users of this feature and some of them could be annoying. Or, that it would be dead most of the time once people got used to it and bored with it. Here's an important point to consider as well: I agree with that statement and it is something to think about. So far I have only mentioned negatives. The up-side is that it would be fun for those that used it and might be useful at times to be able to talk live to someone. It would be a chance for people to talk about modeling issues if it worked as expected. As I mentioned in another thread, if we were to do this, we would try to do it right. This means that we are not interested in free chat services, etc. There is one piece of good software that integrates with the forum software and uses the same member database. If we did it, that would be the thing we would do. This software is moderately expensive, and if we did it, I think people that want to use it should pay for it. We would not use money from the general fund to pay for this as that is not the purpose that it was given for. Also, it would take place in a pop-up window. A user who wished to participate in chat would have to click a link to bring up the chat window. It would not be naturally visible on the main forum page as the Shoutbox was. Whether or not we add this feature will not be based solely on this poll but for the next week, we will use this as a method of seeing what the public opinion is. Please vote. The poll is anonymous. Charlie
The liability outweighs the good is what I keep hearing. All you need is for this to become another myspace type issue. Charlie, at first I didn't care one way or another, Today, I think it is too big a liability. My vote is forget it. :thumbs_down: People can use IM if they need to chat, can't they? Joe
I'm not much a fan of chat. I think it would take attention away from other things here. I belong to a number of ship forums with chat rooms, and they are always empty. I wouldn't want to spend money on something few members would use.
I tried it a couple of times and thought it was pretty neat. However, it seemed like the posting in threads did drop a little while the shoutbox was on. Also, seems like the concerns far outweigh the value so I voted no.
Maybe we could start a topic and one of the admins could lock it on top and it could be called Chitchat or something like that
I'm with Richard. I too tried it and thought it was rather interesting, but in the long run, I'd rather put energy into threads. You can actually go back and look at threads later, and to me that is immensly valuable. The chat really is just that... chat. Gotta make time count.
Alex- Your ISP does not need to provide the program. Just download Yahoo IM for free. www.yahoo.com Boxcab E50
another chat advantage I recently used Shoutbox to get very accurate advice and directions for railfanning in GA. I was able to ask questions and get immediate input. While I probably could have received same via the forum, in this case I did it on the spur of the moment after looking at a fellow TB members profile. Saw he lived near where I was headed and we chatted for about 30 minutes. The chat feature has value, I would embrace its addition and support it. Michael
I really feel this would be detrimental to the site. This is first and foremost a discussion forum, where the posts create a lot of information which can be accessed at any time. Chat can easily take attention away from the forums. I use yahoo Messenger or AIM when I want to chat, these are free and easy to use also the usernames can be added to your profile.
Boxie my mom doesnt allow me to download stuff but if i want to talk to someone i can PM them so its alright
Irony How can you NOT have IM? You know, I have tried several times to rid myself of Microsoft Instant Messenger, but it always comes back somehow, someway, and each time, more insistent that my life cannot go on without it. From my experience it is harder NOT to have IM than to have it. Personally, I find IM very annoying. I got 3 EMAIL addresses, 3 Phone numbers, a biologically attached Cell Phone and these days some insist upon sending me text messages. I answer my phone on the first or second ring and I answer voice and emails promptly, even when out of the country. I intentionally ignore text messages. With all that, I get Spam, chopped ham, telephone solicitors and when I want to talk to someone, I get voice mail! It is interesting to me that those who bug me to get on IM are the same people who will not respond to email or answer their phones. My intent is to cause a smile.:teeth: Not trying to pick a fight or cause trouble, and certainly no offense intended to anyone here. Peace to you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I feel that it would be just another opportunity for spammers to do a "drive by"and pitch their products as well as a place for keyboard cowboys to stir things up.I enjoy the forums,the chance to fully think about and comprehend what someone is expressing before replying.It may turn into a rivet counting cage match,and I think the administrators have enough to keep up with without adding this to the mix.I for one appreciate the fact they seek our input before implementing permanant changes.Administrators,please take a bow!!!!:thumbs_up:
I've always proclaimed that " simple os best " and a good code word would be " KISS ", keep it simple. I personally think there are too many buttons to push (at the bottom of thie page) as it is, ie, "24hr of trainboerd" and " New Posts Trainboard " Main Page Railimages" and "24hrs. of of Railimages". but, who am I to say. I'm just afraid that we may lose the original intent of this family of ours.We all have PM, Email and Your Space (yuk) to communicate.what's next, VIDEO CLIPS,lol.Cheers all
I know at least a couple of other sites that feature chat, and after looking in on them a few times, I really can't see where there's anything to gain by adding it here. Between all the LOL's, ROFLMAO's, BRB's and half a million other chatroom shortcuts that pepper the exchanges, you lose track of who you're talking to, what anybody's talking about, and wind up having wasted a lot of time. Occasionally, someone passes along some really good information . . . which, if you're not there at that moment, poof!! it's gone with the wind, because nobody ever thinks to repost it in a thread.
I have to agree with coaster. I put up a couple of hundred "shouts" in this test run. Half the time, people just glossed on past me. I noted many times, when someone tried to join in, and nobody responded. So, they left. Or a reply was made to an inquiry, and never acknowledged. So, they left. :sad: Boxcab E50
