How about a chatboard?

[ErikG]

As there are often quite a number of people online at the same time a small chat would be interresting. The one big drawback as I see it is that the information on the chat will disappear and will not be viewable to others as the forums are.

What do you all think?
Jeff?

Erik

[Gades]

I think that's a good idea, you always can copy/paste the conclusions of a chat in a later thread.

Jeff: if you like the idea, let me know and I'll tell you how we did it in another vBulletin board

[Jeff]

That's the main reason I generally prefer forums over chat rooms - a lot of the threads turn out to be really interesting, and sometimes you don't know until later how interesting it will end up being or who might see an old discussion and jump in with a whole new way of looking at it or a great new contact, and with a chat room some of that discussion might be lost. Not to mention that when you guys become famous designers, I want to have enough material to do a book about you guys

On the other hand, if there is interest in having a chat room and you think it would compliment our forums here, I would be happy to set one up. I haven't looked much at chat software so I would appreciate a recommendation.

[lockhughes]

Originally posted by ErikG
As there are often quite a number of people online at the same time a small chat would be interresting. The one big drawback as I see it is that the information on the chat will disappear and will not be viewable to others as the forums are.

I agree re disappear. Now, if chats could be "captured" as messages or otherwise databased somehow... might be the best of both?

I've seen active chats fly by, and I suspect that many folk couldn't keep up with the flow... msgs/forums allow more thought (?), maybe a little research (?) , before a response...

Msgs also allow folk to tap on their own schedules despite timezones.

Being able to research back over old msg threads is a gold mine.

IMHO chats can be a huge fun, time consuming, and be a social thingee, but that's about it.

Nix the chat. Just more software to plug in/ maintain/ upgrade/ learn.

Lock
(former Sysop, Ship to Shore OIS network)

[Gades]

lockhughes: I don't think a chat would be harmful. I mean, that it does have some positive points.
for example, sometimes I send a PM to someone, he replies, I reply back and so on.... it'd be faster to just have a little chat, and also, more than two users can join at the same time. I think that's a good advantage.

If more users are using the chat, and they discuss about something that sounds interesting, it can always be copied and pasted in a thread by any of the members. Or they can just get into a thread by themselfes; I mean, decide to start a thread about it.

It's just a dynamic way of comunication, for short posts.

Using a simple Chat makes things easy. Not maintenance involved with it.

[Jeff]

<added a poll because I'm not sure one way or the other - I agree it could be a nice way to, well, chat, but at the same time if the chat feature became too popular it might hurt the existing forums and there would be less material to search later as a resource and some discussion could be lost because of people on different timetables>

[duluthboats]

With the little interest shown in the chat room I would say we don’t need it. The private message seems to fill this niche. One night I went back and forth with 3 people.

Gary

[Willallison]

One night I went back and forth with 3 people.

You know you can get arrested for that kind of thing Gary!

[duluthboats]

Sure but it's fun. LOL!!!
Gary

[Gades]

I guess Gary is right, the interest shwon in the Chat is about the same in the files I posted

if there was a chatboard on here this forum would be more dusty than it already is. Lets talk people don't be scared to post. This is the open forum after all

[Nomad]

Dusty?? Maybe a little unactive at times but never Dusty

[Wellydeckhand]

A chat room doesnt mean we talk rubbish but maybe to do real time messaging on a topic that waiting PM would be troublesome.

[hansp77]

I say bring on the chat,
You could have a sepperate thread where particularly good peices can get copied and pasted into, as a sort of reference, including where if anywhere the subject has been followed on within their propper topic threads.
I love this forum, but sometimes I sit here for hours, just waiting and re-checking for replies to specific issues. In the meantime it would be great to have somewhere to wait and talk.
Hans...

[Mayfly]

The chat should be allow... this will let the professional to secure the design thread and have a real time conversation or exchange of idea on the chat.

The job of the moderator might increase that is the only thing I think that will strain on the resource.