Need Your Feedback on Chat Idea

[Brett]

Well we have been throwing this idea around for a while, and I have been really, really against it, but am willing to give a listen. Some have suggested having a real-time chat on here, seperate from the board. I have always been against this since I feel this place serves a dual purpose, functioning as a message forum and chat room. And I don't want to take away from the activity from this forum to a chat room. But I know lots of guys do chat on AOL IM anyway, and still post on here, so maybe we wouldn't really feel the affects and the chat room would just be a nice addition to the forums.

So give me your thoughts on this.

Also, I can use a very fast java client that makes the chat look like Yahoo! or AOL chat, but it is VERY plain looking and I cannot alter it at all or install my own java client. Also registering is not an option with this.

I can look into Perl-based alternatives that look prettier, would allow registering, but could be a little clunkier and not as fast.

Comments on all this mess? Thanks.

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Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[This message has been edited by Brett (edited October 16, 2000 at 01:58 PM).]

[Glenn]

Shit, I'm still trying to figure out which box to click to get my tagline to appear, slow down.

Anyway, surprise of all surprises, I know nothing about this. Is it just a matter of typing in a user name, and then you're chatting, or is there more to it? Do you have to download something like you do to use AOL IM? And stop laughing at my stupid questions!!!

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The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com

[Brett]

Glenn well the fast Java one is simply typing in whatever name you want to use and click "Chat" and you're chatting. Simple as that, it just looks fugly.

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Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[seenbad]

LOL I CANT stop Glenn!! Your killin me.

I think it would be pretty cool Brett. I say giver a try and see what happens. The details can be ironed out afterwards. I think it would be a nice feature, and maybe unique to VHboards??

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sheepa latta peepah dabba looka foh a moopy

[MikeL]

I don't like the idea much. There's always IRC, AOL IM, Messenger, ICQ... the list goes on and on.

What really turns me off about it is that so much of what makes this place fun is the fast-paced quips that come into play with a quickly growing thread.

When hot news comes along, I want to be able to read what people have been saying about it. Add a chat room, and we'll all have to be there real-time to really enjoy it. The forums format is a fine balance, and I think that adding a chat feature would disrupt it.

Just my 2 cents.

[Brett]

Ok so far we got:

1 Yes
1 No
1 uh...uh...uh...whatever Glenn's response means.

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Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[AllSoupNoFish]

I dig the idea of adding chats to the forum Brett, but if you decide against, how about listing each users IM service (for those this applies to) and contact name in the box to the left where our user names are. Ofcourse this probably wouldn't help to bring anymore traffic to the site, as chat would, but I guess it's an idea if chat won't fly here.

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"Can I reach it now? I'm not up her often. God only knows. And he ain't talking."

[MikeL]

Having a field for people's IM info on their profile is a pretty cool idea.

[Brett]

I know there is a hack to add an icon that would allow you to click an AOL icon and IM someone. Same with ICQ too. Would these be of interest? Traffic to the site is my point in doing the chat BTW.

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Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[Alchemy]

It doesn't really matter one way or the other to me. I guess chat would be cool, but it would take away from the activity on the boards. I prefer the boards since it keeps people on topic...you can actually have a real discussion on here.

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"Honey, arn't you gonna catch a cold dressed like that?" - Dave
"We're not in the music business, we're in the business of making music." - Edward
"Yeah, I saw a yard gnome once...it didn't scare me." - Space Ghost

[homeunit]

I'm with MikeL on this one.

A space for us to put our IM thing is a good idea, but please no chat!

[Glenn]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brett:
Ok so far we got:

1 Yes
1 No
1 uh...uh...uh...whatever Glenn's response means.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Mocking a guy for trying to learn something? Damn, that's just cold.

Anyway, I think it comes down to whether it will stimulate board posting, since that's what's most important IMO. And my feeling is it won't. Therefore, I'd say it's unnecessary.

I do like the idea of a place where people's IM names can be accessed.



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The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com

[Tuna]

I vote for no chat as well, but something different to distinguish this board from the VH board would be cool. More custom graphics.

[CouldThisBeMagic]

I vote no for chat. When I first joined up here, I thought a chat room was something cool that this place was missing. But, after having spent some time here and educating myself on how this place runs and operates...I came to the conclusion that (IMO) a chat room would not enhance what you already have going here. It would serve as more of a distraction than anything else.

Plus it would give all the jerks a chance to get in on the action. The one thing I like about this place (among others) is the lack of jerks and morons (like PD seems to be getting too many of already.) Although I am a moron, myself...at least I know when to keep my mouth shut! (This not being one of those times.)

Anyway...I vote no on the chatroom, if it matters. Boy, this could have been a lot shorter. I need to shut up now.




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"Like a blind man at an orgy, I was gonna have to feel things out."

"There's a little bit of Van Halen in everyone." - Ancient Chinese Scripture

Grateful Van Priest