Chat threads

[tech]

We are going to start "retiring" threads in the _chat topic once they are over 30 days old.

What this means is that once they are 30 days old (since last contribution rather than since starting) you won't be able to add messages to them any more - they'll still be in the archive search, they just won't have the "add a message" box at the bottom, and they won't be in the thread lists under the topic. This list is at over 8500 entries currently and becoming useless.

If archive searching starts to slow down, we might start deleting chat threads from the board altogehter after a certain time. As the content of these threads tends to be chats (surprisingly enough) rather than requests for information, there's not a huge amount of point keeping them for future reference.

On the subject of chat, we are currently test-driving chatroom software with a view to putting a live chatroom up on the site - for them as wants.

HardcoreEnid I think MN has got to the point now where people are saying what they like about people anyway, despite knowing that it will be recorded for all to see, I think MN are probably sick to death of all the deleting posts they have had to do recently, it would certainly make their job easier!

Yes can see that

I don't want any more fun around here!! Well I have to go be sick now lol (morning sickness) but I hope you guys work it all out in a sensible manner (don't let them have it tech they'll dessssstrrrrooooyyy us all!)

Maybe its just part of the lifecycle of a site...

nutcracker...i get lost sometimes on my chatroom, and just start doing (,jsfdsjhfsdadsajfhdsaf)....makes the others laugh, and they slow down for me then!!!!

but part of what makes a 'community' is history - good or bad. If you're not online you can still catch up (and it's not always bad whatabout really funny threads that you might miss if it takes place in the chat room and you're not there). I think that's what gives this site a loyal following.

Ooooh nooooo, think of all the really bad cybersex that could occur....

can anyone spell out exactly how a chatroom differs from a thread? Sorry if it is a totally stupid question but how does it work, can fellow netters really kick out people entering the chatroom? how/why/when???? really confused

Exactly Snafu, and what if we aren't around at the time, we'll miss out!

I like the idea of a chatroom - but then I'm new and still getting to grips with things. Its easier to see what's going on, and you don't get so many posts crossing over.

I don't think active convs would die out because a lot of the time I don't have time to go and stay ina chatroom, so I can only post as and when and join in with a conv like that - but then you get the evenings etc when sitting round for a girly gossip is easier. I expect many mummies are in the same situation.

There is room for both.

LOL seashells

Agree with katierocket.

Last nights thread was awful but would have got a lot nastier in a chatroom. I was very restrained in my post to a certain person simply because I knew my post would be recorded for posterity. Shame she couldn't have had the same restraint.

It would of cause make MN even more adictive, as you would never leave incase you missed something, at least now I know that when I sign off I can come back later and check what has happened since I was gone.

A chatroom would be like a group chat on something like messenger - all the posts flow up the screen as you're writing, you can all see who is about, and you can delete what you're writing halfway through if someone says what you were saying etc, rather than the crossing over of posts. It is more like a flowing conversations than lots of posts.

Does that make sense? You can't go in and come back to see what you've missed of that conversation during the day, like you can with threads, but the conversation flows more easily, and takes on its own life more.

But are we talking about wiping out MN as it stands now, or just adding a chatroom option to it? If it is adding then all the normal posts asking advice etc would still be there, as would the normal convs for people who haven't got the time to sit in chat room

The dumbing down of mumsnet in action, what a shame.

Probably wont effect anything now, but all these so called improvements do change the ethos of the site.

I also think there are issues about safety for a site aimed at women. Lots of strange people about and it doesnt take much more than a photo and a chat room...

Oh no

One of the nice things about Mumsnet is that it isn't a chatroom IMO. When people say "oh you mean a chatroom" when I tell them about mn I say "no it's not". Will NOT be recommending a chat room to my friends, that's for sure.

It totally goes against the ethos of mn which is to provide help and support to all, how can it do that if you can't search the information posted?

HardcoreAnteater!

I moaned on about the chat thread, the topics and the photos, but I'm a mumsnet curmudgeon

the ethos has changed

It is finally starting to be something I don't feel is healthy anymore.

Although you'd never know with the amount of time I've spent on here this mornign

All that would be going is threads that haven't been added to for a month... is anyone going to miss them anyway??

agree cd

Love to say no it isnt a chatroom

but isn't the idea just for a chatroom to run alongside, not to get rid of the threads?

i wouldn't use it anyway

If a thing ain't broke, don't fix it ...

Oooh this one's going to kick off big time I reckon...gotta go or I'll be here all day

I don't see how it is destroying mumsnet - it is adding an extra option, not taking away the set up that is going already. If you don't want to go in it then you just carry on as before.

I doubt I'd use it tbh, but I expect some people will. We could at least give it a try, see how it goes.

Oh and I don't having a chatroom will attract wierdos, I think we have a few already!