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.

Don't be so dramatic and apocolyptic about this fgs! It's not the end of the world!!!!

Soupy, because having a chat room alongside usual mn will change the site beyond all recognition imo. Chat attracts weirdos who want to pm you about cyber sex. Go into one and mention you have children and you get some very nasty messages in my (admittedly limited in chat terms) experience. I really was shocked. This is a discussion and advice forum, it's real time enough, there's a chat topic, why the need for a chat room too? I think nastiness would happen, I really do.

They may do if they get the threat of being banned from MN totally if they do take arguements on the main board

But it might spell the end of MN as we know it, and if that's how we think then why shouldn't we express that opinion?

Maybe I am lucky, but I have NEVER had a bad experience in a parenting chatroom

I wouldn't call it dramatic and apocalyptic. I normally hesitate to offer my opinion about something so controversial. But we were asked our opinions and I am now giving mine. If a chatroom is set up, I may well use it myself, I don't know.

All I am saying, having been asked for my opinion, is that I can forsee problems with it.

I think it may help us to get to know each other a little better, and the fun sarcy comments will flow better too

LOL at WWW

This thread is getting WAY WAY WAY too addictive...I got to go to the bank, but don't want to leave

Have I killed the conversation

Maybe we could give it a trial run to see how it goes first before we judge it. I don't think threatening to go to other sites is very productive really, it may or may not happen, if or when it does, then we can decide whether MN is still a place we want to be a part of.

the voice of reason from seashell ....trial run v. good idea

But are you feeling fine about it WWW

The fact that this all started with a chance comment from tech is nearly as worrying as the chat room itself. I assumed the MN team were on the same wavelength as the majority of its users.. Could a sell out, with value based on numbers of registered users, be on the cards.. cos the only thing the chatroom will do is to increase numbers and decrease quality of this site.

More user's wouldn't be a bad thing...more opinions!! Ohh....maybe more argueing to tho

And it really won't drag the quality down nearly so much as the threads we have had the past few days anyhow

Just seen this... A chatroom would be disasterous. My work firewalls will ban me from it, I will be desperate to know what is being said on there, there will be nobody to chat to on the good ol' thread then I will be forced to leave my job and left destitute with no PC anymore and my life will be in turmoil.... and why? for the sake of a chatroom. woe is me.

(ok so I don't have a stick but call it poetic license)

I'm with Psycho here - to my mind more users brings more ideas, information, and support for those needing it. It also might make people take a chance and look in...those people could seriously be needing MN members help, and might not have looked without the chat option.

OMG - all the fuss about a chat room - I wish I'd got up earlier now!!!

I have used a LOT of chatrooms in the last 5yrs, all on parenting type sites, or competition sites and have never had any problem with them. On the rare occasions I've used MSN or Yahoo chat rooms (not messengers) I've had loads of hassle.

CAn't believe people are getting so worked up about it - I think it's a fab idea!!!

yeah - now tech can handle that on your conscience?

TVI - Awwwwww, you would be penniless and destitute. But a chatroom could be added in a different area, with just a link here, so you could still play on normal MN, keep your job, and eat once more! Hurrah!

On a serious note - lots of people at work have chatrooms banned by firewalls etc.

I can't get to msn messenger, any chatroom etc - even if you do get to one they soon get barred!

If people migrate from threads to chatroom there'll not be many people left for us poor workers to talk to

That said, if I had a pc at home I wouldn't mind the idea so much

Just wondering about whether people would move to the chat rooms rather than use the threads and then all the good advise that people give to one person wouldnt be recorded and available for others to look back on. Quite often threads start about one thing and then move onto something different and if this happens all the good advise on that chat would be lost. Obviouly wouldnt happen all the time tho.

And then Id just have to come on and ask endless questions about where to get Baby pasta

Ha ha TVI at your post and at Marina!

exactly tarantula - I made the same point earlier.

I mean what if...god forbid...the following threads had happened in the chat room and were therefore lost forever:
Eating Grapes in a supermarket
Tablecloth woman
War in Iraq (hmm probably a good thing actually)
But seriously - you'd lose tons of the humour AND the interesting intellectual debate. OK, it would run alongside the AC bit but I think a lot would be lost IFYKWIM