Making Chat Even Better

Buddy - sounds much better, FB!

A different way of highlighting people entering the room would be good.
Sometimes they just get lost. Perhaps a larger font, a different icon or a different colour could be used or even flashing icon.

There should be a change in user's perception.

Conceptually think of it as a meeting place.

At the moment we all stand at the bar, or lobby and chat often about things that are totally different in nature.

In a pub, you would stand at the bar to have a rowdy chat and sit down for a quieter chat with a friend or go into a snug for even less disturbance.

On wiki at the moment we all stay in same room so that we dont appear rude whereas we are often shouting over those who want some quiet time or who just want to talk to one mate.

So there needs to be a social change, not requiring new software, or new features. Just a change that if 5 people go off into another room it is not insulting to the ones left behind.

As a newbie I would like to say that the suggestion of a buddie seems like a good idea, I found that chat was quick moving and I had a little difficulty keeping up but with help from a few, Ruby in particular I did get to chat but at my own pace. A thank you to all that have helped me.

At the top of the chat screen perhaps two or three buttons.
One for General Guidance on what chat room is and more imprtantly isn't (i.e a fully staffed counselling service run by professionals). How to use chat. What the different rooms are. How to move between rooms.
Second for Chat room etiquette
Third for for other sources of info
Perhaps alist of abbreviations that are daunting at first - PMSL, LOL, BRB.

I like the idea of a buddy system. As a fairly new user it can be a bit daunting in chat as everyone seems to know one another very well, and it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of conversations, sometimes due to sheer volume of users.
A users guide as suggested be fb would be useful, got to say I have always been made to feel welcome - thanks to all
dg

Couple of thoughts.

An idiot's guide to using chat would be very helpful. I had never used this sort of chat facility before and still don't know all the wrinkles. I also feel there shd be a no names protocol. I do not use my real name except in PMs to those I trust or want to share it with. I would prefer chat was the same - although I agree that gender id would be useful.

Some form of 'help me' flag - alongside the buddy system and the newbie tag. It would be good to have a quick way of getting people's attention if you have an urgent query. People are very willing to help and support but sometimes don't pick up that quickly on a cry for help because the chat is so busy and fast moving.

Some means of warning contributors if the innuendo level gets too near the knuckle. I am not a prude and like a bit of backchat but have several times found a quite innocent conversation being steered in a direction I feel quite uncomfortable about.. usually by male contributors. Many on here have had issues with being in controlling relationships and have difficulty relating to men. This is a chat facility - not a chat up facility. We could always have wiki dating in another part of the site but not the chat room please.

Maybe - in view of the above - there may be some mileage in a ladies only chat room? Not intended as a sexist suggestion - but a protective one for those women who do feel vulnerable and are not yet ready for the kind of robustness that does appear on chat all too often.

Look forward to seeing what you do.

Hadenoughnow