Hello....is there anybody out there?

Just thought I'd try this as an experiment (I've been nudging the Mods about this and getting nowhere).

Do we need somewhere just to say Hi.... Hello.... How are you.... etc., without having to have a specific topic or argument?

I've got a feeling that for many people they just want to connect on here without having to "carry any baggage" - that is to say, don't want to have to say anything heavy or meaningful. They just want to make contact.

The Introduce Yourself option does this to some extent, but implies you are a new member. Also it tends also to be a questions and answer service.

"Live Chat" is confusing because it isn't - live chat means real time, like a chat room, where many can join in. Message Boards aren't live. Could this topic be re-named "Just Chat"?

I just have a feeling other people out there want some form of free uncommitted dialogue for the sake of dialogue, and don't feel they can do what they want to do framed as a discussion on a specific thread.

How do others feel?

Parents
  • Hi all,

    Longman - I did try communcating with that user with no joy. I'm going to start hiding their posts now if they're way off topic. I've also renamed this area. Live chat is a very, very old name from the early days of the forum and it's good it's now more accurate.

    As for the level of activity in the community, as we've got another volunteer now I'm going to look to grow it. What would be helpful is directing our Facebook audience (which has grown rapidly) to specific topics in the forum. Again, anonymity will be protected.

    As for a truly live chat room, in my experience, this requires an enomous amount of time to moderate. As it stands I'm not sure we've got the capacity for it. I'm currently writing an assessment for private messaging, which I hope to have installed as soon as possible.  

    thanks,
    Anil

     

     

Reply
  • Hi all,

    Longman - I did try communcating with that user with no joy. I'm going to start hiding their posts now if they're way off topic. I've also renamed this area. Live chat is a very, very old name from the early days of the forum and it's good it's now more accurate.

    As for the level of activity in the community, as we've got another volunteer now I'm going to look to grow it. What would be helpful is directing our Facebook audience (which has grown rapidly) to specific topics in the forum. Again, anonymity will be protected.

    As for a truly live chat room, in my experience, this requires an enomous amount of time to moderate. As it stands I'm not sure we've got the capacity for it. I'm currently writing an assessment for private messaging, which I hope to have installed as soon as possible.  

    thanks,
    Anil

     

     

Children
No Data