To Chat or not to Chat

[Michael]

Hey all, we've been testing chat functionality on the forums. Should we keep it? There is a trade-off. Due to the real time nature of chat, there is a high server load. That means the forums will be slower with chat enabled. Let us know if you use it!

 

[Lifestyle Overland]

I use the chat very rarely, so I could live without it.

Maybe you could have a stand alone chat room, rather than a live program eating forum resources for those who want it.

 

[RescueRangers]

Voted.

 

[murps]

like @stringtwelve said.

 

[Tim N Michele Davis]

To be honest didn't know there was live chat nor do I know how to get to it. I'm not much of a computer guy sorry so where do you find chat, I'm sure it will be obvious once someone points it out to me

 

[Steve]

I've never found chat to work with my slow typing. By the time I'm ready to hit "send" the conversation has moved on, and my post irrelevant or out of the flow. I know a lot of folks like it, and on a car forum I'm on, there are people who use the chat but never participate on the forum.

One thing about chat is that it is nearly impossible to moderate unless you have a slew of moderators with a few on at any time. I doubt that would be a problem here with our smaller active user-base, but might with a lot of growth. It is a huge problem on the youth-based WRX forum.

That said, if there are people who use it regularly, I don't want my "No" vote to take the option away.

 

[toxicity_27]

I've used it once or twice. One of those times was actually talking to you about the chat feature. I could do without it.

 

[roamingtimber]

I don't use chat because one of the things I like about forums is that they are searchable down the road. There is a lot of great info that gets exchanged on here and you never know when you're going to want to read it again later.

 

[WJ - Firefly]

I have just never been a very 'chatty' person. I have had chat accounts in the past, but seldom used them. One of the more annoying capabilities of cell phones is text messaging (SMS introduced in MSAs in the mid 90s), which is one of the top reasons I gave up my cellphone earlier this year, even though I have had a portable phone (MTS and IMTS) attached to me since 1985. Since giving it up I have not missed it. In fact it is kinda nice having the electronic leash undone.

 

[TreXTerra]

I pop in when I am at my computer with nothing to do, but there is rarely anything going on. I would use it if there was anyone to talk to, but if it will be this infrequently used then we might as well get rid of it.

 

[Wolvee]

I rarely use it. I don't care either way. Servers can always be faster. :0)

 

[Murphy Slaw]

That said, if there are people who use it regularly, I don't want my "No" vote to take the option away.

Bingo.

I agree and didn't vote.

I've never used it and probably never will. I have limited time quite often and just bounce in a few times a day to pick up a good idea, look at the pictures, froth, covet and see what you're up to............

Then I plot and scheme.

Whoops, gotta go........

 

[Overland-Indiana]

I think it is a great concept, but I don't use it. The few times I have tried to use it there has been no one active. I vote to remove it and clear up some server bandwidth.