liliysdad
03-17-2006, 02:28 AM
It would be nice to have a java based chatroom for the OSA......
View Full Version : Chat?
toeknee220
03-17-2006, 05:31 AM
Then there would be no need for a forum.
mikeyinokc
03-17-2006, 09:00 AM
It would be nice to have a java based chatroom for the OSA......
I agree, there are times when having a chatroom would be good. I don't see how it would replace the forum at all. Some of the other forums I visit have that capability and it works quite well.
:thumb:
I agree, there are times when having a chatroom would be good. I don't see how it would replace the forum at all. Some of the other forums I visit have that capability and it works quite well.
:thumb:
blake711
03-17-2006, 09:05 AM
chats have the ability to be resource hogs on a servers. OSA tends to have issues with being slow on its own from time to time. The other issue was mentioned that lots of posts wouldn't be made as that information would be disperesed via chat. I don't think its a good idea unless its a schedualed weekly chat or something.
liliysdad
03-17-2006, 11:51 AM
I dont see it as taking away from anything...but whatever.
pete156
03-17-2006, 12:23 PM
I don't necessarily have anything against chat rooms on forums, but I don't participate in them. I like forums cause I don't have to keep up with live conversation. I can make a post here and come check it out later on to see if anyone responded vs. getting into a chat seesion and then having to go take care of a customer or whatever and missing out.
liliysdad
03-17-2006, 01:11 PM
Look ar ar15.com, arguably the largest firearms board on the net. They have avery active chat room, yet they are far from lacking in post content.
pete156
03-17-2006, 01:20 PM
I'm not saying that it wouldn't work, just that I personally can't keep up with chat rooms.
trade_sniper
05-13-2006, 03:41 PM
A chat room would have my vote. It will add to the site, not take away from it. You could actually setup a room on undernet.org or one of the other main IRC networks, where the chat room was actually hosted there (for free I believe, just register the channel), then just offer a web based client on the website, but also have links to free IRC clients where they could connect directly from their computer to the chat server without taking any server resources here. I prefer the real chat clients anyway, they are much more flexible/powerful, vs the web-based versions. But for customers that didn't feel like they could install the software and use it, it would provide a simple solution to them.
I could set almost all of this up for you, or at least help, I have setup this type of thing before. As I said, I believe it can be setup for zero cost.
In the chat room, the welcome message that each user gets when they join the room, could point to a different thread each day, a 'hot topic' if you will. It can be changed (different link) any time you want to update it. Could point to a thread of a hot topic in any forum, an upcoming event announcement, a poll, whatever.
I think the chat actually builds closer bonds between the website users because its a different type of dialog when its real-time, it's more fun. Kind of like writing letters vs talking on the phone.
You can set the chat room up to allow sounds, so visitors with the real IRC clients (not the web-based versions) can play funny .mp3 sound files and snippets, its quite hillarious at times. For instance I could play a Homer Simpson "Doh!" and everyone in the room hears it. And of course each user has the option of turning sounds off or ignoring them, so only those who want to hear them, will.
They also have things like trivia games that are fun, we could modify one to make it gun or self-defense related (or both). They can be played by a single person or a room full, first person to answer scores the point and scores are tallied. Even the general trivia games are fun, covering current events, science, entertainment/movies, music, geography, etc. Once you set the trivia game up, its all automated, anyone can start or stop a game anytime they want. First time I heard about the 'trivia' game I thought it would be lame, but it was actually quite entertaining.
I just think it makes it more of a community, where more things are shared than just gun specific topics, although those are the most discussed. It definitely compliments the forums, not one forsaking the other. You have to remember, people don't HAVE to come to the chat room if they don't want to, they will use the forums just as they do now. The chat room isn't always full, there are usually times when its very busy, evenings typically, other times when no one is on. I usually jump back and fourth between threads and the chat room between lulls in the conversation. Many times new topics will be posted on the forums because of someting brought up in the chat room.
You can post links to pictures like you do on the forums, say if you were having a problem getting a gun put together, wanting to see a particular part or some other question...and actually get help in real time, instead of maybe having to wait until the next day for a response.
Many times I come to the forums and there just aren't any new topics. I WANT to read more, spend more time here, but there is nothing new. It would be nice to be able to hop in the chat room and talk to my like-minded friends, kinda like talking to your buddy and catching up on the day after work.
But it has to be setup correctly. If its not and no real effort goes into managing it, it will wither and die on the vine. But properly setup and managed, it is SO MUCH fun. As I said, I'd be willing to help in whatever capacity was needed.
The way I look at it, it costs you nothing to try it, its not going to hurt the site, so why not give it a shot and see?
I could set almost all of this up for you, or at least help, I have setup this type of thing before. As I said, I believe it can be setup for zero cost.
In the chat room, the welcome message that each user gets when they join the room, could point to a different thread each day, a 'hot topic' if you will. It can be changed (different link) any time you want to update it. Could point to a thread of a hot topic in any forum, an upcoming event announcement, a poll, whatever.
I think the chat actually builds closer bonds between the website users because its a different type of dialog when its real-time, it's more fun. Kind of like writing letters vs talking on the phone.
You can set the chat room up to allow sounds, so visitors with the real IRC clients (not the web-based versions) can play funny .mp3 sound files and snippets, its quite hillarious at times. For instance I could play a Homer Simpson "Doh!" and everyone in the room hears it. And of course each user has the option of turning sounds off or ignoring them, so only those who want to hear them, will.
They also have things like trivia games that are fun, we could modify one to make it gun or self-defense related (or both). They can be played by a single person or a room full, first person to answer scores the point and scores are tallied. Even the general trivia games are fun, covering current events, science, entertainment/movies, music, geography, etc. Once you set the trivia game up, its all automated, anyone can start or stop a game anytime they want. First time I heard about the 'trivia' game I thought it would be lame, but it was actually quite entertaining.
I just think it makes it more of a community, where more things are shared than just gun specific topics, although those are the most discussed. It definitely compliments the forums, not one forsaking the other. You have to remember, people don't HAVE to come to the chat room if they don't want to, they will use the forums just as they do now. The chat room isn't always full, there are usually times when its very busy, evenings typically, other times when no one is on. I usually jump back and fourth between threads and the chat room between lulls in the conversation. Many times new topics will be posted on the forums because of someting brought up in the chat room.
You can post links to pictures like you do on the forums, say if you were having a problem getting a gun put together, wanting to see a particular part or some other question...and actually get help in real time, instead of maybe having to wait until the next day for a response.
Many times I come to the forums and there just aren't any new topics. I WANT to read more, spend more time here, but there is nothing new. It would be nice to be able to hop in the chat room and talk to my like-minded friends, kinda like talking to your buddy and catching up on the day after work.
But it has to be setup correctly. If its not and no real effort goes into managing it, it will wither and die on the vine. But properly setup and managed, it is SO MUCH fun. As I said, I'd be willing to help in whatever capacity was needed.
The way I look at it, it costs you nothing to try it, its not going to hurt the site, so why not give it a shot and see?
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