BAUT chatroom?

[clint]

I just noticed the 'Chatroom' link in the top right corner.
Clicked on it, but found it to be completely empty.

Is this a new feature of the forum?

Also, the chatroom assigned me a new automatic username ('DumbCop'). Strange...

[SolusLupus]

Are you sure that wasn't in the "ads by google" area?

[Tog]

It was a new feature about a year or so ago. It's a free chatware program that had quite a few bugs. One of which it seems to randomly rested itself forcing you to reconnect and lose the history in the window.

You can change your name, but the few times we tried it, it was only good for 2 to 5 minutes before a reset. And, yes, it does pick really odd names by default.

As I recall, there were ways to fix it, and when the Admins asked if it was worth doing, the answer was a resounding "fix what?" At that point it was more or less assumed to be dead.

I still pop in there from time to time, but I have yet to see anyone else in there when I do.

[SolusLupus]

If I started an IRC channel for you guys, would anyone go in?

[mahesh]

pardon me...but what is an IRC? I seem to be asking dumb question here...am not very conversant with three-lettered (or any other number) acronym thingies...(like ETA ...no, not the airport eta...some other one..)

yeah...the chat room set up about a year or so ago... seems to be empty...the few times i went in...changes my name every time too...we made a thread about talking...to oneself...(now buried somewhere, in the depths of babbling) ...for similar effect

[SolusLupus]

Internet Relay Chat. A commonly used chat grounds that's easily accessible through programs like mIRC (for windows) or similar programs.

It has the advantage of generally being VERY reliable, if you're on the right server, and it's not that difficult to just set up rooms on servers that you do not own (as long as you follow the rules of the sysops)

[slang]

Mahesh: IRC = Internet Relay Chat. http://irchelp.org/

If I started an IRC channel for you guys, would anyone go in?

Depending on the network.. maybe. It would be better than this chatroom thingy for sure.

[Jeff Root]

I did a few live chats on GEnie, back in the last millennium. Maybe elsewhere
more recently, too, because I seem to recall a live chat with Nancy Lieder.

What does anyone here consider to be advantages of live chats over posts?

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[HenrikOlsen]

It's more immediate and the next day you won't get reminded of the stupid things you said in the moment.

[SolusLupus]

I did a few live chats on GEnie, back in last millennium. Maybe elsewhere
more recently, too, because I seem to recall a live chat with Nancy Lieder.

What does anyone here consider to be advantages of live chats over posts?

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

Faster posts, realtime conversation. You can't get that on an internet forum; you make a post, and it usually takes anywhere from half an hour to a day to get a response. It's very difficult to converse in this fashion.

Also, more personal contact, with a greater ability to talk to individuals personally. While you could do that through PM, realtime contact, once more.

[mahesh]

...You can't get that on an internet forum; you make a post, and it usually takes anywhere from half an hour to a day to get a response. It's very difficult to converse in this fashion.

...
Reminds me of playing chess by correspondence......yours of the 15th instant...crossed in transit...
but what fun!

edit: ... and thanks solus... and slang

[slang]

...
Reminds me of playing chess by correspondence...

IRC has been called Multiplayer Notepad.

[Fazor]

IRC has been called Multiplayer Notepad.

Ha!

I used to use IRC all the time, mostly with relation to the CGI/Animation community. There was a great channel full of very helpful people and professionals, but when I checked it out a few years ago it was gone. Sad. *sniffle*

[slang]

I still use IRC daily. It's just a perfect communication tool for certain circumstances. Less intrusive than IM or telephone, more "loose" than mail or forum. But it doesn't replace any of those, each have their strong points.

[antoniseb]

As far as the chat room is concerned, we tried it. The folks here at BAUT include quite a few that are friendly and chatty by nature, and it seemed like a natural extension for some, but in the end, it was kind of an alternative to Off Topic Babbling. No one discussed astronomy there that I ever saw.

If someone comes up with a new model for how it could be useful, or if new technology or social norms change things, we can always start it again.

[Fazor]

The folks here at BAUT include quite a few that are friendly and chatty by nature, . . .

OooOoo! There's BAUT members who are chatty by nature? Do tell! Oooh I can't wait to drop this juicy bit of gossip on that busybody neighbor of mine, Gloria Newell, that old bitty! I hear she dyes her hair three times a week! Oh, and just listen to what her gardener had to say about her housekeeping!. . . oh. Sorry.



I used the chat feature for a few weeks when it was first introduced. I like chat. But the software was awful. And there's people who are still just seeing the link for the first time, so it wasn't really advertised all that clearly. But it wasn't like there was a huge revolving door of people checking it out, so I don't know if the interest would be there even if it worked better.

[SolusLupus]

I'm still up for making an unofficial version.

[slang]

If it were to be an irc channel, how should we handle whom to op?

[SolusLupus]

Well, if I were to go in and create it myself, I'd grant @ privileges for those I trust. Forum administrators and moderators are the obvious choice, but outside of that, I'd have to think about it as I go.

[BetaDust]

BAUT on irc... yeah, sounds fun. Go for it SL.