forum trends

[petoly]

oh no I wasn't referring to your post precarious. I just remembered reading a post of Peter's that it was dropped because of cost and the fact no one was using it. I think the best option would be to have an irc server. I think you can have an irc room for free and just use a free java applet that doesn't have adds, I know they are out there because I have used them before. Hardly any integration to the site would be required other than a simple link in the main forum section or a button that once clicked will pop up the java applet which logs you into the irc chat room. that way you can browse the forums and chat at the same time. quite easy actually you don't even need to pay money to own a whole irc channel. all you have to do is join any irc server, then /join #myChannel where myChannel is the name of the channel (I assume it would be #MantidForum, then /msg chanserv to claim that room, so nobody else can create it if it's not up and voila'. Free chat. heck if you don't want to integrate it to the forum you can always just put the irc address to the chatroom on the main page, and a link to an irc applet like Mirc in case people don't know what irc is. there are even irc clients that work directly on your browser. so there are lots of free options.

Peter or any admin, if you are reading this, I would be more than glad to put the work into having a chat room up and running if you don't feel like doing all the homework.

 

[Precarious]

oh no I wasn't referring to your post precarious. I just remembered reading a post of Peter's that it was dropped because of cost and the fact no one was using it. I think the best option would be to have an irc server. I think you can have an irc room for free and just use a free java applet that doesn't have adds, I know they are out there because I have used them before.

Oh, that makes sense. I never chat so I'm not up on all of that. Maybe contact Peter directly.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

I think chat is free with a phone #, go ahead talk with your mouth(wow new idea?) if thats what you want? Duhhh!!!??? People still do use their phone right?

 

[patrickfraser]

I think chat is free with a phone #, go ahead talk with your mouth(wow new idea?) if thats what you want? Duhhh!!!??? People still do use their phone right?

Didn't you know typing out texts is faster than dialing all those 7-11 numbers? :huh: :lol:

 

[patrickfraser]

whoopsi

 

[Mime454]

If we're going to have a rule about off-topic posts in the future, I think that the photo-sharing forums should be exempt from it. I know that I go there to show off my mantises, there's no reason why some off topic banter would hurt any peruser of the thread because they'd be looking at photos anyway.

I can see how health issues and general discussion should be kept serious, but there isn't much of a problem with the other subforums IMO.

 

[petoly]

yeah but if you are posting a pic of a mantid it's technically not off topic =)

 

[Mime454]

yeah but if you are posting a pic of a mantid it's technically not off topic =)

I'm talking about the comments in the photos thread. There's absolutely no detriment to the readability of that subforum is there were 10 off topics-1 on topic. Because people in those threads are either asking individual questions about a species, which may or may not be answered, or are looking for more photos. You don't even need to look at text replies long to skip over them and find photos.

 

[gripen]

I'm talking about the comments in the photos thread. There's absolutely no detriment to the readability of that subforum is there were 10 off topics-1 on topic. Because people in those threads are either asking individual questions about a species, which may or may not be answered, or are looking for more photos. You don't even need to look at text replies long to skip over them and find photos.

Even in the photo section topics should remain species related and on topic so that others in the future can find accurate pics and info.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

If all talk was 100% on topic in every thread things would most likely get boring pretty fast, but discretion should be used in informative topics like caresheets, how too posts like breeding, incubating, helpful facts, etc. The topic heading should be a good reference on what can be said or not.

The mods can't keep every person in line, so we have to use good judgment and monitor ourselves for the most part.

 

[Peter Clausen]

Two things.

The chatroom is/was a free service in its last incarnation. I closed it (again) because, once again, a few bad apples failed to follow simple rules like not talking trash about other members in the public portion of the chatroom, as well as being discriminatory in various ways I'd rather not go into. It's hard enough to police the forum, let alone a chatroom.

Opening...closing...it's a cycle we see recurring as the years go on. Last time I closed the chatroom, somebody was simultaneously banned from the forum. It's a real temptation for some people to "really" be themselves in there. So, enjoy the chatroom for another several months! (...unless things are different this time. Forgive my lack of faith in 14 year old boys and freedom to chat.)

On a related note, we will have a new moderator on here very soon and there will be a few changes. One of them, per specific request made by the new mod, is reinstatement of the chatroom. She hasn't exactly "accepted" the position yet, but either way we'll be adding a new mod.

 

[fleurdejoo]

Nick, talk with our mouths??!! Shut the front door!

There is a chat room on here now?

This is very exciting news!

Yay!

 

[brancsikia339]

No way, there's a chatroom now?!?! Yay!!! But where?

 

[Peter Clausen]

There is a chatroom, actually, but it is invisible

We're just waiting for the new mod to start.

 

[brancsikia339]

There is a chatroom, actually, but it is invisible

We're just waiting for the new mod to start.

Cool! Can't wait!

 

[sinensispsyched]

Really?! Sweet!!!!

 

[angelofdeathzz]

There is a chatroom, actually, but it is invisible

We're just waiting for the new mod to start.

Well let me ask, is it Gill or Likebugs? Wait maybe Tammy W ???

I'm on the invisible chat room right now but I can't see what I'm typing, Lol

 

[lancaster1313]

Well let me ask, is it Gill or Likebugs? Wait maybe Tammy W ???

I'm on the invisible chat room right now but I can't see what I'm typing, Lol

Not me. That would be a job keeping you guys in line. lol

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Well I guessed it within my 3 guesses(above), Congrats Tammy!!!

 

[MantidLord]

I like what I'm reading. I think the past couple of months have had way too much weird humor (I know it's subjective)/off topic discussion in threads that are either meant to be serious or have nothing to do with the topic

Like a thread with picture of T. sinensis with "Mass Effect" playing in the background turning into a talk abut video games or something because it's in the background. I can see a post containing relevant info and including the video games, but posts that only talk about video games is annoying and off topic, even if the OP is participating. I haven't seen as many crazy long out arguments, or maybe I haven't been looking, so that's good. Maybe because Patrick hasn't posted on any of my threads

The chat feature would be a nice re-addition, I just hope people can contain themselves, which should allow the forum to maintain it's roughly 60-70% serious information feel to it.