The Chat Box/Shout Box/TagBoard

[Infinity Recruitment Services]

On balance, I think it increases activity.

While there is a problem with many boxes that people stay there and are only out of character and not posting this is mitigated by a few factors.

First: speed. If there is a chatbox of any kind, a prospective member can drop in, ask a question, either of policy or of open characters, and usually get the question answered in seconds. If such a question is restricted to a particular thread, it might not be read until days or hours later. This sort of thing probably increases activity through new membership.

Second: a chat box draws the forum community in. Some people for instance, hang around a site for the sake of the box. If they're already there anyway they may post when they otherwise would be doing something else.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

[Cman710]

Chatboxes are a gift and a burden if you ask me.

It's nice to be able to talk on the fly to members, but at the same time there's the 'guests'. Who will occasionally decide to come on in order to make rude remarks about your site, spam, or on occasion, they'll advertise. It's a pain in the butt in that respect, but in others if you just ignore said guests, you tend to get along fine.

[~Sarzah~]

All of the sites I've been on so far have had CBoxes, and I think that they're one of the most useful tools a forum can have. We've so far never had any problems with spamming, and only a very large beginner's site that I was on had problems with people fighting in there. So, I guess I've been quite lucky, but I believe CBoxes are quite useful, brilliant things.

[Bumble]

I think chat-boxes are very useful and are a great way for members to communicate with each other. It also shows that the site is more active, and usually members will want to join a site with an active c-box/chatango, etc. Spam can be dealt with easily, because on chatango it's easy to delete messages and ban users. Overall it's an easy and quite useful way of communicating to members. :]

[``HEATHER-LICIOUS``]

Personally, I like chat boxes. They allow you to say things unrelated to the board and get to know the site community. Also, it is a draw to a site, I find people get distracted by cboxes and make guests stay longer. I know because it's happened to me. Also, I use cbox.

[Marci]

The problem with c-boxes, is that you don't think before you type. Or, you can. But if you're sending PMs, or posting, you tend to think a little more than if you're IMing.

[Candice]

Sept 4, 2010 7:29:09 GMT -8 Marci said:

The problem with c-boxes, is that you don't think before you type. Or, you can. But if you're sending PMs, or posting, you tend to think a little more than if you're IMing.

Hi,
Welcome to D:YP. Please read over the rules and please remember that all posts must be 4 sentences long at the minimum.

Thank you.

[<(o_0)>Crazy Redd<(0_o)>]

I think cboxes are useful, and sometimes annoying. I like cboxes because you can chat off topic, without having to choose a thread to post it in. It's like conversation. When you post in a board, you stay on topic mostly, and not change subject, like you would in conversation. It is more imeadiate than boards so you can get to know someone better than in boards.
Cboxes can be annoying when guests log on and post spam and advertisments.
I use a cbox myself and it's been great.

[elusivebutterfly]

I've tried to set up the chat box on my forum, but it doesn't work. My theory is because I have an iMac! (Will never trade, by the way.)

[Candice]

Sept 6, 2010 15:04:51 GMT -8 elusivebutterfly said:

I've tried to set up the chat box on my forum, but it doesn't work. My theory is because I have an iMac! (Will never trade, by the way.)

Hi,

Welcome to D:YP. Please read the rules. If you need help with your chat box, please visit the support board or the chat box's website.

Thank you.

[Liz]

I use a cbox on my site, and it's a great way for people to communicate with other members without having to drag along slowly with PMs, or having to join and post. I prefer cbox above the other chatboxes that I had, because you can customize it wonderfully. The only issue is - you need to buy a premium to get basic features like auto-refreshing.

Anyway, I'd say it somewhat decreases from activity in the sense that people come on and get so distracted with talking on the cbox, that they forget to post. Although, it's easier to ask people quick questions or remind them about a topic they need to post in, so it's more convenient then not.

[Arwen4CJ]

Hello everyone

I just put a chatbox on my site. It didn't initially have one, but several members requested one. I posted on a forum directory site discussion topic, and I mentioned that I didn't have a c-box. Several members of that forum said that they felt that they were essential, some saying that they wouldn't join a forum unless the site had one.

Taking that into consideration, as well as my members' requests, I went ahead and added one in. So far, it's been fine. I've only had it a couple of days. I think that it does add to the site, as well as the community. Several guests have posted, which has been nice. Hopefully it adds to the overall friendliness of the place.

The only problem I've run into so far is that the organization where I do my internship at blocks the c-box, so I can't see what is posted while I'm at my internship site. I have created a rule about wanting people to post important board information in the actual forum itself, or to post the question/topic in both the c-box and the forum, just so that other members and I can see it.

I've thought about the impersonating thing -- but wouldn't it be obvious whether or not the member were on. I mean, proboards keeps track of who is on and who isn't....so if someone is posting in a c-box that isn't listed as being online on the forum, and making rude comments, it would seem obvious that it wasn't that person.

Anyway, we'll see if more people decide to join with the c-box in place.

It's been interesting to read other people's thoughts and opinions on the topic.

[Liz]

Sept 10, 2010 13:38:25 GMT -8 Arwen4CJ said:

Hello everyone

I just put a chatbox on my site. It didn't initially have one, but several members requested one. I posted on a forum directory site discussion topic, and I mentioned that I didn't have a c-box. Several members of that forum said that they felt that they were essential, some saying that they wouldn't join a forum unless the site had one.

Taking that into consideration, as well as my members' requests, I went ahead and added one in. So far, it's been fine. I've only had it a couple of days. I think that it does add to the site, as well as the community. Several guests have posted, which has been nice. Hopefully it adds to the overall friendliness of the place.

The only problem I've run into so far is that the organization where I do my internship at blocks the c-box, so I can't see what is posted while I'm at my internship site. I have created a rule about wanting people to post important board information in the actual forum itself, or to post the question/topic in both the c-box and the forum, just so that other members and I can see it.

I've thought about the impersonating thing -- but wouldn't it be obvious whether or not the member were on. I mean, proboards keeps track of who is on and who isn't....so if someone is posting in a c-box that isn't listed as being online on the forum, and making rude comments, it would seem obvious that it wasn't that person.

Anyway, we'll see if more people decide to join with the c-box in place.

It's been interesting to read other people's thoughts and opinions on the topic.

If you go on cbox.ws you can check the messages there, as well as see the IP address to get a better idea if they are impersonaters. c:

[Arwen4CJ]

Sept 10, 2010 14:36:43 GMT -8 Liz said:

If you go on cbox.ws you can check the messages there, as well as see the IP address to get a better idea if they are impersonaters. c:

Thank you. I will keep that in mind if I have an issue with that.

Out of curiosity, how many people here feel that c-boxes are essential for a rp site? How much does having one or not having one play into your desire to join a rp site.

[Xylish]

Mar 7, 2007 14:46:19 GMT -8 Enchant said:

I got this idea from a rate I read by one of you members and thought it would be a good topic of discussion.

You see them on many forums on top or down below the boards. You see them in the boards or on a page by them selves.You see them everywhere and a good population of members use them. I am talking about Chat Box/ Shout Box/TagBoard . I know there are those who feel that the members should be interacting on the boards, and if they are on the chatbox, then what is the point of the forum.

The question is, Do you think that Chat Box/ Shout Box/TagBoard take away from the activity of a forum?


I personally have a chat box. I use it so that myself, members and onlookers can communicate free of stricter rules. I like the idea of guest being able to ask questions without the obligation of feeling like they HAVE TO join...I also like to goof around with the next person so it is cool to let guest see that we have fun and perhaps encourage them to be interested in joining. I have more pros then cons for my forum personally...but I know that there are those who oppose them.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

A forum is a forum. The whole point of a forum system is to allow members to chat and express ideas. I personally don't see a point in putting another system in there where spam accumulates and unnecessary space is taken.

So yes, I do think that it:
1. Takes the activity of the forum away.
2. Unnecessary space taken
3. Spam accumulator

If guests want to ask a question, join the board and ask it!