Shoutbox Suggestions

[Jenno]

So I heard there are plans for improvements to the shoutbox, are these listed anywhere?  Assuming that's not the case I have a couple of suggestions/requests that I know some members of my forum would like to see.

The first is for a sound option every time someone posts, we used a cbox before v5 and I know there were some who liked having a little bleep go off when someone posted something.  There were also some who liked not having a sound so I was hoping the option (for individual users) might be available.

The second would be for either a longer visible history in the shoutbox or preferably for the option to browse some previous messages, perhaps a little button that activates a pop up with some of these message.  I know a longer history is available for certain members of staff if they go through the admin panel, but when there are ten or so members on at once it can be easy to lose track of what's been said, or to join a conversation without interrupting because you don't know what people are talking about.  A way to view more of the previous things people have put would be extremely helpful to both members and staff.

Also, any word on the planned improvements would be greatly appreciated. 

Hope to hear back soon!

~Jenno

[RedBassett]

Greetings,

Sound: There is a plugin for this in the Plugin Database.

Longer History: This has been requested previously, and I believe, rejected.

[Jenno]

Thanks for the speedy response!

Sound: Thank you very much!

Longer History: What was the reason it was rejected? If you can recall, that is.

[RedBassett]

Don't quote me, but I believe the general idea is that the shoutbox is supposed to be used for quick conversations, and that anything meant to be seen again should be a post rather than a shout.

Edit: It was added to an internal list, but may or may not be a feature:

support.proboards.com/thread/432080/shoutbox-archive

[blueshead]

Admin/ Settings/ Shoutbox.. gives you the last 200 shouts, I think..

[shaidsher]

I think the shoutbox should use "shoutbox logger" because if someone was using offensive words and then the members saw it and he quickly report it to admin, but then he/she can quickly click "edit" or even "delete" that post. And that staff wouldn't even believe that member what he saw on that post.



I think the shoutbox should use a logger that staff can see what has been said early on.

[Jessecast]

With cuss words you can use the censorship function and you can always ask the member for a screenshot of the report in cases like that

[RedBassett]

While I think Jessecast provides a perfectly valid solution, a ProBoards staff member will get back to you on the status of this suggestion.

[Ryan Roos]

There is no public list of features. It would be too long and we would spend to much time explaining things to people who asked about it. Better that you request what you want and we will tell you about why we will or won't add your idea.

We won't include sounds by default. People are generally annoyed by random noise on forums and leave. This costs us business. It's the same reason we don't have audio ads. That being said, feel free to add all the sound you want. I think there might already be a plugin for this, if there isn't you could sure request it.


There has been a previous request for a longer history. We may or may not add a longer history or some sort of archive in a future update. But as previously explained the shoutbox is temporary. It isn't meant to be a place of content and substance. If you want something to stick around use the forum. After all that is what the entire point of having a forum is for.

Concerns with moderation of the shoutbox can be addressed as follows. First and foremost you have a censored words list and can block words before they are ever posted. After that staff can edit a shout. Staff with the power can also ban directly from the shoutbox. And the best part about a short shoutbox history on the forum side is that if someone does do something inappropriate and no staff are around to catch it, it disappears quickly.

The shoutbox is a temporary quick means of communication. It is not the focus of the forum. There will be expanded features in the future, likely including a way to see more shouts both forum side and admin side.