Should Aussie Stock Forums introduce a live chat room?

[Joe Blow]

Those of you who were members before I installed this vbulletin software would remember that I had a live chat room installed. At that time the number of members was much smaller and it didn't see that much action.

I have just come across a live chat modification for this software and wanted to take a survey of Aussie Stock Forums members views on this subject.

Do you think the site would benefit from a live chatroom? Or do you think Aussie Stock Forums is fine as it is?

Give me your views!

P.S. Even if you don't want to make a post in this thread, please vote so I can see how the majority of active members feel about it. Thanks!

 

[ghotib]

A chat room doesn't seem to excite people much either way.

I voted No because I hate Chat - it's too slow for live conversation and too fast to do while you're doing something else. I was going to say that I didn't mind if other people wanted to use it, but on 2nd thoughts I like the ability to look back over discussions and I'd be sorry to lose that to Chat.

But it's your site Joe.

Cheers

Ghoti

 

[tech/a]

They tend to denegrate into a social interaction.
Very little value.

 

[GreatPig]

Personally I never use chat rooms on any forum. Too many other things to do.

GP

 

[RichKid]

Must agree about not being too keen on live chat. I have trouble finding time to post as normal and chatting might just frizzle away into useless talk when there's nothing to be said. Too much of a distraction for me, but thanks for tossing that idea up for us to consider. I reckon if ASF becomes twice as big (as it will) there may be more people willing say yes. I prefer the current format as the dominant one for the present.

 

[Joe Blow]

I'm surprised that there hasn't been more votes in this poll.

It looks like a fairly even split so I might hold off on installing a live chat room for now and possibly come back to the idea a bit later.

However, don't let this stop you from voting if you haven't already. I'm still interested in people's views on the subject.

 

[tech/a]

500 members and 14 votes.
Perhaps there are only 14 of us here now!
Crashy was right Ive turned them all away! :grinsking

Sorry Boss!!

 

[Bingo]

I voted yes, however I have a small concern that you would not get enough interaction.

You could trial for say a month.

Bingo

 

[tech/a]

Bingo .
Thats when you will get the interaction.Keeping the interaction is more difficult.

Here are a few ideas that I think would be required to have a successful chat.

(1) Set times for everyone to visit chat as this will focus participants.
(2) Topic for chat times.Not all times but at least 1 or 2 a week
(3) A modorator during chats to KEEP on TOPIC.
(4) Guests with a specialty who are asked to come along and present.
(5) Open to all members a Chat request topic to be discussed.
(6) The ability to block absolute nutters(Ive seen chats taken over by nutters).
(7) Interactive charts would be great (BOSS?).

What would others like.

Tech

 

[Porper]

I would definately not use it Joe, don't like them and never will. I enjoy the forum as it is although I am sure people do like them, maybe not enough members yet either, just my thoughts.

 

[markrmau]

It already is a live chat room sort of! I prefer this informal post/read method --- also it allows you to easily refer back to previous comments in the thread. It isn't broken!

 

[doctorj]

I originally voted for yes, but I agree that this forum would lose soemthing if there was a shift, even in part, towards an un-logged real time discussion. I like most of us don't have a lot of time to check the internet and only do so when the opportunity arises.

Having the forums as they are does much the discussion asynchronous, but it does allow the luxury of checking and out of a discussion and the knowledge it offers at an individual's leisure.

 

[Joe Blow]

Any more thoughts on the idea of introducing a live chat room?

I'm sure there are many members who have joined in the last six months or so who probably haven't seen this thread or had a chance to vote on it.

Tell me what you think.

 

[Smurf1976]

I've never seen a live chat that works well. They alwys sem 2 dgenr8 in2 txt msg an I dnt thnk that wil apeal 2 ne1 ere. Either that or it ends up like HC style of posts. Present approach seems to work quite well in my opinion.

I guess that if we had some dramatic event, like an actual market crash or a major terrorist attack for example, then opening a real time chat on the subject might make a bit of sense but not under normal circumstances.

 

[ob1kenobi]

Joe,

I must admit I prefer the current arrangements. At least here everything is posted and logged and you can go back to find things. If I don't have the opportunity to log on one day, then when I log on the next I can cathch up with everything. I think a live chat part of the site could take people away from the thoughtful posts that they currently do. I don't think I would use it and thus would not be in favour of it.

I do like the way in which you are constantly trying to improve and innovate the site though. Well done!

 

[DTM]

G'day all

A live chat room would add a lot to ASF because it would add a lot of dimension to an already successful formula. One way it could be used is if people with expertise eg Market Wages with Elliot wave would teach forumites live. All those interested could ask questions real time etc and recorded transcripts would be posted for those who want to read what happened. Other times, it could be used for people to share ideas real time when the market drops 100 points etc.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Profitseeker]

There is a danger that it would be misused and difficult to control! Therefore I vote no.

 

[Mofra]

Howdy,

I voted no to a live chat simply because the other live chatsites around tend to degenerate into slanging matches, with as much emphasis placed on personality as analysis - which is precisely the reason I prefer this site. The fact that posts are easily read back also forces people to post more useful information rather than hypothesise about likely price movements in the future - often with little or no analysis added. Comparing this forum to others, it always reads a little more "highbrow" than the realtime chat sites.

Simple risk/reward scenario for me - little gain for larger risk

 

[excalibur]

I`m afraid that a chat room could diminish the importance or better the attention of the members to the normal sharing of information, for which I think Aussie Stock Forums has achieved.
We are dealing with a vast area of information, some of which many people have taken time to acquire a relevant or better a most professional as possibile response to a certain question or request.
My vote is therefore Nee.

 

[mime]

Would there be enough people to use the chat room?