Vote For Over 18's Chat.

[TylototritonGuy]

It's not like the chatroom is the only source of information on this site! Doesn't anyone else find that alot of people (no matter what age) don't bother to search the forum for answers before they post a thread asking a question that someone else posted just 15 minutes earlier? I know that there are many varying scenarios involved, but this forum has been active for years and most of the questions have been answered several times only. Most are more computer saavy than I am and I know to look at back threads for information before I create another thread.

Sorry, please pass the cheese and crackers...

I do actually agree with you a lot, I'm not sure why there is so much fuss over "The kids wont be able to get help!" when there is the ability to post threads or look back and find threads.There is even Private Messages to ask questions if need be. I must admit I dont know many forums that actually have a chat system to allow people to communicate over, and I hardly see many (unless there is a newbie) asking for help. I will admit it is better to ask for help and be instantly able to see the answers but its no different to just posting up a thread or looking for the answers. Personally, I think this "lets think of the kids" excuse has been played on a little bit. This is a forum at the end of the day so how come the Chats are the only place a child can get answers from? It isn't the only place, most forums dont get the choice of a chat system so on any other normal forum they would be posting up questions instead of using the Instant Messenger.

I mean the chat is handy for two things, when people/newbies impulse buy and when there is a emergency. The Rest of the time it is normally or should be about chatting about thing like your animals etc. So maybe a chat room as Jennewt said before of a "On-Topic Only", "Off-Topic" and a Random Chat might be a good idea after all over a 18's only one.

 

[peter5930]

Instead of trying to sort people by age, maybe we could rename one of the chatrooms something like "On-topic ONLY" and make it clear that certain kinds of behavior (text-speak, off-topic discussions, etc) don't happen there. Or maybe we could call it "The Old Fuddy-duddy Room". If it works, maybe I'll actually be there once in a while!

How about an "Uncouth Scotsmen" room, which people with a delicate constitution can avoid?

 

[xxianxx]

How about an "Uncouth Scotsmen" room, which people with a delicate constitution can avoid?

I dislike this idea intensely, without our Scotts chat room regulars it would only be me left to lower the tone and be randomly offensive. Desist from this madness immediately !

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

It's not like the chatroom is the only source of information on this site! Doesn't anyone else find that alot of people (no matter what age) don't bother to search the forum for answers before they post a thread asking a question that someone else posted just 15 minutes earlier? I know that there are many varying scenarios involved, but this forum has been active for years and most of the questions have been answered several times only. Most are more computer saavy than I am and I know to look at back threads for information before I create another thread.

Sorry, please pass the cheese and crackers...

I agree, many questions have various answers already. The chat is more social than seeking info, for me that is. It does get irritating when people ask the same repetitive questions in the chat. I guess some people are just to lazy to do the research they need, they'd rather take advice from a stranger in a chat room with a funny/weird name.

 

[Jossie]

I think it's a good idea, but not for the reasons you guys seem to be talking about.
Sometimes the conversation in the chats can get, errrr, a bit 'mature' and off topic.
For the record, I'm 20. I'd just rather not deal with innuendo and mature content in the chat, because it really does not make me want to join in any of the conversations.

 

[TylototritonGuy]

I think it's a good idea, but not for the reasons you guys seem to be talking about.
Sometimes the conversation in the chats can get, errrr, a bit 'mature' and off topic.
For the record, I'm 20. I'd just rather not deal with innuendo and mature content in the chat, because it really does not make me want to join in any of the conversations.

I agree that it gets very off topic sometimes, but normally the chat is occupied by people that are regulars and their conversations gradually get off topic and random. However, I do dislike when you're in the middle of a chat (On and Off topic) and someone is randomly just interrupting writing a load of irrelevant gibberish (Which does happen a fair bit) lol.
However, I have never seen much in the lines of Innuendo or Mature Content as most of it is Caudata/Animal related or just personally talking to each other. Maybe now and again, but not enough to say that is a main problem, however it can put people off when they do randomly come across it which is not a good thing at all as everyone should feel welcomed in the chat! It does happen though don't get me wrong.

I am hoping that Jens idea of having a perhaps new names for chats such as "On-topic (Caudata) Chat", "On-topic (Anura) Chat" and a "Off-topic Chat" can be done as it would be able to make use of all the Chats that are now available. However I do see the problem in keeping these under control as Moderators and Admins, understandably can't be online 24/7 to manage the chats.

 

[DeCypher]

I don't like the over 18 policy, mainly because I am the one being affected here, me being under 18 and all. Yes some younger ones are on here, and perhaps they do get offended. I can only speak for myself, and I know I have learned many things from other people on chat, and have met a lot of new people. Perhaps if we had a "child-friendly" chat room with more strict rules, it could solve this. I really don't care if others are offended by anything, but as admins and moderators, it is their job to ensure that doesn't happen and I understand that.
All I'm saying is that, some people under 18 such as myself have positive experiences with chat and I would be upset to see that I can no longer use it.
Just my input on the subject :happy:

 

[TylototritonGuy]

I don't like the over 18 policy, mainly because I am the one being affected here, me being under 18 and all. Yes some younger ones are on here, and perhaps they do get offended. I can only speak for myself, and I know I have learned many things from other people on chat, and have met a lot of new people. Perhaps if we had a "child-friendly" chat room with more strict rules, it could solve this. I really don't care if others are offended by anything, but as admins and moderators, it is their job to ensure that doesn't happen and I understand that.
All I'm saying is that, some people under 18 such as myself have positive experiences with chat and I would be upset to see that I can no longer use it.
Just my input on the subject :happy:

This wouldn't mean kids won't be able to use the chat anymore, please read the rest of the Thread before posting. It doesn't mean the other chats are going to be deleted or Kids won't be able to use chats, it's suggesting either a "Over 18's Chat" to be made or perhaps the chats be renamed as "On-topic (Caudata) Chat", "On-topic (Anura) Chat" and "Off-topic Chat" to prevent off topic gibberish interrupting peoples advice/questions/answers to others (Which would be monitored).
I haven't seen any Mature and Non Child Friendly banter on the chats at all lately, seems to be mainly off-topic banter or just friendly chatting about their animals, but I have seen a few people talking gibberish or things not to peoples liking, which puts people off of coming onto the chat like Jossie and a few other members have said.

 

[TylototritonGuy]

All I'm saying is that, some people under 18 such as myself have positive experiences with chat and I would be upset to see that I can no longer use it.

I can see why you are worried though But don't worry this isnt a witch hunt to ban kids from using the Chat or anything over the top like that, it's just to have a bit of control to filter the gibberish, spamming, Mature content etc etc from the people that actually want help/advice.

 

[Jossie]

I honestly don't mind that the chat sometimes goes off topic, it's the nature of conversation to jump around a bit anyway.
Maybe I just happen to end up in the chat when the conversation turns or has turned rude more often than others xD

the thing is that people are going to post gibberish or spam anyway.
If they want to be annoying they WILL find a way.
In a way it's better if it's just annoying a few people in the chat at the time than on the forum.

 

[Molch]

If I were queen, chat rooms would be sorted according to the ability to articulate clearly and use proper grammar and spelling. There'd be a brief spelling and grammar quiz upon entering. If you pass, you get to chat with the smart folks. And if you fail, kaboom, your butt gets kicked to the text-speak forum. Heh heh. Age won't have anything to do with it.

Then again, I'm not queen, and what I say doesn't matter all that much. :kill:

 

[DeCypher]

If I were queen, chat rooms would be sorted according to the ability to articulate clearly and use proper grammar and spelling. There'd be a brief spelling and grammar quiz upon entering. If you pass, you get to chat with the smart folks. And if you fail, kaboom, your butt gets kicked to the text-speak forum. Heh heh. Age won't have anything to do with it.

Then again, I'm not queen, and what I say doesn't matter all that much. :kill:

I love this idea. This is perfect!

 

[arianja]

If I were queen, chat rooms would be sorted according to the ability to articulate clearly and use proper grammar and spelling. There'd be a brief spelling and grammar quiz upon entering. If you pass, you get to chat with the smart folks. And if you fail, kaboom, your butt gets kicked to the text-speak forum. Heh heh. Age won't have anything to do with it.

Then again, I'm not queen, and what I say doesn't matter all that much. :kill:

That would be awesome

 

[peter5930]

If I were queen, chat rooms would be sorted according to the ability to articulate clearly and use proper grammar and spelling. There'd be a brief spelling and grammar quiz upon entering. If you pass, you get to chat with the smart folks. And if you fail, kaboom, your butt gets kicked to the text-speak forum. Heh heh. Age won't have anything to do with it.

Then again, I'm not queen, and what I say doesn't matter all that much. :kill:

Why do I get the feeling that whatever direction people tackle the problem from, the solution ends up being an anti-Sam measure?

 

[Molch]

Why do I get the feeling that whatever direction people tackle the problem from, the solution ends up being an anti-Sam measure?

Sam? Who is Sam? Uncle Sam? Sam Gamgee? Son of Sam?

 

[DeCypher]

I am also confused.

 

[peter5930]

Sam? Who is Sam? Uncle Sam? Sam Gamgee? Son of Sam?

Smily Sam; he's 13 and he spends way too much time on chat. Well known for sending people invites to join the chat and saying 'hmmm' a lot.

 

[toph64]

I am under 18 and I don't spam anything. I can see why people would want to block the spamming and stupid questions but we're not all like that. Also, adults post off-topic and immature things too. I like Molch's idea though :happy:. You shouldn't sort the chat rooms by age. People under 18 have good points and good questions to ask too, and I know that you can make a thread to ask a question, but what if we have urgent questions that need answering. I really hate the way that some adults think everyone under 18 is annoying

 

[Cheva]

Ive found myself avoiding the chat rooms because of the dribble of some of the underagers...

Or just a couple in particular.. .

I guess its just as easy to avoid them..

 

[Ghost1]

I think saying "I avoid chat because of the children" is a bit juvenile in itself. You don't have to talk to them and they can talk about what they want if it's All topics or the pond.