Young Writers Society

YWS now has a chat bar in the chatroom that's very similar to what you see on Facebook and a few other social networking sites. At the moment, the chat bar is only in the chatroom, but it could easily be extended to the entire site.

If I were to do this, you'd only be able to message people who are either on your friend's list or are currently in chat. Also, the chat bar can easily be closed.

Personally, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of it. For me, it'd be extremely useful having a YWS instant messaging service as it'd allow for better communication within the mod squad.

For storybooks, it could really be helpful as you may want to discuss a storybook with others but you don't necessarily want to be in the chatroom to do so. It could also really help with reviewing by allowing for better communication between reviewer and author.

And keep in mind that only friends (those who you follow and who in turn also follow you) and those currently in the chatroom would be displayed.

Yes? No? What do you think?

Sounds cool! I'd love it!

I quite like the idea, for all the reasons you've already listed!

I like the idea, since quite often I go into chat just to talk to a few people while I'm doing something else and end up getting distracted by main chat!

At first, I thought the idea would be cool. I still do. So many good reasons.

But, my concerns are that the site would become more chat-orientated. And I do like the idea of having just one area for chatting.


That's my two pence

Think I'd like that. I rarely go into the actual chatroom because I find it difficult to do anything else at the same time, but if there was a pop-up chatbox across the site that would be a lot easier to use.

Questions!

1. Would we see on our friends list people who are online, or people who are online and offline?

2. Would we able to "block" people from personally talking with us, if we so desired?

3. How many chat windows could possibly open up?

Snoink wrote:Questions!

1. Would we see on our friends list people who are online, or people who are online and offline?

2. Would we able to "block" people from personally talking with us, if we so desired?

3. How many chat windows could possibly open up?

1. Only people who are online.

2. Yes.

3. One? I don't really understand this question.

Whoops, lol. My descriptive powers are awesome today. I mean, how many people can talk with us at any given time.

Snoink wrote:Whoops, lol. My descriptive powers are awesome today. I mean, how many people can talk with us at any given time.

I don't actually know. Meet me in chat and we'll test, haha.

Edit

Tested, and had 10 conversations opened at once. It appears there's no limit. What happens is that after you have four conversations, the chat bar allows you to scroll back and forth between them. Pretty neat actually.

I do like the idea of it being a site-wide feature. It's great and nifty and easy to get in touch with the people you know. And that's a great thing. Also, the ability to block people whom you don't want to interact with is also a good addition. Having the chat bar means you don't need to switch tabs constantly to know what's going on where and you can surf the site and chat all at once which is also cool. I'm all for it and I think this would greatly enhance the experience of the site.

I think the only risk in this is that the main chat (i.e., 'Chatroll') could lose its measure of utility since people would rather speak with specifically anyone only they want to by using the chat bar. And the idea of main chat is to mix everyone up for the purpose of making new friends, acquaintances, introduce one another etc. Thus the idea of a universal chatting platform where any and everyone can take part loses its essence and the event of there being no one having the need for the main chat anymore is a potential possibility.

How about a trial period for a week or so? At the end of that we could see if everyone just stopped reviewing or not!

(well, er, I'd like to ask if it was possible to trial it for a month before it becomes something permanent? So it'd give people an understanding of what it'd be like and .... maybe it'd help )

Edit: Ignore me. I didn't realise Charlie had posted xD

A trial period is cool.

I'll probably institute it either tomorrow or Tuesday. I just want to hold off until I have the friends system fully working again.

I liked the idea so yes please to a trial run.