As one who does and doesn't idle
Typically if I am on the chat, I'm at my computer. If I go for periods of not talking it's because I forgot I was in there or, I'm working on a project and keeping an eye on the chat for people who come in with questions about writing.
Yeah, imagine that, I actually try to help when I can. But I can't have my eyes glued to the chat every second or I'd never get my studies done nor my writing accomplished.
Recently I sat in chat for 24 hours to log for one of the moderators because we needed information so we could get rid of a troll that was harassing the chat users.
I have a few pet peeves about those who idle for more than 3-8 hours at a time but are logged on for 24-78 hours. It bugs me. I don't see what they are doing in there.
With as close knit a group as we have become, those who sit and don't participate just freaking creep me out. There's a lot of personal information, (not financial) that passes through the chat because we also sometimes talk about personal challenges, family constructs and issues, and a various number of health issues. I am uncomfortable with the idea that someone who lurks but fails to contribute to the chat regularly because I feel they are invading the privacy of the membership there.
I'm very protective over our teens (there are just the awesomeness) in the chat as well and it creeps me out to think someone with bad intentions (we don't know that those who idle have them but we don't know they don't either) might be lurking gathering information.
As to your question Elarasophia, I see people coming in and leaving so quickly if there's no response with just a two minute lag time and it seems to me a little patience is in order.
I don't know exactly what you mean by "deciding not to reply to someone you've taken against in the past" but if you mean had a misunderstanding with, I have a few people who have me on ignore and it's okay with me.
Chances are if I've upset them or have irritated them, I don't get along that well with them either and that happens on this forum all the time. To each his own. I'd rather have someone ignore me than be contentious over things I might say in chat. We have reached a level of civility that we've worked hard to obtain.
A certain level of tolerance is needed when using chat rooms. It is written communication and people are not typically intending to slight one another by silence.
Medi, I have NEVER had trouble logging on the Starchat servers. I think most servers aren't struggling with that nowdays.
I do think, we need an idle rule. And I think we need a participation rule. If someone comes into the chat and never speaks, what are they doing there? Get out.
But I'd like to think people can be a LITTLE bit more patient (ElaraSophia is NOT the first to complain, I used to take it personally as wel)l. It's the internet, it's not perfect and neither are we.
But the majority of us are in there, to talk about writing and support one another. We have a few who just like to hang with us writerly types but they DO participate and as readers their input is priceless.
And that, I guess is all I have to say about that.
