ABSOLUTE WRITES CHAT ROOM. THE INS AND OUTS AND HOW TO MAKE IT MORE FUN.

My Java works with ezboard chat rooms but not with that one.

reph said:

My Java works with ezboard chat rooms but not with that one.

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Have you thought about downloading an IRC chat client? I think I was looking over the Star Chat site and saw one that has been modified just for that server. There are several others which could be used. You can google for Mirc, Pirch, or Virc which I believe are the best ones of the many different ones available. They are free downloads.

I only went into the chat room once, and that was onthe day of the great migration. That is, I went in several times, but it was always empty. I had no problem getting in and it was not complicated. But it was empty. I tried talking to myself for a while but it got boring and so I left.
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Moondancer said:

Have you thought about downloading an IRC chat client? I think I was looking over the Star Chat site and saw one that has been modified just for that server. There are several others which could be used. You can google for Mirc, Pirch, or Virc which I believe are the best ones of the many different ones available. They are free downloads.

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At the StarChat site, I downloaded the instructions for using StarChat, thinking that would help me get in. It turned out to be an .exe file. Little Mackie doesn't read those.

What's an IRC chat client?

Our ezboard chatroom was like that, Sydney. You just clicked on it and there you were, but it had less volume as to the number of chatters it could handle -- only 25 at a time, I believe -- and fewer options. For instance, we could not host a true moderated chat, which is one of the things we are working on doing, with guest speakers, etc. When we came to vBulletin, the two things vBulletin did not offer, as I remember Jenna saying, were a chatroom and a spellchecker.

So, if we are able to line up guest speakers, who would you like to see?

I've found that the more I use our chatroom, the less complicated it seems. Also, since the chat is not affiliated with vBulletin, when the boards are down, chat is still available. mIRC really is a cool system.

No, it's not. You should be able to use the link at the top of the screen, but you do need to have JAVA enabled for that link to work properly.

Actually, you don't have to enter your password. That's just a default feature of the Starchat login as some of the rooms hosted by that service are private and require a password.

If you don't enter a nickname/userid, you'll be signed in as 'Guest'.

Birol said:

So, if we are able to line up guest speakers, who would you like to see?

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Are you kidding? Wow, how cool would that be? I can't think of anyone right off the top - but I'm sure somebody will.

::::goes off to ponder possibilities::::

Sydney said:

Birol, just a suggestion. It may help many if there was a small instruction key at the spot where it says, "for chat enter here," or right after you enter it.

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Good suggestion, Sydney. I'm not able to add anything to the text around the chat link, but have added an announcement at the top of the forum and started a thread for chat questions in the FAQ forum.


ETA: I've moved this thread from TIO because I think more people might see it and benefit from it here.

reph said:

At the StarChat site, I downloaded the instructions for using StarChat, thinking that would help me get in. It turned out to be an .exe file. Little Mackie doesn't read those.

What's an IRC chat client?

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A IRC chat client is a program you can use to connect to a chat server without using java. I forgot about you being on a Mac but I would think there are a few that work with Macs, too.

Star Chat is nice, it even allowed me to connect with MSN v-chat which very few do. I tried it last night but there were only 10 people on the whole server.

Internet Explorer

• Click on Tools.
• Select Internet Options.
• Click on the Advanced tab.
• Scroll down.
• Next to any option that references JAVA, check box that is not checked.
• Note if any check box that was changed indicate a restart is necessary.
• Click OK.
• If you checked an option that indicated a restart was necessary, close any open programs and restart your computer.

Firefox

• Click on Tools.
• Select Web Features.
• If the box next to Enable JAVA or Enable JavaScript is unchecked, check it.
• Click OK.

Suggestions

Just some thoughts on the chat room:

-- I love the idea of having and thanks to whomever moderates it.

-- I've darted into the room a dozen times or so. Only one or two people there. On any occasion.

-- Guest speakers: recommend starting with Jenna, since its her board. Then, comb the boards for rocksolid published authors, poets, etc. and people who are widely respected (Ray Wong, Jim McDonald, et al). Also recommend setting up the schedule three to six months out so we all can see what's coming (and so can the people who are selected as guest speakers).

-- The java problem (some are facing) can probably be cured by downloading the latest java virtual machine by Sun. Not sure who owns or moderates the chat, however, you may want to include instructions for DLing the proper Java stuff to make it work. However ....

-- If you're the moderater, you may suggest other Web-based forms of chat and not use this Java-based system. The Java thing tends to scare people. It is maybe a bit more technophile then technopeasant. Plus, it takes better than a half dozen clicks just to start talking (only to find no one's there). That may account for why so few people are inside talking.

Since I'm offering solutions, I'm also offering my help, too, if needed.

Again thanks to whomever is taking the suggestions and running with them.

jst5150 said:

-- Guest speakers: recommend starting with Jenna, since its her board. Then, comb the boards for rocksolid published authors, poets, etc. and people who are widely respected (Ray Wong, Jim McDonald, et al). Also recommend setting up the schedule three to six months out so we all can see what's coming (and so can the people who are selected as guest speakers).

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Thanks for these suggestions. Many people have suggested Jenna, which I find odd since she just likes to pop into chat and talk to peeps as is, but I'm sure I can talk her into it. Just have to work around her deadlines.

jst5150 said:

-- If you're the moderater, you may suggest other Web-based forms of chat and not use this Java-based system. The Java thing tends to scare people. It is maybe a bit more technophile then technopeasant. Plus, it takes better than a half dozen clicks just to start talking (only to find no one's there). That may account for why so few people are inside talking.

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There's the different IRC clients and there's the link at the top of the page, both of which have been suggested. What other options are you aware of?

jst5150 said:

Since I'm offering solutions, I'm also offering my help, too, if needed.

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Ah. A potential conscript. We'll keep your name in mind.


Thanks much, Jason.

About Jenna, again, it's her board. So, she can pop in whevere she likes. However, people don't know she's popping in and, as mentioned, there are few people in the chat room (at least, when I have visited).

So, my suggestion is to have a structured, 30-minute chat. Have her open it by giving some background and anecdotes. Then let her answer the obvious questions ("How'd you get the Celine Dion gig," "How do you curb the anxieties before getting published?" and so on. Again structured. It makes her look better. It makes you as the moderator look better. And give people more access to her. Finally, it helps others whom you may schedule to know what they'll do. You and the speakers can also set the ground rules early on with planning.

On other forms of chat, there are CGI based as well as flash based chats. The CGI based chats are slower, but are easier to use and perform the same function. The flash chats require a technology to use (Flash), but, ultimately, are easier than Java or IRC.

Finally, I'm absolutely willing to help wherever. This is a fantastic forum. I relish the interaction and I've gained a great deal in my short time here.

Thanks.