Chat Room Proposal

[Maverick]

What do you guys think about moving VT chat over to GovChat from GovTeen's IRC channel? They are willing to provide a channel just for VTers. IRC is a bit different from Addon but at the end of the day its an effective way to communicate and it won't be at cost to any of us.

Should we go for it? Questions, comments, concerns?

[nick]

I tried govchat and hated it. It just didnt seem integrated, I found it confusing and alien. The old chat here was much better and well worth the $125. I'm sure between us we can meet that cost without anyone expecting any favours in return.

Also I think its important to keep a different identity between govteen and virtualteen (not talking as an individual member, but for the sites to have their own identity) and that if you begin to blur the edges too much I just wonder where that will lead.

[Hank Hill]

I don't really see why not, what with a channel for VT, but would the internet browser have to be switched (to a new window?) becuase I've never been to GovTeen XD and I just don't know...haha

[ShatteredWings]

You know my opinion, however I'll put it here.

I see it being more problem than it's worth.
When I've used it, you have to assign your username and it's difficult to log in.

Username changable = pervs/cammers/ect can log in under different names, and it's not that hard to change your IP address (Mine changes constantly, if anyone gets bored enough and wants to check. I think it changes city once in awhile too and I don't use a proxy)

Difficult to use = people.... won't? Simple enough.

I won't bitch if we end up using it anyway though.

[Cloud]

I tried govchat and hated it. It just didnt seem integrated, I found it confusing and alien. The old chat here was much better and well worth the $125. I'm sure between us we can meet that cost without anyone expecting any favours in return.

Its not just the $125, there were monthly costs, which were why it kept going off to a trial version at points in the yearr
I dont think its fair that we can expect Ant to pay for something that costly
And we also cant rely on members do to so to, if theres a free alternative that saves hundreds of dollars that can be used on something more beneficial to us then id say go with the free option even if it isnt the best integrated thing
im up it ant aslong as we can do what we used to do on the old one on the new one

[nick]

I tried govchat and hated it. It just didnt seem integrated, I found it confusing and alien.

You know my opinion, however I'll put it here.

I see it being more problem than it's worth.
When I've used it, you have to assign your username and it's difficult to log in.

Username changable = pervs/cammers/ect can log in under different names, and it's not that hard to change your IP address (Mine changes constantly, if anyone gets bored enough and wants to check. I think it changes city once in awhile too and I don't use a proxy)

Difficult to use = people.... won't? Simple enough.

I won't bitch if we end up using it anyway though.
Yep, that's exactly what I meant really

[ShatteredWings]

I've seen flashchat work on a forum that's only a little smaller than VT. Is it possible that they've made improvements to keep it from crashing so often?

A thought anyway.

[Mr. Awesome]

why not go back to the old chat that caused 5dollars ish. i know it slowed the website but the servers have been updated since then havnt they?

[Jess]

I don't know will I be able to get on using a proxy?

I still want to old one...

[ShatteredWings]

Old one probably ain't coming back due to cost, not really worth complaining about.

[nick]

Most of us that regularly use the site here, whether by posting in the forums or by being in chat or both, get an enormous amount from it. I'm sure there are enough people that would be happy to give something back. People forget that there are licencing costs to be met etc and no one wants to see adverts on the site. So why not just issue a reminder from time to time about the costs, invite donations and remind people with a link how to contribute. Preferably anonymously, because no one should expect any favours in return.

[Cloud]

Most of us that regularly use the site here, whether by posting in the forums or by being in chat or both, get an enormous amount from it. I'm sure there are enough people that would be happy to give something back. People forget that there are licencing costs to be met etc and no one wants to see adverts on the site. So why not just issue a reminder from time to time about the costs, invite donations and remind people with a link how to contribute. Preferably anonymously,
so your saying that the members should cover the costs for it
but then say this?
because no one should expect any favours in return.

a bit contradictory there?
and what if no money goes into ants pockets towards vt
then hes ending up paying even more of his own cash to something he very rarely uses and couldve been replaced for free or very low cost

[nick]

so your saying that the members should cover the costs for it
but then say this?

Yes, sorry thought it was clear that was what I was saying


a bit contradictory there?
and what if no money goes into ants pockets towards vt
then hes ending up paying even more of his own cash to something he very rarely uses and couldve been replaced for free or very low cost
Just have no idea what you are getting at here. I said no one should expect any favours in return. I cant make any sense of your reply on that point.

[Cloud]

Yes, sorry thought it was clear that was what I was saying


Just have no idea what you are getting at here. I said no one should expect any favours in return. I cant make any sense of your reply on that point.

oh right
i read it as no one should expect any favours, as in We shouldnt expect people to pay for it
nvm i read it wrong

[nick]

oh right
i read it as no one should expect any favours, as in We shouldnt expect people to pay for it
nvm i read it wrong
No, I meant no one should expect special treatment because they have made a donation. That you cant buy favours.

[Maverick]

Oh but they will trust me. People feel entitled to mod positions all the time. Giving their own money will definitely make them feel entitled to much more. Like if a donator were to get banned from the chat, I can hear it now "I got banned from a chat I helped paid for!"

Sounds like a mess I really don't want to deal with so I'm feeling pretty certain on going to IRC.

[TopGear]

What about setting up a paypal donation box? I don't know much about them, but have seen them before and have donated to a few before. Just an Idea, haven't really put much thought into it so tell me what you guys think.

[Sugaree]

I don't think it would be a good idea. Not because of the fact of easy user interface, but simply because of site identity. Sure, we get out own channel on that network, but does it really come to the effect of being individuals? Look, if there are monthly fees to the old chat room that Ant can't pay for, we have no right to complain. As Kyle said, it's probably not going to come back, so stop hoping. I would think if there was some other type of flash chat available we could use that one. Or try some type of work around with the old flash chat so the server doesn't keel over?

I think if we wanted an IRC channel, we should make a separate network. Clients like mIRC and XChat are free, so the only thing one would have to worry about would be setting up a channel.

[aussiecasper]

hey different is better than none. and i never got to use the old chat so bring it on i want to see what all the buzz is aboot!

[The Dark Lord]

Its better than no chat but, I'd be concerned that VT would lose members and identity if we shared chat with Govteen. Members who donated to bring chat back would consider themselves above the rules and given Mod positions, I thought someone was willing to pay for it anyway?

[ShatteredWings]

Its better than no chat but, I'd be concerned that VT would lose members and identity if we shared chat with Govteen. Members who donated to bring chat back would consider themselves above the rules and given Mod positions, I thought someone was willing to pay for it anyway?

It wouldn't be gov's chat, it would be the same IRC set up as gov's chat

[Kaius]

What about setting up a paypal donation box? I don't know much about them, but have seen them before and have donated to a few before. Just an Idea, haven't really put much thought into it so tell me what you guys think.

This is exactly what Ant has just answered and it wasn't a good idea because people would expect things in return for donating.

V V

Oh but they will trust me. People feel entitled to mod positions all the time. Giving their own money will definitely make them feel entitled to much more. Like if a donator were to get banned from the chat, I can hear it now "I got banned from a chat I helped paid for!"

Sounds like a mess I really don't want to deal with so I'm feeling pretty certain on going to IRC.

[TopGear]

I don't get it, The definition of donating is The act of giving to a fund or cause. Not to expect something out of it. Right?

So if a donation box is set up, there should be something in agreement that if making a donation to the collection for the chat, then you understand that it is a donation and you expect nothing more then the nice feeling inside that you did something good! I do believe there is also options in the paypal donation for all donators to be anonymous, So therefore no one knows who has put money in for the chat. All you (Operator of Paypal donation) will know how much has been collected and how much more is needed.

But if thats still a problem then I understand.

[nick]

I don't get it, The definition of donating is The act of giving to a fund or cause. Not to expect something out of it. Right?

So if a donation box is set up, there should be something in agreement that if making a donation to the collection for the chat, then you understand that it is a donation and you expect nothing more then the nice feeling inside that you did something good! I do believe there is also options in the paypal donation for all donators to be anonymous, So therefore no one knows who has put money in for the chat. All you (Operator of Paypal donation) will know how much has been collected and how much more is needed.

But if thats still a problem then I understand.
Exactly. I think I may have said earlier, or in one of the earlier related threads, that people should be able to make anonymous donations. Honestly not everyone would expect to gain from it in any way at all, and anyone that knows what happened with Jeff would certainly not see it that way (and dont take that as criticism of Jeff's treatment, just confirmation that everyone knows donation buys no advantages).

[closed]

Maybe it's just me, but i never saw much action in the chat room. And i think that if two users really need to talk they can find other places than a chatroom someone will be paying for. You can always P.M. or P.M. to someone your msn\icq\skype or whatever and you'll talk as much as you want for free.
Am i wrong?

[nick]

Maybe it's just me, but i never saw much action in the chat room. And i think that if two users really need to talk they can find other places than a chatroom someone will be paying for. You can always P.M. or P.M. to someone your msn\icq\skype or whatever and you'll talk as much as you want for free.
Am i wrong?
No, you're not wrong, but chat can be quite popular. Maybe your timezone works against you, you'll have to excuse my ignorance I have no idea what offset from GMT Israel is.

The thing is that whilst you can talk to someone on msn or skype group chat is more fun, and some of us dont give out our skype or msn details that freely so we have to get to know people first which is where chat comes in.

Like I said before, I dont think chat is essential to this site, solely because the site is strong enough to survive without it. Other sites (like my own) depend on it more because without chat there would be little activity.

I'm sure Ant will bring in some form of chat and hope it works as well, personally based on my limited experience of govchat I think IRC will never work in the way that flashchat and the last solution did and just wish there was some other way.

[UnknownError]

I've only ever used chat once, and that was when the site was down for the day. tbh I agree with Arches5 kind of.

[TopGear]

Im in the same Boat as Connor and Nick, I really don't care weather or not it comes back or not. This site is too big and too popular to lose anything just because the chat option is gone. I think we should just accept the fact that its gone and move on.

If some how we get another one, that is less expensive or free; Great, if not oh well.

[nick]

Im in the same Boat as Connor and Nick, I really don't care weather or not it comes back or not. This site is too big and too popular to lose anything just because the chat option is gone. I think we should just accept the fact that its gone and move on.

If some how we get another one, that is less expensive or free; Great, if not oh well.
Actually that's not my take on it. I want it back, but not as IRC.

[Sugaree]

Actually that's not my take on it. I want it back, but not as IRC.

What's so bad about IRC? Either way, it's basically the same thing.

[nick]

What's so bad about IRC? Either way, it's basically the same thing.
Well I can only repeat myself. Have tried govchat, it sucks, never go there. Worst chat ever.

[Maverick]

They have made our own channel for us and once i get a few things squared away it will be available soon

[Perseus]

What happened to the donation thing, anyway? Was it taken off?

[Maverick]

The new IRC Chat should be operational by the end of the night.

[Ender]

Thanks Ant. :)

[Maverick]

http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86789