WOW what a chat !!

Re: WOW what a chat !!

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Dan -

I agree. It was quite fun - and I was just a fly on the wall (i.e. no posts, just "listened in"). This chat and one with Sam (where I received some very helpful finishing feedback) are definitely my two favorites - so far.

There are times when the comments are a bit hard to follow (i.e. to know who is replying to whom). I wonder if an etiquette could be developed where folks were encouraged to start their posts with the (first?) name of the person they were addressing. Something like: Ellis - ...., or Adam - ....., or Dan - ....., or Chris - ..... In a case where someone was addressing the whole group they could simply write: All - ......

Not a big deal. And the chats are certainly enjoyable as is. But sometimes (to this dense guy) is can be a bit confusing who is speaking to whom, and who is replying to whom.

Still, last night was definitely fun. Thanks Adam, Chris and of course - Ellis.

Regards -

Dave

Re: WOW what a chat !!

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Sounds like a fine suggestion to make chat room attendance more user friendly!JR

Good suggestion

Ellis Walentine

>Dave, in chat rooms it is definitely desirable to begin your reply with the name of the person you are addressing -- primarily because, as you suggested, things get pretty hard to follow when several competing posts intervene between question and answer. That said, it isn't easy to enforce such a protocol.

We've also had requests from time to time to go to a more highly moderated format for our guest chats, to eliminate the competing lines of questioning. I have resisted the moderated format because it is a lot harder for the moderator (requires more behind-the-scenes administrative actions, screening and vetting of questions, etc.) and it destroys the spontaneity of the open chat.

Nothing is out of the question, though, and when I get our newest server upgrade finished, maybe we can try the moderated format to see how it works. Meanwhile, I think the best policy for now is for people to use nicknames when addressing questions or answers and for everyone to try to refrain from extraneous comments and questions.

Things have been very civil but admittedly sometimes a little confusing. We'll keep working on it.

Ellis

Re: Good suggestion

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Ellis perhaps we could dispense with announcments and greetings between participants when a guest is featured. I don't think it would be less friendly but it would result in a more focused discussion. Just a thought. I wouldn't want to seem like I was trying to stamp out community or the like:-)JR