why the h#ll would anyone want to bring that sh#t back?

Oh an opinion!
I have been using this site for two months and only had one bad experience, which really was not bad. My next statement might be a shocker to some, but for the first month I did not say anything. I know, I know, hard to believe, but it is true. I listened to you conversations More...

I like your post Canuk Greg.

May I also add that this site has been very educational to me. I am sure you know that text books only give selected knowledge, here I have learned so much about the different places and also new vocabulary. Which is clean and not laden with foul language.

I agree with Angie and Greg, I don't use the chatroom but see it as another forum for MEMBERS to share and discuss, secure in the knowledge that only members have access. There are lots of ways non-members can participate on this site, and they do. You make your choices.

I don't chat in the chatroom. It is too fast for me. I like to chat on SA3 and you can talk about whatever you want there. Personally, I prefer chatting with people who use their name or nickname. It seems a little creepy when someone posts a comment with a false name that is obviously used to More...

some clarification regarding made-up names... most of us who used them did so as a 'lighthearted ploy.' It was part of the silliness of the site at one point, and generally people would unmask if someone new came in or if a regular showed up who didn't want to play.

I'd be interested to see what would happen if an open chatroom were made available again.

I agree with you, Stella, and I find it appalling that some people's attitude is that, if they're not interested in using a different format, no one else should be allowed to. And some of these are the very same folks who kept saying ''just scroll past it,'' (or ''kiss my....'') when several people More...

So is the problem here that people who are not members want to use a format that Gath, the'owner' of the site, has declared only members can use?

Not exactly, Mary. There are a number of places here where people who have not become subscribers can post; the Easy page, for example, as well as all the personal pages and the SA page and here, for that matter. Why not another?

Mary, I'm fine with or without the chatroom. But I don't think the availability of the chatroom is the issue here... I think a lot of people miss the fun and the witty banter that went on in the chatroom.

Reading the many responses, I reinerate that I find the offered communication avenues are plentiful.... looking back to the mean-sprited exchanges that have been posted in the past, under unknown pseudonyms, and posted simply to hurt, It seems the current restrictions are needed. The choice to More...

it would be nice to have a forum to carry on the fun and witty banter. It doesn't have to be a new chatroom, but it might be.

Yes, and I wear a size 42 jacket. That should be enough for anybody.

So why don't the witty banter people continue wittily bantering on the other pages that are open?

Mary, there has, as a matter of fact, been an attempt at that on the SA page, but the pace is just not quite right, and you cannot see who is in there at any given moment. But given your sneering characterization of those exchanges as ''witty banter'' I do not think you will be persuaded in any case.

I have another suggestion for those that wish to exchange witty banter but want the privacy that the chatroom seems to afford. You could meet on a member's page. Have your discussion and then the member can delete any posts that he/she may want to. This way you can get together with those that want to partake, talk about whatever and then erase it so as not to impede your creative flow.

Hey Ian, I was not sneering! It was an honest question. I myself am hopeless at amusing posts but enjoy reading others that are. Maybe remarks like yours are one reason the situation is as it is!

Stella, thanks for that suggestion. In some ways, that's been happening recently, and it may be the best solution for now.

Stella, if you think that scheduling on the SA page is difficult, imagine the problems in the method you're proposing. As a matter of fact, about a year ago, there was an ugly exchange, over several weeks, between those who turned the Easy page into a perma-chatroom for a few people, maybe six or More...

Then wouldn't the problem be the same with the chatroom? How would you coordinate the people to chat with at the same time? I think it would be easier on individual pages because the ''owner'' of the page is alerted via email of the post and thus a ''chain-post'' could be initiated. Again, just a suggestion since I am perfectly happy chatting at my snail pace.

In principle, Stella, you're absolutely right. But a significant part of the chatroom's charm was the spontaneity. Seeing ''sugar'', ''tea'', ''cocoa'' and ''buttermilk'' logged in was an invitation to instant fun.

stella, it wasn't. Oddly enough, people all seemed to know how to congregate at the same time. It was very popular for a long while. There were often as many as a dozen people in there all at once, both regulars and, frequently, newcomers.

Even though I wasn't asked, I'll put in my 2 cents. I've used the chatroom about 6 times. Conversely, I post on SA3 because we have chatted about different topics (charter schools, taxes, etc.), along with just life's day-to-day happenings. As shown on this page, some people want to ridicule and More...

'No one goes there anymore, its too crowded.'

Yogi Berra

I've been sidetracked here because I have to study...
The chatroom in the 'early days' was an introduction for quite a few people to get to 'know' each other. Not everyone interacts in the same way and many chose not to enter the chatroom for their own reasons. Gath has now formatted the site to More...

you have not only waffled admirably Billy - but toasted and crumpeted as well.

So that is a resounding yes then . That is what the orginal chatroom had about it spontaniety and as a result of the restrictions (which I have no qualms about) put in place it has lost that. However, an addition of another similiar to the orginal chatroom would only be used by those of us More...

I agree.

I find myself a proponent of your theorum, Antigone.

What's the difference between being civil and being nice (or 'noice')?

about two inches anne (sorry couldn't resist).

laughing, andre!

civil is courteous and polite probably addressing someone on a more formal basis. Nice is more of a slang type word in my opinion indicating kind or sweet.

Hi Everyone,

There are a few issues with setting up another chatroom that doesn't require membership (ie - the old style).

1. Someone will come along and harrass people and then everyone will be upset. It happened before, I don't see why it wouldn't happen again.

2. Even More...

Also, there might be other options.

Other forums display the names of members who are currently logged on (or at least logged on in the last 30 minutes). Would that be good?


Gath

One thing I used to like about these pages was that one could comment or post to friendly, supportive people and have an enjoyable time. A recent experience when an innocent post of mine was judged and condemned by another who then saw fit to publicly post his personal criticism has shocked me. What's so wrong with thinking the best of others?

You're absolutely right! Please don't judge everyone by the few, though. Thanks.

OK - I wasnt going to post BUT............If there was another chatroom - I wouldnt use it (and you know how I LOVE a chat)....I get all I need from the chatroom we have now - and I don't miss the "Bad Boy"'s of the past chatroom experiences AT ALL. However - I would like to stress, I am More...

Aw, sure you would, Colonel. If you didn't, I'd be standing at attention forever.

There's a lot of talk here about "nasty" stuff that happened in the old chatroom.

Two questions:

How much of the convo in the old chatroom got nasty? [I think it was pretty rare, really. And I distinctly remember logging in two or three times a days for a bit of a break, More...