Shoutbox

[Eclipse]

Do you think that having a chat box is a benefit or an annoyance for forums?

From my personal experience with previous sites, chat boxes kill content since everyone is chatting in the chat box instead of creating threads/replies. I usually limit a chat box to premium members+ or to only staff members to discuss site updates, announcements, etc. I do enjoy the ability to use a chat box, but content is more important to keep the forum alive.

 

[Allenafaith]

I like forums that have a shoutbox, I feel like it's a much easier way for staff to connect with members. It can be annoying if there's always drama going on in the shoutbox, though.

 

[Tornado]

I like them obviously, but like the OP said they distract people from posting on the forum and just creates drama. Unless you can have a full backlog and moderation inside the shoutbox, I think it isn't worth the trouble.

 

[David Smith]

No I don't because I think it takes away the distraction from the forum because you can discuss anything in a chatbox. Plus it is easier to post in a chatbox than in a forum. Some people only like it because they want to be a mod in it and abuse their powers. Maybe it will work for staff but then again you have Skype for that.

 

[BrolySSJ]

Do you think that having a chat box is a benefit or an annoyance for forums?

From my personal experience with previous sites, chat boxes kill content since everyone is chatting in the chat box instead of creating threads/replies. I usually limit a chat box to premium members+ or to only staff members to discuss site updates, announcements, etc. I do enjoy the ability to use a chat box, but content is more important to keep the forum alive.

I think that it can be a good thing if people in the forum are able to respect how to make use of it, because if you look at the chat box it can be a way to just ask simple question that does not warrant a topic creation.

 

[MikeHo]

Yes it is quite useful option when people wants to have some fun talk which is not part of forum topics so I can't see it as content killer for me for sure. It gives you additional option for users.

 

[BrolySSJ]

Yes it is quite useful option when people wants to have some fun talk which is not part of forum topics so I can't see it as content killer for me for sure. It gives you additional option for users.

It does, however there are some people that do tend to use harmful language in this, and therefore even though it may not be on the forum, it is still something that you have to monitor.

 

[MikeHo]

Yes that's correct and best example if live chat option with your video where sometime you will have bad comments or spamming over their and sometime it hurts you if you think deeply.

 

[Busybee]

Having a Private chat system, among friends in the forum would be beneficial an open chat box would be disruptive to the site. Spammers might use this portal to disturb the flow of the site or can post spam content all across the members of the site. If it's a private chat, it's between know people or friends so it doesn't disturb the website.

 

[MikeHo]

Yes you're right but some website have private group system where people join each other and do discuss privately. I like that features as it looks like What's App group chat kind.

 

[BrolySSJ]

Yes that's correct and best example if live chat option with your video where sometime you will have bad comments or spamming over their and sometime it hurts you if you think deeply.

Live videos is not a very good idea on a forum like this because there is a lot of people that choose to remain anonymous on these sites and therefore this would not work for those type of people.

 

[Kane]

I believe every discussion on a forum should be within the main forums not on shoutout boxes, or chat boxes, or even private messages. If you do not want too many people to see the discussion, you can make it private but having shoutout boxes will take forum discussions away from the main forum.