Shoutboxes

[Sylar]

So, what are you all's opinions on shoutboxes? Do they help a forum, or hurt it?​

 

[xpl0iter]

Shoutboxes are good for forums based on coding and gaming imo.
People stays on forums like those for the whole day and it will be helpful for them in case they have any quick doubt or had to ask a suggestion. But on forums based on webmaster/admin stuffs, I don't think of it as a good addon. Shout boxes reduces the forum activity as people will hangout and keep on posting stuffs on shoutboxes instead of creating stuffs.

Well, thats just me.

 

[Sylar]

Shoutboxes are good for forums based on coding and gaming imo.
People stays on forums like those for the whole day and it will be helpful for them in case they have any quick doubt or had to ask a suggestion. But on forums based on webmaster/admin stuffs, I don't think of it as a good addon. Shout boxes reduces the forum activity as people will hangout and keep on posting stuffs on shoutboxes instead of creating stuffs.

Well, thats just me.

I don't see how you can make that a niche-specific statement. If people have a chatbox, it will take away from activity for sure. No matter the forum niche, type, whatever! Plus, I wouldn't even think about having it for members, just due to the amount of activity it sucks out of the forums. I have one for my staff and premiums, and that sucks away enough activity as it is. Hell, I should just rename my shoutbox "The Forum Vampire"

 

[Beverly]

Some forum owners justify using a chat box saying that it keeps random useless chit-chat off the forum threads. But really, isn't that what the general chat/forum games subforum is all about? Just random chatter and comments about trivial things/subjects? At least when all that chatter is documented on the forum threads, it makes your forum look active to search engines and since Google loves active sites that have fresh content, the forum is likely to rank better in search engines. That won't happen from anything posted in a chat box. All those words are wasted.

 

[shadowslight]

I have one on my site but it seems like its hardly gettting used. I have been thinking about taking it down. It would appear that most the folks prefer to communicate in threads. Its almost like they know what Beverly was talking about.

 

[Southern Comfort]

I have one on my site but it seems like its hardly gettting used. I have been thinking about taking it down. It would appear that most the folks prefer to communicate in threads. Its almost like they know what Beverly was talking about.

It would probably be best to axe it.

Shoutboxes are Forum Vampires, they take away activity and on let's say a general chat board, they can kill the whole thing if people are just coming around for the shoutbox. I was a coadmin once on a general chat forum and the main admin was die hard about a shoutbox, even though it caused several activity problems... It's a nice feature, but you are running a forum damn it! Actually use the discussion areas and leave a shoutbox out of it.

 

[shadowslight]

Axe it I have done. My co admin finally got back to me with their thoughts

 

[Martee]

We're going to add one over the Christmas period so that we can have some holiday chatting fun but that is the limit in which we will use the chatbox as I will not want it staying due to activity concerns. I just think it would be nice to talk toy our members properly on the happiest dates of the year.

 

[Gytix]

YES!
Noaw I can talk shit to you guys, live.

 

[vortex]

I just think it would be nice to talk toy our members properly on the happiest dates of the year. :wink:

You're gonna talk toys with us? Really? *hides*

 

[Martee]

You're gonna talk toys with us? Really? *hides*

I got my dildo ready for you all to learn about. This heres your 7 incher and this one...

 

[Gytix]

I got my dildo ready for you all to learn about. This heres your 7 incher and this one...

Does that come with lube and batteries?

 

[Martee]

Does that come with lube and batteries?

It can 'come' with whatever you like dear.