I've been a part of many forums and was a admin for a few, and every one of them had a Chatbox. So why not us?

 

This subject has come up MANY times. The main drawback with a chatbox is that if someone has a problem they can sign in, ask the question with the symptoms in the chatbox and someone (if they know the problem) will answer it. The information therefore only lasts as long as it is fresh in the chatbox. We would lose historical data that could potentially help someone in the future if they experience the same problems.

This is more of a tech site with a little "useless banter" and good times thrown in. Nothing against them, but usually- sites with chatboxes are the complete opposite: mainly for a good time shootin' the breeze with a few tech related questions here and there.

I'm a member and moderator of both types.

 

ya im apart of a forum with a chatbox........ i dont see it working .. it would be cool as hell...but the forum would probaby hurt from it.. it gets out of hand pretty easy

 

Another forum i'm on, had a chat..but only the admin/moderators and regional leaders could use. That way everyone else could ask/get help on questions and we could jump in if needed..

 

What about some kind of chat system in general? Something more than pm. I know this example is a little off but....
I know with msn messenger you can save the conversations.. if there were a chat thing that did that, then one of the members could post the conversation as a thread if it was about anything worthwhile to other members.