ParanetOnline
The Site => Site Suggestions & Support => Topic started by: iago on June 02, 2010, 04:14:18 AM
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What should the policies for the chat area be? My initial thoughts:
- PG-13 (like the rest of the board, really)
- No Touchy Topics (like the rest of the board)
- No dice in the public channel
- Keep colored text to a minimum in the public channel
- Keep your /nick changes to a minimum
- Spoiler conversations only in appropriate channels
What else?
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If possible, place a limit on how many times someone can change their name in a minute. Or any set length of time, really. That's the only real annoyance I've come across—a couple members continually changing their usernames.
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Just ignore 'em, ME. There'd be someone doing that at just about any given time back in the day when I was a regular in a chatroom, and everyone just ignored it entirely.
Fred, I'd almost be tempted to say "no politics or religion" just like the boards.
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I second the no politics or religion, although that one's a little more difficult if someone makes a comment on a current event, or something like that, which could bring something of politics in. Also, I wouldn't necessarily say no/minimal colored text as much as keeping to the more middling colors. Or, if possible, only having one style available to use. For myself, and I don't know if others do the same, the colored text helps me keep track of who's saying what.
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Ah, yes. I was thinking specific-to-chat things; no Touchy Topics is a global policy. I'll add it to the above list.
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I second the no politics or religion, although that one's a little more difficult if someone makes a comment on a current event, or something like that, which could bring something of politics in. Also, I wouldn't necessarily say no/minimal colored text as much as keeping to the more middling colors. Or, if possible, only having one style available to use. For myself, and I don't know if others do the same, the colored text helps me keep track of who's saying what.
Having experimented with various styles when folks are messing around with the colors, I can safely tell you that -- for my eyeballs, at least -- there are no colors which truly work in all contexts.
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Having experimented with various styles when folks are messing around with the colors, I can safely tell you that -- for my eyeballs, at least -- there are no colors which truly work in all contexts.
Thoughts based on personal experience (by no means intended to be presented as Authoritative, Definitive "Evidence"), and not directly related to chatroom rules but (IMHO) just as essential to the chat "experience":
Lo these many years ago, back when I frequented a few chatrooms, I noticed that the actual chatbox and text entry box were plain, blank white. Perhaps it's personal preference, but I've always felt that to be the best option. Framing, page, etc., those could be different colors or styles, but the text boxes themselves were simple white/off-white.
Which leads me to the second half of my thoughts - the idea I keep bringing up about allowing users to choose persistent colors/fonts/styles. I found it to be VASTLY helpful in keeping up with a busy, populated chat, so I could know at a glance what was said by whom. The current system, with only one display font/style for all, gets horribly confusing to me when the chat really starts rolling. You could even experiment a little as moderator/designer and limit the choices to higher-readability fonts/styles/colors (i.e., no bright yellow! :D ).
A final addendum that might be linkable to the above: make chat name come directly from forum name, and link the text preferences to that account. Is this even doable? It might also have the added bonus of severely limiting the rapid-fire handle-changing if it's feasible.
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A final addendum that might be linkable to the above: make chat name come directly from forum name
It does.
, and link the text preferences to that account. Is this even doable?
Not as far as I know.
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Can you block the ability to change your nick from your forum name altogether?
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Can you block the ability to change your nick from your forum name altogether?
Maybe. But it has a legitimate purpose for roleplaying chats.
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I hadn't even thought of that. I tend to just ignore it myself, but I've been chatting longer than I've been driving, so I'm used to seeing that sort of thing.
Does the chat have provisions for private chat channels? If so, how far do the rules extend there? (IE, is it ok to discuss a TT in a private chat channel, or swear up a storm?)
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Does the chat have provisions for private chat channels? If so, how far do the rules extend there? (IE, is it ok to discuss a TT in a private chat channel, or swear up a storm?)
I believe people can create/invite friends to a private chat. I don't intend to police those at all.
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But do remember, I think admins can see transcripts of private channels so it may be a better idea to take those kinds of things to whatever messenger you and those you're chatting with prefer.
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But do remember, I think admins can see transcripts of private channels so it may be a better idea to take those kinds of things to whatever messenger you and those you're chatting with prefer.
It might be possible, but believe me I'm not gonna go looking unless complaints are generated. And if they were generated, why did y'all get into a private chat in the first place? :P
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Eh, true. Just more work for you and who needs that?
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It does.
Actually, it doesn't bother me; if someone wants to change their handle every minute or two, it doesn't matter to me. I'd just like a visual distinction between chatters. That's my only real wish list. Rule-wise, the basics are covered as long as you add "Final rule (omnibus): Don't be a jerk". :D
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I think the color choice would help with chatter distinction.
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Yeah. I've chosen not to follow my own preference here, which would be Don't Use Colors At All. The use of colors in the chat doesn't help me make distinctions, it gives me the impression of being trapped in a circus, or of a bunch of people showing up to a black tie event in cheap pastel-colored tuxes. :)
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Actually, it doesn't bother me; if someone wants to change their handle every minute or two, it doesn't matter to me. I'd just like a visual distinction between chatters. That's my only real wish list. Rule-wise, the basics are covered as long as you add "Final rule (omnibus): Don't be a jerk". :D
That's just begging someone to change their name to "a_jerk" and then say "Somebody help i'm being a jerk"
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That's just begging someone to change their name to "a_jerk" and then say "Somebody help i'm being a jerk"
Mod: Change it back. Now.
a_jerk: No.
*BOOT*
Where's the problem? :D
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I think a general 'No Spam' policy would be best. Simply "If you're 1/2 filling the chat window with uselessness... you're spamming, so stop it!" That way it covers all the afore mentioned spam related issues as well as anything that may arise in the future
As for colors, different people will see it differently based off hardware or simply perspective. I think, as long as people are polite about it there's no reason to police that particular aspect.