Posted on Jul 23, 2015
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For those of us that been on RallyPoint for some time now, we have seen this site come a long way since it's public launch a few years ago. We have seen the community grow from a few hundred to over 750,000 registered members. We have seen improvements to the User Interface and the introduction of best practices documents.
From time to time, you'll see threads asked looking for your thoughts and ideas on future improves. I think it's great that the RP staff is truly interested to hear from us and take our input into consideration when looking to make improvements. One feature that keeps getting kicked around is that of an online chat. While it would allow for faster communication between members, do feel this sort of feature will take away from our discussions in the forms? Or do you feel having online chat will help spark better discussions?
From time to time, you'll see threads asked looking for your thoughts and ideas on future improves. I think it's great that the RP staff is truly interested to hear from us and take our input into consideration when looking to make improvements. One feature that keeps getting kicked around is that of an online chat. While it would allow for faster communication between members, do feel this sort of feature will take away from our discussions in the forms? Or do you feel having online chat will help spark better discussions?
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RallyPoint
RallyPoint
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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I don't think a chat feature for members would be a good idea - too many side bar conversations and really, I think those should be kept public anyway - if noting else, it at least makes MOST people more civil to each other! :-)
Now - I DO think we should have a chat feature (real time communications) for featured guests! It's kind of weird when RP says "So and So is here @ 1000 hrs" and I type in a question and have no idea who's looking at it, when, or IF they are even looking at it! There have been times we this happened, and I was watching the thread, and no responses presumably because the guest was a "no-show" - or could hv been tech issue - who knows... So I would focus the effort there.
Now - I DO think we should have a chat feature (real time communications) for featured guests! It's kind of weird when RP says "So and So is here @ 1000 hrs" and I type in a question and have no idea who's looking at it, when, or IF they are even looking at it! There have been times we this happened, and I was watching the thread, and no responses presumably because the guest was a "no-show" - or could hv been tech issue - who knows... So I would focus the effort there.
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SGT Ben Keen IMO it would take away some of the discussion because people would get into side chats.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGM Steve Wettstein - I have the same thought. One of the best things I like out what we have going on here is seeing the back and forth between people. Sometimes that back and forth helps readers come to a better understanding of the issue at hand.
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I think it would detract from the overall quality of the site.
A main feature of the site is that it is asynchronous. Conversations can take place and develop over days, weeks, and months.
Another feature is that there is a "permanent record" of what was said (not perfect, people can edit posts, and at least some admins can delete). This makes it easy to review what others had to say on a topic.
Chat forums tend to be impermanent. Even when the chat logs are kept accessible, it becomes very difficult very fast to keep track of who said what about what and when. To the point that it isn't even worth doing.
As far as individuals having private/sidebar conversations, that can already be done via messages, or moving the conversation to another medium.
A main feature of the site is that it is asynchronous. Conversations can take place and develop over days, weeks, and months.
Another feature is that there is a "permanent record" of what was said (not perfect, people can edit posts, and at least some admins can delete). This makes it easy to review what others had to say on a topic.
Chat forums tend to be impermanent. Even when the chat logs are kept accessible, it becomes very difficult very fast to keep track of who said what about what and when. To the point that it isn't even worth doing.
As far as individuals having private/sidebar conversations, that can already be done via messages, or moving the conversation to another medium.
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