an IRC Plugin?

[Fluttershy]

a few of the metalurgy and jewellery forums that I attend occasionally, have an IRC chan that you can type Live to someone(s) allowing a better interface for Q&A thats instant and also just general chatter.

as far as I know it`s a JS Bolt-on for many forums, but doesn`t have to be!

you can get a free IRC chan from many places too

 

I was a Mod for over a decade on one of them, and also for 7 years on a popular Sciece forum and it`s IRC chan.

it works really well and allows for greater openess and speed (esp when there`s a good deal going!).

 

any chance we`ll have one also?

 

you`re likely to pull in more Forum users too from there (we did!), just don`t use "code" words like PMs in the title.

 

just an idea

 

 

 

[Kman]

I would vote no to this 

 

Only because it's good to be able to read threads at your leisure and not miss out on discussions because you aren't around at a certain time 

[ChrisSilver]

Thanks for the suggestion @Fluttershy

Not entirely sure what ICR is, but I have previously decided against any chat room type features on the forum. There are multiple reasons for this, to briefly name a few; in my opinion it would draw posts away from the forum, someone will use the chat to ask a question and a future member with the same question searching the forum will not find the answer. I like the idea that the forum is basically an archive. I also believe that a chat room would encourage nonsense chat posts. As well as Kmans reasons stated above.

 

We do have an 'Open thread' though, which members are free to use. Found here: http://thesilverforum.com/topic/370-open-thread/

[Fluttershy]

Ok.