Discussion: Restoration Chat on IRC

Since we switched the tuesday restoration chat from the now broken flash to irc it seems like there were some complains.
I was partly involved in the switch over, so I feel responsible to work on getting things to run as smoothly as possible. I'm thinking this thread would be a good way to discuss various options in case we want to change things to make them better.

History:
As the community kept growing the flash chat seems unable to support the sunday chats, so after a brief stint with a php based chat, the main SRP chat got moved over to IRC on at the #srp channel on freenode. This has been fairly used resource and has become a place where newbies pop up 24/7 and can almost always get help. In addition that's where the 'official' sunday night SRP chat is happening.
For a while the old flash chat was used by some die-hards and also for the restoration chat on tuesday night, which is generally small enough that still works with flash.

Now the flash is already disfunctional and the natural place to move the tuesday chat was on freenode.

We chose to have a separate channel dedicated to it because it leaves the main #srp channel free for people who are not interested in restorations, and most importantly newbies who can continue to come and ask whatever questions they may have.
This way it is functionally equivalent to having a separate restoration chat as it was up to this point.

The main complaint seems to be that having two different channels within a single application is confusing. It seems to me that if the restoration conversations are to merge with the rest it will be even more confusing.
The way I see it is that a person either can handle multiple conversations at the same time, or they cannot. Having separate channels allows for a person who falls in the second category to only join one of them. It seems to be simplifying things if anything.
In fact that's one of the reason the tuesday chat was kept in a separate place to start with - so that it gets dedicated to restoraton only and not helping newbies with choosing gear. troubleshooting problems, or just general chit-chat. I was actually surprised to see some of the main advocates for dedicated restoration chat now complain that it is separate from the main one.

One thing that I believe is completely wrong to do is to usurp the #srp channel for restoration talk on tuesdays and forbid non-restoration related chat in it.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the subject. It's been already 2 weeks with the new system, so any feedback would be good too.

I'm torn between liking the one-stop-shop of #srp and liking the more focused discussion of #srp-resto.

My only concern with having restoration chat in the main #srp room is the policing it might take to keep it focused. Not that resto is always 100% focused, but it is a specific topic. I wonder if having some type of moderator during that time in #srp could do the trick?

I'm not opposed to having two rooms, but it would make life a bit easier to keep everything in one place. I do like having events there that draw people in (resto chat, Lynn stopping by on Sunday's, Lee...um always there). It's a cool place to meet the folks here in a more direct setting. Also a great place to get questions answered quickly by some really smart people.

Since we are going to discuss this I think maybe little history is in order...

Chat in general, was less then 2 years ago, the most under utilized part of this forum...
Sunday Night Chat was the only time anybody was in there, period...

One person started this whole chat thing going, that was Nickleking he posted a thread, saying the from that point forward, he would always sign into chat when he signed on.. Some of us thought that was a pretty darn good idea and the original Chat Crazies were started, we hung out in the chat room when ever we signed into SRP....The old Flash was great for that because of the volume controls, we could browse the forum, yet know when someone, came or went, or when they posted in chat...Most of the original members of that group are the ones you still find in chat almost every day...

The restore chat started on a whim to get another dedicated chat night going, and for our love of talking about our projects.. I started the chat on Tuesday because that was my normal day off work, so I knew that 90% of the time I could be there, at first it was pretty much just Philadeph, Floppyshoes and I in there talking about what we were working on, but it grew fairly quickly, with people stopping in, and talking and asking questions...
Within 1 month we were having a gathering of between 15-30 people every Tuesday night...

When Flash was dropped as the main room, we kept the Restore chat there on Tuesday, mainly because of the color text feature, and the IM feature, and maybe just a little tradition thrown in... We tried to move it to IRC once, but it didn't really work out, mainly because of the reasons that Gugi pointed out... Restore was one thing, and general chat was another....
It has been going over a year now and until 2 weeks ago has always met in the Flash chat room... Unfortunately times change and with a fast growing community, (keep in mind I joined in June 2007 and we had 3200 members) we need to grow with it...
I do believe that Restore should always be separate from the main chat, heck some of what we discuss is pretty boring, to anybody that really isn't into it. Leaving the main chat room open for others, that want to talk about everything else shaving related, or just general BS... The Restore chat is open to anybody that wants to come on in, and even just lurk in there and listen, we discuss many other topics besides just making scales... Those of you that are struggling with honing should really take advantage of the experience in this chat....

In closing, I have every intention of continuing to be online in chat every Tuesday night for Restore chat, so I hope everyone that has been coming continues to come, and anyone that wants to join, feel free....

Thanks

Ah. I smell technology. Even better than napalm, if you ask me...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

The main complaint seems to be that having two different channels within a single application is confusing. It seems to me that if the restoration conversations are to merge with the rest it will be even more confusing.

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As far as the application problem is concerned, that is only a matter of the software used. Using one of the dedicated programmes recommended in http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...-srp-chat.html rather than the web interface (see "Chat" in the menu bar above) will quickly remedy that. As in "detach window", for example.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

The way I see it is that a person either can handle multiple conversations at the same time, or they cannot. Having separate channels allows for a person who falls in the second category to only join one of them. It seems to be simplifying things if anything.

In fact that's one of the reason the tuesday chat was kept in a separate place to start with - so that it gets dedicated to restoraton only and not helping newbies with choosing gear. troubleshooting problems, or just general chit-chat. I was actually surprised to see some of the main advocates for dedicated restoration chat now complain that it is separate from the main one.

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Well, in this case, you can actually have a cake and eat it, too. Not quite sure whether freenode's ircd understands -L, but we can always use a bot in #srp to that effect (i.e. link the two channels). That way, users of #srp can ignore the bot, and not be disturbed by #srp-resto (or whatever the channel is called - I would know if you guys didn't do all the good things while I'm sound asleep, you know?).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

One thing that I believe is completely wrong to do is to usurp the #srp channel for restoration talk on tuesdays and forbid non-restoration related chat in it.

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Oh, I would be most interested to learn who would want to enforce that policy, and how. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

Anyways, I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the subject. It's been already 2 weeks with the new system, so any feedback would be good too.

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I'm all for it. Not necessarily because I agree with anything you say, or understand the problem to begin with. But because once in a while, I feel this urge to agree with something. Anything, really. It'll pass, don't worry.

P.S. From a user perspective, I think it would be beneficial if the logs of the restoration chat were stored and made available for future reference. Of course, only after a warning notice to that effect has been added to the /motd.

Here's how I see it:

When the original Resto chat was in Flash, that was the only chat room available. At the time, that flashchat was technically just 'the barbershop'– a SRP chat room. We would go there on Tuesday nights for a 'themed' resto chat, but it was never policed and NEVER held to just resto chat topics. We would get new members asking various questions ranging from how to replace scales to who watched last night's football game. There wasn't a problem.

When IRC chat came around the resto chat stayed in Flash for several reasons.

1. Nostalgia
2. Glen has terrible computer skills
3. Doc would not enter the new IRC chat
4. etc.

None of the reasons to keep resto chat in a 'separate' room were– to my knowledge– because members who had no restoration interest could have a separate dedicated room.

Now fast forward to today. I don't see a point in having two IRC chat rooms for two separate topics. First of all– it is all talk about straight razors and I haven't heard anyone say that they would not like to hear chat about restoration work– new member or not. Secondly– two weeks ago when this idea came into play there was indeed confusion. Not because there were two rooms, but because different people were having different conversations in the different rooms. Most members from regular chat were in resto chat and vice versa.

When a new member from Canada comes into the only chat room he knows and sees Floppyshoes there available to answer a question about Northern honing services but gets no reply because Dan is busy in resto chat, who does that help? I don't see a need for policing of a topic either. If Tuesday night is advertised as resto chat, then the people who want to talk about that stuff specifically will make a point to be there. The chat should then naturally go in that direction.

Might I also remind everyone that sometimes the restoration chat has no talk about razors at all! This is never a problem– Flashchat or IRC. Gugi might be talking about Russian mail ordered brides and Syslight might be talking about which whiskey he likes best. That is fine. Then someone all of a sudden brings up a current project and the restoration talk begins.

I see it more as a time and place where you KNOW people will be there who have an interest in discussing a certain topic. No need for policing of that topic, etc. The situation seems similar to all kinds of talk about modern honing techniques and 75k edges being serrated too roughly seen through a 300x powered microscope when guys used to use an 8k and be happy with it.

I can see pros and cons of both, they have been already mentioned, and granted, I do not know all the details or the history. However, what I would like to see is that we all come to an agreement on this soon. I understand that like every family there often disagreements and differences in approach but every good family also finds the way to get over them. I really appreciate this place more when I see people reaching out to build consensus on issues that generate a bit of "discussion", this is what makes SRP a great forum for all of us. Let's continue to build on this idea and try to leave personal preferences aside. I know we can and WILL!!!!! do it. Perhaps what I am trying to say is that the longer we let this thing go, the more is going to hurt the forum at the end, let's play it smart.

Al raz.

My nephew and niece go to the same elementary school. Every now and then, they have "pajama day", where all the kids can go dressed in pajamas. Lots of them do, some don't. The ones that do have a good time, the ones that don't, well, they have a good time too.

This is how I've always viewed the Restoration Chat. It's a special day where the concentration is on Resto, but all other chat is welcome too. Honestly, several hours of just resto chat pretty much never happens. There's only so much you can say, sometimes... ya know? Other times, things get into politics, mail order brides, which flavor of the flinstones vitamins taste best, and all other dumb things... (just don't talk about kids.... alex leaves when you talk about kids... :) )

I think most people are excited to answer questions about how to hold the razor when going ATG under your chin, or why you should strop with an X pattern, or why Straights give less irritation than Mach 3's.

I'll give a big +1 to Philadelph on this one.

I've got to reread this thread in greater detail when I have more time. I have been one of those people that has updated Java, whatever else I can think of and I still have big problems trying to chat with you guys. For the life of me I can't seem to get it to work even when I've tried Glen's backdoor steps in how to try to get in there.

Chris L

You've taken computer advice from Glen? It'll never work for you.....:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

As one of the new guys that comes in regularly to ask questions in both standard and resto chat, I was squarely in the 2 room camp. Having read Philadelph's post, call me a convert.
I've always found it confusing to join different rooms, still have no idea how to do a private chat, etc. And even when Resto was in a separate place, I had two windows open with both resto and standard chat going at the same time anyway. I think it's pretty rare that there are too many conversations going on at once. Usually we can all stay on one topic, and i really don't see the need for policing.

Everyone who comes into the IRC on Tuesday evenings (US time) is immediately directed to the flashchat link so that they can join everyone else. So it's not like there ever really was a separate room for restoration talk and a room for b.s.

I prefer to just have a forum announcement like this: "Restorers are meeting in the chat room Thursday at such and such time"

06/22/08

OK It's time to move the Restoration chat into the new chat room, it seems to be stable and up and working, so lets give it a try this coming Tuesday night Just hit the chat icon at the top of the page on the new skin, if yer still using the old skin here is the link you need

Freenode Java applet IRC portal


See ya there Tuesday at 8:00pm EST
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07/02/08

It looks as though the Restore Chat is finally back on track... The changing chat rooms and unstable platforms bought the attendance down to just the 6-8 diehards... but the last 2 weeks has a steady increase again, I would like to again invite everyone to join us for the chat every Tuesday night in the new chat room at 8:00pm EST...
Last night was really good seeing about 15 members in the room at one time, for those of you that have questions about your restores there are some very experienced people stopping by to share information....


See ya all next Tuesday :D
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07/29/08

Restoration Chat Continues!!!! We will be moving the Restoration Chat back into the "Cave" or as others know it Flashchat
That way the main chat can be for those that just wanna visit and BS and those of us that want to talk Restoration can visit and BS in flash :D.... It just seems to work better in there, so lets move it back.......
Please feel free to join in, even if ya just wanna kick back and listen, or if you need some help with your own projects....
Restoration encompasses just about every aspect of Razordom from sanding to honing and some of the guys that hang out are pretty knowledgeable so it is a great time to pick their brains....

See ya there 8:00pm EST tonight and every Tuesday...


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I am going to re-point out the problem, we did this in the past in fact it was Alex who pointed out the problem of having restore and regular chat in the same room, so we moved it back into flash and kept it seperate...


Where it has stayed since... Granted at that time it was not as established as it is now where most people know that Tuesday's are Restore chat, day...
But again I am going to point out that we have combined it in the past and it did not work....

so has Doc's cave closed for good? :(

I am not Dave, but CGI:IRC - Web based IRC Client actually works, and without Java, too. I wonder it it would be worth giving it a shot. Otherwise, I would like to iterate my recommendation for an IRC client, e.g. Chatzilla: http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...tml#post243034

One thing that is important to keep in mind is that given the technical level and resistance to change of the SRP population any solution that is only good in immediate or very near term is a bad one.
Even if they may not admit it, the truth is that most of the people in the restoration chat have financial interest that the community grows, or they'll be stuck with their beautiful restorations and have to scale down how many they make because there is not enough people to pay money for them.

SRP continues to grow and we should not only facilitate this, but also anticipate it and be prepared to handle it. Whoever has been in the Sunday chat recently would know that it has gone well beyond the size where much useful things can be accomplished. Most of it is people saying 'hi' to each other. Of course a newbie can still get help, but it is a bit intimidating to ask. Just think about it - when was the last time you enjoyed a party with a single conversation involving 30 people? The natural thing that happens is that it breaks to several smaller conversations with 2-5 people each.
The exact same thing happens in online chat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Everyone who comes into the IRC on Tuesday evenings (US time) is immediately directed to the flashchat link so that they can join everyone else. So it's not like there ever really was a separate room for restoration talk and a room for b.s.

I prefer to just have a forum announcement like this: "Restorers are meeting in the chat room Thursday at such and such time"

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Indeed, it serves no purpose to just redirect everybody from one room to another. Transitional periods when things are changing are one thing, but not long term.

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Originally Posted by kenneyty

I think it's pretty rare that there are too many conversations going on at once. Usually we can all stay on one topic, and i really don't see the need for policing.

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Actually reading the back logs I've seen more than once a person failing to grab the attention because everybody else is more interested talking about the kangaroo strop than explaining to a newbie the differences between a brand new dovo razor and one in the classifieds.

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Originally Posted by Ben325e

I think most people are excited to answer questions about how to hold the razor when going ATG under your chin, or why you should strop with an X pattern, or why Straights give less irritation than Mach 3's.

I'll give a big +1 to Philadelph on this one.

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That is true, but it's not what happens in practice. It would be nice if that were the case, but it happened even in the flash chat to the point that some people started to explicitly express their distaste from others socializing during 'resto hour'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

1. Nostalgia
2. Glen has terrible computer skills
3. Doc would not enter the new IRC chat

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Yes the flash chat worked for few people better than the irc java client, but that's a problem with their computers. I use chatzilla and it works really well. The flash is not an option at this point and this would probably force people, including Doc and Glen to use one of the better clients, or perhaps the one Robin mentioned will be much better than the current java one.
And I haven't had the motivation to figure out the sound in chatzilla, so it's silent for the most part, while I'd prefer it if it had an easy way to turn sound alerts on an off and I knew it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

When a new member from Canada comes into the only chat room he knows and sees Floppyshoes there available to answer a question about Northern honing services but gets no reply because Dan is busy in resto chat, who does that help? I don't see a need for policing of a topic either. If Tuesday night is advertised as resto chat, then the people who want to talk about that stuff specifically will make a point to be there. The chat should then naturally go in that direction.

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Now this is a problem of Dan being logged on in #srp without paying attention to it. It will be the same result if he'd just log on into the flash client, and go make a set of scales. For example this week nobody could talk to you in the restoration channel, because you decided not to join it. This was a the right thing to do if you're not planning to be participating there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

I see it more as a time and place where you KNOW people will be there who have an interest in discussing a certain topic. No need for policing of that topic, etc. The situation seems similar to all kinds of talk about modern honing techniques and 75k edges being serrated too roughly seen through a 300x powered microscope when guys used to use an 8k and be happy with it.

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Yes and the place for the last two weeks was #srp-resto, while #srp remained as the place for talking mail order brides, cognac, purchasing first razor etc.

Finally I don' t know if I mentioned this before, but would you prefer to have all threads in the forum be a single section without any organization. After all one can argue that whatever the current topic of interest is will stay on top.
It really works for a very small forum where there are 10 threads altogether and it'll be silly to make a section for each one, but for the size of SRP it would be a nightmare.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am going to re-point out the problem, we did this in the past in fact it was Alex who pointed out the problem of having restore and regular chat in the same room, so we moved it back into flash and kept it seperate...

But again I am going to point out that we have combined it in the past and it did not work....

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I can't say whether it will or will not work again. I just currently think that having two separate rooms IN IRC seems redundant and more confusing since you are dealing with all the same options/colors/sounds etc. The original reason that I did want it back in the cave was threefold:

1. I liked the cave better, different colors for different people, etc.
2. I had no good IRC client so didn't know anything at all about chatting in IRC
3. The stupid reason of 'nostalgia'. I (or someone else) started using the slogan from Karate Kid "Never Die" to refer to Flashchat. Flashchat it seems though, did in fact die.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

Even if they may not admit it, the truth is that most of the people in the restoration chat have financial interest that the community grows, or they'll be stuck with their beautiful restorations and have to scale down how many they make because there is not enough people to pay money for them.

I am one of those people, sure. Regardless having any restoration chat whatsoever hasn't helped me in terms of a sale. I might post something I'm selling, but it has yet to be profitable in any way.

SRP continues to grow and we should not only facilitate this, but also anticipate it and be prepared to handle it. Whoever has been in the Sunday chat recently would know that it has gone well beyond the size where much useful things can be accomplished. Most of it is people saying 'hi' to each other.

Very true. This happens in any chat though. In resto chat in particular I cannot recall one evening where cross-communicating wasn't going on. People say hi back and forth and then separate conversations break off. PMs happen. New members get ignored and so on. There is no getting around it no matter where we are.

Actually reading the back logs I've seen more than once a person failing to grab the attention because everybody else is more interested talking about the kangaroo strop than explaining to a newbie the differences between a brand new dovo razor and one in the classifieds.

Again, this will happen in any chat room no matter the size. People get ignored and/or people don't feel like talking about/commenting on everything everyone else wants to discuss/hear.

That is true, but it's not what happens in practice. It would be nice if that were the case, but it happened even in the flash chat to the point that some people started to explicitly express their distaste from others socializing during 'resto hour'.

Whether or not any of us likes this socializing in a themed chat, it happens EVERY WEEK. Yes, including last week with a separate IRC resto chat room. I was talking to a member through PM in the regular chat and he (in both rooms) commented on how there had been no mention of razors in the resto chat for a long length of time but they were instead just shooting the sh.t and discussing various random subjects. Nothing is ideal.

Now this is a problem of Dan being logged on in #srp without paying attention to it. It will be the same result if he'd just log on into the flash client, and go make a set of scales. For example this week nobody could talk to you in the restoration channel, because you decided not to join it. This was a the right thing to do if you're not planning to be participating there.

Correct, and there isn't much to be done about people not paying attention, but if a member is present in both rooms and only talking in one but ignoring the other, then it is something that could be avoided. I admit when Cave chat was still going, I would be logged into both but only pay attention to resto chat. Again, there is no perfect solution. Last week I had plenty of 'resto' chat in the main chat room.

Yes and the place for the last two weeks was #srp-resto, while #srp remained as the place for talking mail order brides, cognac, purchasing first razor etc.

Again, this would have been ideal, but it simply didn't happen that way Gugi and it never will. Non-razor topics were discussed in resto chat as I pointed out, and resto chat was discussed in the main chat.

Finally I don' t know if I mentioned this before, but would you prefer to have all threads in the forum be a single section without any organization. After all one can argue that whatever the current topic of interest is will stay on top.
It really works for a very small forum where there are 10 threads altogether and it'll be silly to make a section for each one, but for the size of SRP it would be a nightmare.

I really see no relevance there. A chat room isn't a forum and vice-versa. The chat room doesn't have thousands of 'threads' at the same time.

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Lastly, I want to point out that the current IRC chat room was in fact a 'short term thing' for the new SRP chat. It still doesn't work for everyone. Certain people can't get in or don't know how, etc. It was a short term fix because no better long term chat solution had been found yet. So again– no perfect fix.

I don't know what to do about having a separate resto chat vs. having it in one room really. I just thought it unnecessary to have two IRC rooms and I already discussed that. I don't want to be blamed though when one room doesn't work out because there are too many members trying to chat. So again, there isn't a perfect way to do it but I still think the system for the last two weeks is the worst yet.

Why not sub the chat link to send you to the SRP chat or the SRP-RESTO chat... A link from SRP will make it easier for everyone to find... A lot of times I have to go to the normal chat to get the link to the flashchat. I just finished & shaved with my Firs Restored Razor, Thanx to the chat room (both) & the forums.


May I ask why DOC doesn't like the chat room SRP has now?

Look guys for me it was just what I started with and am most comfortable with nothing else. Plus I'm a grumpy old bear who has a hard time with change. I am not even happy about the new digital tv change over.

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Originally Posted by Doc

Look guys for me it was just what I started with and am most comfortable with nothing else. Plus I'm a grumpy old bear who has a hard time with change. I am not even happy about the new digital tv change over.

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Ah, nostalgia... Second level support... Those were the days...

Here is the deal. I hereby offer to set my alarm clock to 0300 hours CET, and walk everyone who needs a bit of help through setting up an IRC client. I can promise you that using Pidgin, you will get coloured nicks, sound, and smilies. See screenshot below. Separate windows for separate channels, too.

Reason? I am logged onto #srp and #srp-resto 24/7, but due to time zone challenges, I can never participate in the restoration chat, but I would like to be able to follow the conversations there nonetheless.

And as far as change is concerned: Yes you can. ;)

Do you think Pidgin is one of the best? I'm not adverse to paying for an application.

I remember quite some time ago I felt the urge to get a chat client and I think I found something that was the uber chat client at the time... then I didn't really use it and then I switched to a new pc. I don't see it (of course I can't remember the name of it either) so it probably didn't make the migration.

If you want an IM (not just an IRC client), I think Pidgin is up there with the best of them. It is also free. And if you use PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB drives, you can install it on an USB stick or portable drive, and have the same setup whereever you are.

I've never seen IRC as short- or mid-term solution. The PHP-chat was. I think all of us who are technically minded agree that IRC is the best protocol to have the SRP chat over. It's small, open, portable, tested and there are plenty of free clients. The fact that the java client that is currently embedded on the website is not very good and that mirc cost money is no excuse for using something esle. I used chatzilla and I'm going to be using pidgin.

As far as flash goes, this is it, nostalgia or not, it is no more, and I'm pretty sure it will stay that way. The only relevant parts with respect to it are what of its features people are currently missing on the IRC. As far as I can tell almost none of them if you do not insist on using the java applet. May be we will find a better applet, but the pidgin client is pretty nice and everybody should be able to install it on their computer, or on a USB stick (if they have to use public computer).
I tried it and it has sounds, separate windows, colors, smileys and what not. It is also small and easy to use. And most important to me - it's missing the main feature of the flash - bogging down my computer.

On the topic of separate rooms, it seems to me all the complains are because people either don't know how or don't want to change the way they are used to something.
However, since most of you have been motivated enough to learn using straight razors because it's better, I think you can find some motivation to learning how to effectively use a chat.

Yes, you can have one single conversation where everybody talks over everybody else and we are already well beyond the number where this thing works. As I already said, it is analogous to a 30-50 people talkinng simultaneously to each other.
The solution to this scenario in real life is breaking up in groups of manageble size, i.e. going to another room (channel). These were easy to create in flash, and are equally easy to create in IRC, although you may not know that it is accomplished by typing '/j new_channel'

I actually use this all the time when I want to talk to several people when there's already a conversation (or few) going on in the main channel.

In any case the only official channel right now is #srp and I would like it to be always available for newbies to stop by and get help. Yes, sometimes they will be ignored, but I'd rather not increase the odds for this happening by allocating Tuesday evening as the 'resto chat', or 'gun chat', or 'make best lather chat'....

As a moderator my job is to enforce that things happen as intended. Off-topic talk is perfectly fine, as long as it does not interfere with the main goal. In the context of #srp to me this means that people get helped as much as possible.

After much discussion, Here is what we are going to try....
Since there has not been one true objection raised by anyone to using the main chat channel for Tuesday's Restore Chat, we are going to assume that it has been established enough that we can use the main chat for the Restoration Chat at 8:00pm EST on Tuesdays....

Let's all be extra considerate and try and answer any and all questions that might arise from non-restore members... Remember it is not really our little cave anymore, so let's go out of our way to be helpful... (You guys always are anyway)

So this Tuesday Night 8:00pm EST in the main chat room for restore chat... See ya there !!!!! :tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

After much discussion, Here is what we are going to try....
Since there has not been one true objection raised by anyone to using the main chat channel for Tuesday's Restore Chat, we are going to assume that it has been established enough that we can use the main chat for the Restoration Chat at 8:00pm EST on Tuesdays....

Let's all be extra considerate and try and answer any and all questions that might arise from non-restore members... Remember it is not really our little cave anymore, so let's go out of our way to be helpful... (You guys always are anyway)

So this Tuesday Night 8:00pm EST in the main chat room for restore chat... See ya there !!!!! :tu

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Sounds like someone is turning a vise on your cojones.


Jokes aside, I think it's more important to have everyone on the same page, so to speak. I'm not sure what would be worse:
- Non-resto converstation on resto night from members who don't know better
- Members cluttering the chat with bickering about where we should or shouldn't chat
I suppose out of the two, option one sounds better.

Main chat? You'll all have to watch your language :rofl2:

Excellent idea, Glen. Thank you very much.

Just for the record: If any of you guy should have difficulty logging into the chat with the interface provided by SRP, try the other server (link on the main page of the Wiki) or try one of the programs whose use is described in detail here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...-srp-chat.html

I'll add a walkthrough for Pidgin, too, as it seems the easiest program to use. And yes, it has colours, sound, and smilies.

BTW The Pidgin thing that Robin is talking about is easy enough that even I could get it to work....

Yes it is true..... I have severly limited computer skills

I guess we'll see how it works out. I think all of this has been discussed already in the posts above but... (haha, kind of like a general chat room I just browsed through it all and there was too much volume to sort out comments specific to this point.)

Here's the downside I can see. Holding "topic specific" themes in a general room/channel may result in a lot of private chats. People will open up a private channel simply to have a focused discussion or one-on-one about some small point of interest. Not because they want it private but simply to filter everything else. Others who might simply want to listen in would miss out on the side conversations. If it's kept topic specific then the general chat/information is sort of unavailable during the topic specific times.

Adopting the use of some client is the way to go. Either incorporate one in the "chat" tab on the forum and/or just have it point to a few free alternatives, maybe with basic instructions for the more popular ones.

I think it would be nice to have a number of known "sub" channels for this. Everybody starts out in the main channel and/or gravitates to the sub channels. Special interest groups might tend to show up regularly on the side channels at a regular time.

Many years ago (before they had IM even) we used some irc client written by someone in the community of poker players we had (haha, yes, before online poker) where you could open channels at will and either designate them as private, only allowing selected people to join, or public. All the channels would just pop up in the channel list on the client. It's been so long I've forgotten how all that worked but there were a number of pre-established side channels mirroring the partitions of the usenet group.

So it might be nice to establish something like
#srp
#srp - resto
#srp - honing
#srp - ebay
#srp - boker club
#srp ... whatever

Some might not get used but it would give a pre-established structure/organization much like the forum. People might generally hang out in some place or other or simply jump to another channel for a conversation with less noise.

(sorry of this has all been discussed previously in the thread but there was just too much noise to pick it out :D)
#srp - soaps creams brushes stuff you put on your face

hey guys, I'll mention this again (last time I promise) but I think the chat room could be a little more user friendly by replacing the current link with this one:
https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.net/srp

the design is a little cleaner, a little more modern and IMO more user friendly