Getting a group in the chat room

Subject: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Sharon
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 10:23 PM

I come here to the forum, and see 0 people in the chatroom. Naturally, I won't bother going there. Maybe it could be stated: Next chat group will enter the room at X o'clock? ? There has to be a way to get folk there at the same time. what are some other solutions?

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 01:35 AM

Well, Sharon, I think Laoise said she wants to do it on Zulu Time (Greenwich Mean Time), but we in the US are lacking in math skills and would never figure that out. Maybe we could agree that anybody who wants to chat, whenever that might be, should head for the chat room "on the hour" or "on the half," and wait for 5 minutes for people to gather. It would take some Great Arbiter, well respected by all (like Dick or Max or Susan) to credibly declare such a meeting time.
Otherwise, somebody who is reallly desperate to chat could post or refresh a forum thread saying, "I'm Lonely, Please Come and Chat," and then go to the chat room and wait. That would place the plea at the top of the thread list. Since we are all polite, caring folkies here, surely the next person to log on would have pity and join in at least a token chat. I don't particularly like chat myself, because I've never seen anything (other than maybe sex) discussed in a chat room with any depth. I prefer forums like this, which give me time to think about what I'm saying. Nonetheless, I myself would probably also be driven to pity and would enter the chat room for polite conversation.
I have to admit it was interesting the other night to be here in California, chatting with Alison in Australia.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Looking for Shula in all the wrong places
From: Speed-1
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 01:46 AM

Shula, I'm online and looking for you. We should take Sharon's idea and leave thread to meet at specific time, EDT. What do you think?

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Helen
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 03:21 AM

Yay team - it works!! Putting a note on this thread, I mean, and bringing it to the top of the thread list. Nice talking to you Bill & Joe.

Helen in Oz

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Laoise
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 05:42 AM

Is there anybody out there? It's 11 o'clock in the morning over here and yous Americanos are probably in your beds. If anyone is up and about I'm gonna try and enter the "Chat zone" Da na na NA Da na na Na...

Laoise.

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Shula
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 06:32 AM

Hey, Laoise, sorry I missed you -- and Joe and Helen, and especially my own dear friend, Speed-1, who, I am ashamed to say, must wander up and down the cyber-streets crying my name, since I don't have a second phone line yet. Speed-1 has folk-history herself, of the California-60's variety, (and, an aside to Dick Greenhaus: if we are all very nice to her she may come back and help out with editing a contribution or two in Spanish and/or Hebrew).

As it happens, the best of all possible fellows, long-suffering web-widower that he has become, began muttering darkly this evening about bringing an action against The Mudcat for Alienation of Affection. So I bethought me that since it is he that feeds and shelters me, and keeps me warm on winter nights, -- and, to add insult to injury, it's HIS computer I've been keepin' comp'ny with, I'd best be gettin' on about my well-loved, but recently neglected duties as wife. Hope my absence gave everyone else a chance to get a word in.

Like Joe, I'd rather ruminate awhile before I respond, and besides, me auld arthritic fingers type at approximately the same speed as the approach of World Peace, but I'll give it a go if anyone else would like.

With affection,

Shula

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 11:08 AM

I got me a couple of those "world time" programs which show, in a couple of different formats, what time it is anywhere in the world. Very useful when you wonder about a good time to try to meet for a chat! I just noted, for instance, that London is 5 hrs ahead of New York, and Sydney is 14 hours ahead of New York.....So..I am typing at 11am,it is 4 pm in London and 1am in Sydney....not a very good configuration....but on a weekend (say Fri or Sat nite..), I could get on at 6 pm, London would be at 11pm (not too bad for a short chat) and Sydney would be at 8am Sat or Sun morning!...really possible, if 3 people in those locations really wanted to have a chat! No time is 'Just right', but any 2 can plan a time and invite anyone who is awake to join in...and as 'needs' develop, times will be found.
.... The real problem is that we are not at 'critical mass' yet to have enough warm bodies available who know about this, have a machine with the right kind of browser, and are of a mind to communicate in this format in the 'Brave New World'. Don't everyone give up...just recruit!!

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Laoise
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 11:56 AM

I think I have a problem. Every time I've visited the Chat Room, I get the words Chat Room and an empty screen. The mouse won't 'click' anywhere. I've checked in my preferences section and I have two choices - Enable Java and Enable JavaScript. The only one that works is JavaScript. Does this mean I can't have some craic with youse all in real time?

It's 5 o'clock now over here in Belfast and I have to head home and get my head showered. In a couple of weeks time I'll be starting my PhD at Queen's and with a bit of luck I should be getting a decent computer - you know with Windows 97 an all, a soundcard and all the bits. Hopefully then I can enjoy some deep and meaningful discussions with you all on the meaning of life, folk and why one sock always dissapears in some dark crevice of your washing machine.

L'chaim, A la Sante, Slainte, And may your God go with you.

Over and out

Laoise.

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 01:08 PM

Laoise....yep..new & ever more complex machines/browsers is what it takes...I have only had a java-capable browser for 3 weeks, and I really love it! Netscape 4.0..(if you get just the 'browser' part, it is free to individuals...and I use other mail programs anyway)

Oh...being a registered, card-carrying member of a philosophical reserve unit (got the degree, but never went on to the career), I have MUCH to say about the meaning of life). And what MY washing machine does is save a sock or two out of each load, and add it to the next persons load, so you really need to be aware of who else uses the machine and meet occasionally for tea and laundry sorting.....best wishes on your PHD program...see you later...

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: RS
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 01:17 PM

I believe it was Max who said (at some time, somewhere - might even have been in the Chat Room itself) that there were plans to post specific topics, for specific times, to be discussed in the Chat Room.

I know that sometimes I don't sign on because I'm not sure what to say if I do meet someone there ... "Hello, where are you from" is a beginning, but then what?

I would think that Topic Times would open up rather than restrict conversation; then I could sign on when I had an interest in the particular subject at that time.

Some of our threads would make good topics for hot debate, e.g. what is a folk song, why live music, what to put on the Mudcat t-shirts, etc., etc.

And Max did say that while they wouldn't be keeping record of most Chat Room discussions (too much idle banter) - they would record the Specific Topic discussions & keep them on file.

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 11 Sep 97 - 11:06 AM

Laoise,
To find out what happens to your socks click here. Can't help much with the other questions. The only person I've chatted to in the blue room is Alison & that was pre-arranged. A couple of other times there has been one person there but they must have dozed off while waiting for company.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: alison
Date: 12 Sep 97 - 04:00 AM

Hi

I would just like to point out that Joe and I were not talking about sex!

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Sharon
Date: 12 Sep 97 - 11:53 PM

Alan. Loved the socks info. Is that your site or just something you came across. (How does one come across something like that unintentionally:?)

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 13 Sep 97 - 02:03 AM

Sharon, not my site, I came across this in a "cool sites" section of a computer magazine. I read these a lot - my excuse is it helps with my work.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Getting a group in the chat room
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 97 - 03:22 AM

Yikes! I did not mean to imply anything that might besmirch Alison's reputation. Besides, there were four of us in "chat." Very civilized conversation, and rather pleasant.
But I like the forum better.
-Joe Offer-