Whistler, I'm guessing you mean "Chat." Max is still working on getting that back in order. It hasn't been working since his last renovation of the 'Cat. I'm sure it will be back up soon.
In the meantime, I sure hope the Forum doesn't become a "Chat Room." All that stuff is fine and dandy, but if there's too much, I don't think it's healthy for the life of the Forum. I think the Mudcat is what it is because the forum has been a place where people can feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Mudcat is at its best, I think, when there is a healthy mix of fun and discussion. When all you can find here is mindless "chit-chat," it tends to get a bit "teejus" around here. I don't mean to start another flame war, but I think it's worthwhile for us to watch the balance and the direction of the content of the Forum.
If all we're doing is exchanging insider jokes and one-liners, maybe that fits better in the Chat Room, which will be back up soon. I think that many people, myself included, feel excluded when the discussion is too heavy with the "insider" stuff.
-Joe Offer-