Chat Room Suggestion

Subject: Chat Room Suggestion
From: DW Ditty
Date: 10 Jan 98 - 06:28 AM

I, too, miss the chat room conversations, and, yes, Gene, I also find the bartender a little stiff. My suggestion is that upon entering the cafe, go to the chat room and hang out for a few minutes - it helps to have an instrument handy to while away the time. I have found that quite soon, another mudcatter will come along, see that there is someone in the chat room, and come in, too. I think what happens is that nobody goes there because it is empty (as opposed to too crowded - Yogi Berra). My point is that someone always has to open the place up before anyone else goes in. If we all try this approach, I've got a feeling the place will be hopping in no time.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Helen
Date: 10 Jan 98 - 10:07 PM

Hi

I was reflecting on the absence of chatters the other day, and I wonder whether the more mysterious message "There are [x number] of people in the chat room" creates a curiosity which makes us want to open the door and peek inside, but seeing the person's name there might take the mystery out of it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not likely to look at someone's name & say - "Hmm, don't know him/her really well, don't think I'll go in there right now" but the sense of a surprise package is greater when you see a number of people in there and don't know who they are until you get there.

I can't imagine a bar where a neon sign announces who is there at any given time, but I do know that walking past a crowded pub or club where there is a lot of laughing and chatting makes me wonder who is in there and whether I would enjoy myself if I went in there too.

Just a thought to throw into the pond and to see what ripples it creates.

Helen

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: judy
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 01:19 AM

A certain time of day to start out with might start things up: say 7-8pm Eastern which would be 10-11 Pacific wouldn't be too early or late to stop in and say hi.

Haven't tried the chat myself since I've become a member. I remember reading a lot of threads about it when I first came on in September.

judy

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 01:56 AM

Hmmmm. does your world revolve backwards, Judy? At 7 PM Eastern, I'm still hard at work here in California. Do you know some way I can get out of that????
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 04:46 AM

Most of you are asleep when I log in.

I did go into the chat room just to see what it was like. My pore ol' Netscape 3.01, or my pore downtroden Linux OS didn't like it much and Netscape folded up it's tent twice and quit before I could get in. I finally did get in. Wow! what colours! I will bring sun glasses next time I visit.

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Selene
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 04:21 PM

Hi all

I tried going into the chat room (at least, the sign indicated a bar tender!) but it asked me all sorts of questions first, including what my POP3 was. My What? eh, how about chat 101? How should I know what my POP3 is? I just click the appropriate buttons. Anybody, help?

Selene

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Sheye
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 09:24 PM

Sorry Joe, but I see "hard and work in California" as an oxymoron. Excuse the bitterness; it warmed up to a balmly -31 celcius here today. Send me a postcard, or a quarter, or something (I'll cry the river and bring the cookies).

Sheye

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jan 98 - 10:19 PM

selene...pop3 refers to your email address...most people with net access thru a standard ISP (Internet Service Provider) have an eamil address that looks like mine...

[e-mail]

and somewhere in the settings for the email it has to be 'told' what the software at the IPS wants to see...in my case it looks for pop.erols.com and my ID is extree

this may be a little different for AOL or some other providers like the big National networks..you just have to look at the settings. In any case, it is a good idea to push some of the buttons and look thru the menus at the tops of the various programs you use...(browser..email..Windows..etc.) you'll never really get full use from them unless you take the trouble..it really is worth it, and you will find as I did that in a short while you'll be saying "Oh, is THAT all they meant?"

With a little effort, you can control 'almost' everything that happens on your screen-from the colors to the type size & style to the amout of memory used for various things.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Sharon
Date: 12 Jan 98 - 05:00 PM

I like the idea of scheduling topics to discuss. Or just scheduling ahead of time a time to meet and chat. I used to come and chat when the room was new. Now I never pick the right time, I guess. Nobody is ever in there when I arrive. I've sort of given up on it, and it was such fun.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: judy
Date: 12 Jan 98 - 05:25 PM

I totally apologize for being so provincial and forgetting the rest of the world (not to mention being incorrect on my rotation) Perhaps once a week on the weekend at a possible time for everyone. For instance 8-9AM EST = 12PM PST and end up being not too late at night even on the other side, up top and down under. Is that right? BTW (by the way) I'm taking both Geol 1 and Geog 1 as we speak. Ought to help me out.

DW Ditty's idea of checking into the chat everytime one logs in might be a nice idea

Helen's idea of "[x} number of people in the chatroom" sounds like something that would intrigue me. When I don't have time to see too much I'll often look at a thread that has a lot of responses to it even if it's not something I know about.

Max, is there any possibility of seeing chat room conversations not in live time in case you can't get in when other people are there? Sort of like a "Chat Thread" that would last for a certain amount of time.

judy

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 12 Jan 98 - 09:33 PM

Would it be possible for the chat room application to be kept open in a separate window?

That is, at the moment if you go into it and then leave, the application closes and you are no longer in the room. I would like to go into the chat room and stay there while I read threads, use the database, etc. Then there will be more chance someone will join me, and I can keep my eye on the window for when that happens. (I use "me" somewhat metaphorically, since there are not many people around when I would go in; but I think it would work for those in better timezones.)

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: m
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 09:54 PM

Just wondering why my "From" space now says m instead of Sharon, as it used to. I've not changed my name...........to this littlle initial. (this comment is actually from Sharon..............not from m.)

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Gene E
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 11:24 PM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

That's a m_____ of a question.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Elektra
Date: 14 Jan 98 - 12:30 PM

The last couple of days I've tried to go into the Chat room, while I DO get the "Chat Room" page header, the actual screen (ie Blue background, Bartender comment) -- never materializes -- just a big grey area. Anyone else having this problem? I am using IE4 and it worked just fine 3-4 days ago...

Hint: Whenever I go in I normally spawn a new window FIRST, and use IT to enter the chat. (This works with both IE and Netscape, BTW) I move it up to the top and make it wide and skinny, just big enough so I can see if anyone else comes in. Then I use the original window to browse the threads and database, keeping it large enough to fill the rest of my screen. (When I can get IN to the chat room, this normally works just fine.)

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Jaxon
Date: 14 Jan 98 - 05:07 PM

I'm having the same problem. When I could get in the other day the left side of the field wasn't accessible so I couldn't type anything. Jack Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: dwditty
Date: 14 Jan 98 - 08:38 PM

Just got that old Null Pointer again - which sister is she, anyway? Suggestion: create a function in the chat room where we can post messages (a la carvings in the tables).

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Gene E
Date: 14 Jan 98 - 11:04 PM

I get the big gray screen also. Bartender's on strike!

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Selene
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 05:15 PM

I tried to find out about thsi POP3, but my pa claims we don't have one. We don't have an AOL account, could this have to do with it?

Selene

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 07:07 PM

I also got a big grey screen, and an error message refering to a "java exception". I don't know how to program in java, but that usually means a mistake in the script (source code).

Anyway, it is working now, so don't be put off using it.

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 07:32 PM

Selene:

If I understand things right, you should ask your father if you have an email address and if so what it is. POP3, or whatever is a local code.

When you are asked for POP3 try to supply this email address. At least that is what I read from Bill D's answer to your question.

Also, most WWW browsers allow you to set your email address, and that is the one that will be supplied to all those you contact through the browser. Try the "Options" menue if your browser has one. Once this is set the Bartender will get it automatically.

This is assuming that you are a member, of course :)

Murray

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 08:28 PM

Oops, I spoke too soon. Netscape just crashed while I was in the Chat Room and I get the exception message when I try to get back. It seems to be an intermittent problem.

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Elektra
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 08:45 PM

Interestingly, Murray -- I am using IE4 and IT crashed along with my desktop and subsequently dropped my connection. It says we and two alisons are still in there, but I know *I'm* not. Looks like the Bartender ('bot?) isn't doing its job and throwing out the deadbeats, either. And now I'm back to the sad grey screen when I try to get in again.

Still working out some kinks in the code, it looks like...

Nice chatting with you two, though! :)

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 09:24 PM

Well, I saw the "crowd" (including the two Alisons!) I just had to try it even though my PC and Java are incompatable~~bad mistake. So I turned Java on and proceeded, took me 8 minutes to get there~~only to find a null pointer exception. Maybe it would take up too much space, I don't know, but it seems to me that a simpler form of chat would work better. Max says he is working on something different, so I guess I will just wait.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Barry
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 10:35 PM

Saw a party going on & couldn't get in, null point in knockin till Max opens the door again Barry

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 10:44 PM

Barry, can you post the tune for that?????
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Barry
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 11:08 PM

Joe, I was thinking of "I hear you knockin but you can't come in", but being trad minded didn't even think of a tune or of writting a line or two & seeing if it would scan(techo-musical word), I was jes jokin around. Barry

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 16 Jan 98 - 12:29 AM

How about a "Help I'm locked in a Java Program" bumper sticker? Alison, Elektra and I should get a free one.

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 98 - 01:11 AM

Hey, Murray, you and Elektra and the two Alisons musta broke it. Bummer. Must have been quite a party you had going. Care to tell us about it? We'll all sing Barry's tune while you tell your sad story. Then we'll wait and see what kind of excuses you come up with when Max asks who broke his chat room. Hmmmm.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Elektra
Date: 16 Jan 98 - 10:10 AM

Well, er... if you must know... there was really only ONE Allison -- and none of it was her fault, either. She was farthest from the Bartender and he was SO trashed that he was seeing two of her. After flying into a drunken rage at being left out of the conversation, he unceremoniously threw us into the street on our arses (can one really be thrown CEREMONIOUSLY out on one's arse?), bolted the door and then neglected to erase the People-in-Chat-Room-board. I am presuming he passed out eventually and is still sleeping it off.

A real sod, he was. And to top it all off, he never even served us our drinks! If we've got the same Bartender when next I stop in, I'll fire HIS old dun cow, I will!

We DID have a lovely conversation up until he started in on Allison, though. ;^)

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 16 Jan 98 - 07:42 PM

Yeah! Elektra has said it all. It was the bartender's fault!

Murray

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: alison
Date: 16 Jan 98 - 10:26 PM

Hi,

We were having a great old time in there, (that is me and my split personality), pity the rest of you couldn't get in. It all worked very well although Murray was having problems with a delay, then I must have said something to offend the barman and got thrown out. when he let both of me back in I was having a delay, I was typing the words but they were taking forever to appear on the screen and if someone else typed something in the meantime my message disappeared altogether. Then my entire computer froze....... Then later I got null pointer again.

Well I'm off for a swim....... and so am I!!!!

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: leprechaun
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 05:38 PM

It's Saturday, Jan 17, 2:46 (5:46 on the east coast.) I figured maybe enough people would be here to start a chat, but all I get when I click on chat is a grey screen, and no place to type conversation. What the heck is a null pointer? Guess I'll have to raid my own liquor cabinet.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: leprechaun
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 05:49 PM

O.K. I just got in and nobody was in there but the bartender. I couldn't pry any conversation out of him with a crowbar. Since I was the only one there I bought a round for the house.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Elektra
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 09:02 PM

Max: The marquee "outside" doesn't seem to note when poeple make like Elvis from the chat room.

All others: People in chat room may be MUCH FARTHER than they appear, ie hallucinatory.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Elektra
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 09:06 PM

*DOH!!* Forget I typed that -- I REALLY need to stop using that [Back] button quite so much!

I think I'll just go write 'BONEHEAD' on my forehead in big, red permanent marker now...

Oh, and Max: I don't know what you did, but I forgot to mention it seems a bit faster now. Keep up the good work!

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Gene E
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 11:03 PM

I don't know why it didn't come to me before:

Well I got thos ol nul point can't get in bluEs. Well I go thos bad ol' nul poin aint gettin' in bluEs. I went to the joint and it was all bad news.

Well what's a po' boy ta do? I say wahat's a po boy ta do? When he wants ta go see his friend but the do' is closed

It's all bad news, yes, yes it's all bad news.

I say where's this thing goin, what's gonna come o' po' me? Yea. I say where's this thing goin' an' just what's gonna happen to po' ol' me. I went to the joint but it was all nul point bad, bad news.

I guess I'll just catch that ol mail train and ride. Oh yeah I guess I'll catch that ol' mail train and ride. That joint ain't open, I'll just catch that ol train and ride.

Nul point blues ( pardon any spelling errors) this boy can't keep spelling in his rememberance.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: judy
Date: 17 Jan 98 - 11:27 PM

Entered the chat room for the first time and figured I didn't know what to do. Tried typing but nothing appeared. I can now see that I never really got in; just to the gray screen.

Ah well, the forum's the place for me judy

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: dwditty
Date: 18 Jan 98 - 07:11 AM

Here's some more lyrics, Gene:

I went down to the bar room, buy myself a glass of beer
Yeah, I went down to the bar room to buy myself some ice cold beer
Got up to the door, a big gray sign said no one here.

I walked on down to Main St., man, I was feeling blue
MMM, went down to Main St, I was feelin' low and blue
Cause everywhere I looked, just saw that old gray hue.

So I went to see Nell Pointer, best gal I ever had
(spoken) I ain't gonna tell you 'bout the good times, 'cause this song's 'bout feelin' bad)
Her sister Null came to the door, said drag your ass on back to Trad

Now I'm back here in the threads, and my spirit's on the rise
Oh, I'm back into my threads, yeah, my spirit's on the rise
Some day that Chat Room's gonna open, give us all a big surprise

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: rosebrook
Date: 18 Jan 98 - 12:15 PM

dwditty,

any other tunes on that CD you're putting together?

Rosebrook

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jan 98 - 01:37 PM

ROTFLMAO at the songs and stories...(means 'rolling on the floor laughing my ass off' for those of you who don't deal in online shorthand..)

I am sitting here feeling guilty, because, even with a pretty bare bones machine...(Windows 3.1, upgraded 386), I have never had a problem getting into the Java chat...had a very nice chat with Jen the other day....I have no idea what I did right or avoided doing wrong. I AM using Netscape 4, which I HEARTILY recommend for many reasons. (Internet Explorer feels like driving a Hyundai after being used to a BMW) but I doubt it is as simple as that. This is a pretty complex thing Max is doing, and I am sure glad I don't have understand the details!! I just try to follow directions,close my eyes, press the buttons and hope...

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Selene
Date: 18 Jan 98 - 05:42 PM

Hi there

Yes, I am a member, that's not my problem! I'll try it again with my email address though. Cross your fingers.

Selene

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: Gene E
Date: 18 Jan 98 - 08:15 PM

dwditty

Good job and you can spell too! Sometimes I cant but not when I'm bar / chat hopping.

When's that recording date? We're ready!:}

Gene E

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From: dwditty
Date: 20 Jan 98 - 06:08 AM

Hey, guys. It appears the Bar is open. Last couple of days I have gotten in - of course it's still pretty lonely. I even opened a second browser and found two of me inside - suspect that's what Alison was up to the other day. Anyway, it's nice to be back in the green again. Now, back to my original suggestion - when you sign on, have an instrument handy and hang out in the Chat Room until someone shows up.

Subject: RE: Chat Room Suggestion
From:
Date: 22 Jan 98 - 10:17 AM