What is your opinion of the Chat Rooms?
- Thread starter zeroturbulence
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1still_waters
Guest
I think they're good if people can use it in moderation.
My biggest concern is with folks who spend hours and hours and hours in chat daily. It seems like the perfect breeding ground for idle hands and the devils work. I'm NOT talking about folks who may be in chat for reasons beyond their control..ie health or whatever.
From my observation, some folks bring the drama on themselves, simply because they're in there TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. No good can come if one has that much time on their hands just to be able to chat in a chat room.
Another issue I've noticed with chat, is that it tends to provide a place for anti-social types with strong opinions to congregate. So you get a few dozen of those types in a room together for hours and hours a day for many weeks, and well. They aren't called anti-social for a reason!
But I guess it's like anything in life. It's got its ups and downs.
My biggest concern is with folks who spend hours and hours and hours in chat daily. It seems like the perfect breeding ground for idle hands and the devils work. I'm NOT talking about folks who may be in chat for reasons beyond their control..ie health or whatever.
From my observation, some folks bring the drama on themselves, simply because they're in there TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. No good can come if one has that much time on their hands just to be able to chat in a chat room.
Another issue I've noticed with chat, is that it tends to provide a place for anti-social types with strong opinions to congregate. So you get a few dozen of those types in a room together for hours and hours a day for many weeks, and well. They aren't called anti-social for a reason!
But I guess it's like anything in life. It's got its ups and downs.
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1still_waters
Guest
Overall, anything used excessively by anti-social types with strong opinions, who view it as their job to convince everyone they're right, for hours a day, well that just don't seem healthy, wise, productive or remotely ummm................good!
I mean it's not that the format or thing used is bad. It's the excessive use of it for hours a day, just to convince everyone else you're right, that seems a wee tad bit concerning.
I mean it's not that the format or thing used is bad. It's the excessive use of it for hours a day, just to convince everyone else you're right, that seems a wee tad bit concerning.
Hmm...
I liked the Chatrooms when I first arrived on CC. We seemed to have deep discussions about a variety of topics. Conversations took on a vary linear and natural progression.
I haven't spent very much time in there as of late mostly because it feels like the people who lack the social awareness of when to stop talking about a point don't. So conversations get recycled and dominated by the same people over and over again. I'm not going to name names or start rumors.
It also feels less linear than it did before. Conversations that develop wind up getting derailed by the one-liner crowd. That turns into having an hour long cookie cutter conversation where it just feels like people's lines are rehearsed and expectations are low. Then the "take all day on the mic to rant about something unrelated, followed by the same person singing a worship song." By the this person gets done, no one remembers what anyone was talking about.
Aside from the Bible Study hour, rooms don't have much to do with the labels attached to them. I gave it three times before I got tired of fighting it and gave up on having an unscheduled bible study progress naturally. The "We just need Peace and Worship songs" crowd changes the subject whenever a Bible study gets deep or passionate, followed by half an hour of prayer. The same people hang out in the same rooms and do whatever they want in those rooms because it is a familiar place to be, not because that is what the room was intended for.
wish list:
1. To be able to participate in a topical linear constructive conversation. Conversations are a lot like jump-rope, to contribute find the flow and the topic and jump in or wait for its conclusion.
2. Teaching, lecture, story aside, Mic use or response time should be a socially enforced limitation of approximately 40 sec to a Minute. Clicking the mic, then responding to text in progress on the mic or then Thinking of what to say while being on the mic is selfish and inappropriate mic etiquette.
3. Extended/chain Singing belongs in the YouSing room. Extended/chain Prayer belongs in the Prayer Room. Extended/chain Bible Study belongs in the Bible study room. Room Titles should determine the content, not just the people that frequent them.
4. A Chat room is a form of a socially conscious democracy, insofar as the content discussed should be for the promotion and discussion of relevant topics. It is not a stage for spontaneously playing a 30 minute sermon by Paul Washer (e.g.) unless that was the socially acceptable majority agreement.
5. With all of that said, this is a Christian Chat Site. All chat should be acceptable conversation before God.
I liked the Chatrooms when I first arrived on CC. We seemed to have deep discussions about a variety of topics. Conversations took on a vary linear and natural progression.
I haven't spent very much time in there as of late mostly because it feels like the people who lack the social awareness of when to stop talking about a point don't. So conversations get recycled and dominated by the same people over and over again. I'm not going to name names or start rumors.
It also feels less linear than it did before. Conversations that develop wind up getting derailed by the one-liner crowd. That turns into having an hour long cookie cutter conversation where it just feels like people's lines are rehearsed and expectations are low. Then the "take all day on the mic to rant about something unrelated, followed by the same person singing a worship song." By the this person gets done, no one remembers what anyone was talking about.
Aside from the Bible Study hour, rooms don't have much to do with the labels attached to them. I gave it three times before I got tired of fighting it and gave up on having an unscheduled bible study progress naturally. The "We just need Peace and Worship songs" crowd changes the subject whenever a Bible study gets deep or passionate, followed by half an hour of prayer. The same people hang out in the same rooms and do whatever they want in those rooms because it is a familiar place to be, not because that is what the room was intended for.
wish list:
1. To be able to participate in a topical linear constructive conversation. Conversations are a lot like jump-rope, to contribute find the flow and the topic and jump in or wait for its conclusion.
2. Teaching, lecture, story aside, Mic use or response time should be a socially enforced limitation of approximately 40 sec to a Minute. Clicking the mic, then responding to text in progress on the mic or then Thinking of what to say while being on the mic is selfish and inappropriate mic etiquette.
3. Extended/chain Singing belongs in the YouSing room. Extended/chain Prayer belongs in the Prayer Room. Extended/chain Bible Study belongs in the Bible study room. Room Titles should determine the content, not just the people that frequent them.
4. A Chat room is a form of a socially conscious democracy, insofar as the content discussed should be for the promotion and discussion of relevant topics. It is not a stage for spontaneously playing a 30 minute sermon by Paul Washer (e.g.) unless that was the socially acceptable majority agreement.
5. With all of that said, this is a Christian Chat Site. All chat should be acceptable conversation before God.
I agree with everything 1stillwaters said (haven't read anyone else's yet). I used to be in there a lot, but I hardly ever said anything. The 3 or 4 people I used to love hanging out with were either banned or disappeared lol. Most of them have come back but under new names, but the one guy I think is gone for good. Anyway I didn't really have any particular reason to start this thread. Just curious to see what everyone else thinks.
Agreed! I guess the chainsingers need an audience and no one's in the yousing room, so its like a catch 22.
N
NodMyHeadLikeYeah
Guest
G
Gabriel777
Guest
They should have more brain stimulating conversations at least. Not talking about teachings yet...
S
silverwind
Guest
Interesting thread! I used to chat a lot, simply because it was new to me and I loved connecting with people around the world. Now I chat hardly at all, I go into the rooms to see what the topic is, check the forums for new topics that are of interest to me, but chatting has lost its flavor for me. I enjoy eye to eye contact over a cup of coffee or whatever, because I assume that most chatters I encountered tend to present themselves with different persona than they would in "real life". I have a job now anyways, so time on here will be limited, which is a good thing.
My opinion is in the other catagory... Wheres that option ZERO!!!!!!!!
LOL, At least you have your principals.
My opinion is in the other catagory... Wheres that option ZERO!!!!!!!!
Sorry, Nod. You know what I was going to apologize in my OP for forgetting that option too.
I found that too in the beginning, but I also found that if you keep trying by going in there often and saying hello to everyone they warm up to you after awhile, but it does take some time. For me it took a couple of months if I remember correctly, and I know most people would give up before that. But the chat rooms were much busier and involved back then too. It might be easier now.
I used to really like the chat rooms when I first came to CC, but back then, there were a few awesome facilitators (people who took the mic and started great topics and discussions, while welcoming and including everyone.) All hail the great K---, if you remember her!
"Back in the day", they also used to do fun things like play Bible trivia--I might have only been able to answer 3 questions out of 20, and I might have answered behind everyone else, but it was a blast, even at 3 AM.
After a while though, it just seemed like I'd pop in and it would be people talking about what they had for lunch, or teens yelling at their younger brother to leave them alone while speaking on the mic for 10 minutes... and I just found that I enjoyed the forums a lot more in that I felt like I was actually getting to know people through their posts.
I agree with the observation about certain cliques and so forth... and I am definitely not part of the current chat " in crowd". I've always liked smaller discussions better--I used to search for a room where maybe 10 people were talking about interesting topics, but that seems to be pretty rare right now.
"Back in the day", they also used to do fun things like play Bible trivia--I might have only been able to answer 3 questions out of 20, and I might have answered behind everyone else, but it was a blast, even at 3 AM.
After a while though, it just seemed like I'd pop in and it would be people talking about what they had for lunch, or teens yelling at their younger brother to leave them alone while speaking on the mic for 10 minutes... and I just found that I enjoyed the forums a lot more in that I felt like I was actually getting to know people through their posts.
I agree with the observation about certain cliques and so forth... and I am definitely not part of the current chat " in crowd". I've always liked smaller discussions better--I used to search for a room where maybe 10 people were talking about interesting topics, but that seems to be pretty rare right now.
J
Jullianna
Guest
I suppose a chat medium is only as interesting/entertaining as those using it, huh?
I do like the chat rooms and I have a lot of friends who frequent them. But I'm not very good at small talk. I need a topic or substantial conversation in order to actively participate (which is why I am finding myself in the forums more and the rooms less). When that's not happening, I use the time to catch up with friends and/or pay attention to needs in the lives of others prayerwise. If I'm really not interested in anything that's going on, I'll hang out in the prayer room or youedify room and do something else online until someone in need enters.
I especially like the weeknight formal Bible studies and the praise sessions in yousing from time to time. But when conversations about the things of God become like clanging cymbals, it's time for me to do something else. I have enough stress in my life.
I do agree re: mic etiquette. It's pretty annoying when people are holding onto the mic just so they can look at themselves on cam for a few minutes while saying absolutely nothing. And those who just use it to make noise or irritate others. I only get on mic when few people are using it or if someone asks me a direct question that I'm too lazy to type (or would take too long to type). Even then I will usually type my answer, as by the time I can get the mic again, the question is forgotten.
I do try to greet newcomers and those who seem to be left out of conversations. The new msg that pops up announcing new users has been helpful.
I do agree with stilly that is very easy to get sucked into the drama if you're in the rooms too much, even if you don't want to become involved. That's sad...
Perhaps if enough of us who feel this way would hit the chatrooms and actually engage in substantial conversation, it would be helpful.... *shrugs* Maybe not... Might be worth a shot...
I do like the chat rooms and I have a lot of friends who frequent them. But I'm not very good at small talk. I need a topic or substantial conversation in order to actively participate (which is why I am finding myself in the forums more and the rooms less). When that's not happening, I use the time to catch up with friends and/or pay attention to needs in the lives of others prayerwise. If I'm really not interested in anything that's going on, I'll hang out in the prayer room or youedify room and do something else online until someone in need enters.
I especially like the weeknight formal Bible studies and the praise sessions in yousing from time to time. But when conversations about the things of God become like clanging cymbals, it's time for me to do something else. I have enough stress in my life.
I do agree re: mic etiquette. It's pretty annoying when people are holding onto the mic just so they can look at themselves on cam for a few minutes while saying absolutely nothing. And those who just use it to make noise or irritate others. I only get on mic when few people are using it or if someone asks me a direct question that I'm too lazy to type (or would take too long to type). Even then I will usually type my answer, as by the time I can get the mic again, the question is forgotten.
I do try to greet newcomers and those who seem to be left out of conversations. The new msg that pops up announcing new users has been helpful.
I do agree with stilly that is very easy to get sucked into the drama if you're in the rooms too much, even if you don't want to become involved. That's sad...
Perhaps if enough of us who feel this way would hit the chatrooms and actually engage in substantial conversation, it would be helpful.... *shrugs* Maybe not... Might be worth a shot...
I rarely go in there so I don't have any issue with it but whether in chat or in forums it's just the same there will always be issues. I heard someone before when I was about to log-in how he doesn't like to be in the forums anymore.
If people wanted to spend the whole day chatting in the chat rooms than spending time with people in real life...well that's their life...who cares???at least I don't.
Yea...it's not healthy but they are old enough to do what's good and not for them.
If people wanted to spend the whole day chatting in the chat rooms than spending time with people in real life...well that's their life...who cares???at least I don't.
Yea...it's not healthy but they are old enough to do what's good and not for them.
T
Tenabutterfly222
Guest
Well I have been in the chat rooms alot ,and I try to be nice to people and jump in the conversation only to feel un noticed. I spend alot of time there cause Im a single mom that doesnt drive and I live with alot of pain and cant get out much,so I am bored and want to talk to someone. I usually sit and listen and watch for people that need help wheather it be prayer or just someone to listen so they feel like someone cares. I see alot of drame and people being ignored like myself.It doesnt offend me but some people are trying to reach out to others and are not noticed,this tends to bother me sometimes because we should be reaching out to others like Christ did.But on the other hand there is alot of good there to,Iv seen people turn from suicide,and Iv seen souls get saved. So in my opinion there is good and bad and God does use some of us to do his work there.