Does a shout/chat box ruin a forum?

[Geoffrey]

Can a shoutbox be good for a forum? Does it add to the forum or does it tend to take away, and distract, from the forum more? When you are on a forum with a shoutbox, do you use it?

 

[Jazzy]

I cannot stand when the shoutbox is at the top of the page. I also can't stand when all it says is (insert member name) has replied to (insert topic). Very distracting and very annoying (IMO).



I like the shoutbox on the bottom of the page (such as here at Off Topix). If I feel like giving a shout out then I will. If not, I just ignore it.

 

[Geoffrey]

I don't like it at the top of the page either, and definitely not on every page. I seldom post in any shoutbox regardless though, so that's a big reason why I don't like it in my face all the time. Bottom of the index is a nice placement, you can still find it easily but you don't have to see it if you don't want to. I didn't even know there was a shoutbox here till yesterday.

 

[Evil Eye]

It definitely shouldn't be obtuse (read: an eyesore) or spammy, but I don't quite see it ruining a forum.

Well, not unless it keep throwing popups at you.

 

[Geoffrey]

By being a problem, it can be said that shoutboxes take posts away from the forum because people will post in the shoutbox and not on the forum, which of course is a lot harder to have real discussions in. I've seen it happens on many forums, but I've also seen forums (like this one) have both and be fine. It's interesting to look at.

 

[Evil Eye]

By being a problem, it can be said that shoutboxes take posts away from the forum because people will post in the shoutbox and not on the forum

In the end it's all about connecting people though. Activity is activity, whether it's on the forum or in the chat.

And as you said, some things are too inconvenient for a chat.

 

[McConnaughay]

I think that a lot of people don't actually understand what a forum is, or at least, they have a very business kind-of attitude about things. Allow for me to be the one to pop that cherry for them when I say that forums are not meant to be taken seriously. They are not a job, business, or a company, they are a place for people to gather around and communicate, nothing more and nothing less. There are so many people that base their website's success on the amount of posts that they get, but really, in my opinion, as long as discussion is commencing, people shouldn't get a rat's ass where it is.

 

[Bluezone777]

Shout boxes do not ruin forums. What ruins a forum is horrible skins and crappy staff/regular members.



I suppose getting banned would ruin it for you too.

I rather see them at the top as people tend to miss them when they are at the bottom because people normally don't pay attention to anything below the last forum on the index for the most part. The only boards that I seen that have actively used shout boxes always had them at the top.

 

[ConfabIt]

Not really, unless you're new. I've had a few people ask me to put a chat box on the forum, but needless to say I want people actually posting to generate content.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

We have our "Recent Posts" section strategically placed above the shoutbox here so people can look at new forum posts to reply to while using the shout box.

 

[Hulk's iconHulk]

For my forums I would only allow a shoutbox to paid members and staff. That way it isn't used much so others have to pay for a way to talk to others without having to post.

 

[Cedric]

Shoutboxes keep posts away from the forums. I usually keep them to interact quickly with the staff.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Depends. If it's unobtrusive and there's a lot of threads going on, then no. But when there's no threads been posted/replied too and the chat box is placed where you see it as soon as you log in, then yes.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I think shoutboxes are a positive thing, it allows members another way to interact with each other and that contributes to a close knit community feel.

 

[BitsofOats]

It can be a pro and con. Pro as being a place to vent or to discuss things you'd normally find as spam to most (hence it's only a shoutbox, intended for Hello's). However it can also be found as a con since it's a missed advantage for the community to have it's threads and posts count content grow.

 

[Darth-Apple]

I think it largely depends on the type of forum. Honestly, probably the biggest disadvantage to chatboxes and shoutboxes is that users who are chatting aren't posting on your forums, so if forum posting is your ultimate goal, you are probably better off without. Shoutboxes don't seem to slow posting that much from what I've seen. Full chat rooms have a much more noticeable effect.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If we lose a couple post opportunities, oh well. No biggie.

 

[Helsing]

Yes I believe it does ruin the concept or purpose of a forum in the first place. A shout box screws with the SQL database and makes the forum load even slower due to the processes, The purpose of a forum is for chats and discussions really...and anyway that's why the messaging system was created, for those who need for private instant messaging but a chat box? I dunno who came up with that idea for any forum but then again every forum is different, that's what it makes it a community.

 

[FTON]

Shoutboxes are Good and Bad, They let members to have a friendly chat with each other and have Fun, however, They can Distract members from Posting and it can take the Activity base down.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Shoutboxes are Good and Bad, They let members to have a friendly chat with each other and have Fun, however, They can Distract members from Posting and it can take the Activity base down.

I noticed your activity in our shout box