Off Topix: Embrace the Unexpected in Every Discussion
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Shoutboxes
- Thread starter Randy
- Start date
I like them for short chats, but I feel like an over-reliance on them can draw activity away from the forums. Short "hey, how are you doing" and "heading off for the day/night, have a good one!" sort of messages are what I use the shoutbox for. A nice, brief chat then back into the forums 
Thats what ours is used for primarily. Seems like people are more interested in posting here in the threads than in the shoutbox, which is fine. The great thing about forums and threads is the organization of conversations. Shoutboxes are messy and hard to navigate for long conversations.I like them for short chats, but I feel like an over-reliance on them can draw activity away from the forums. Short "hey, how are you doing" and "heading off for the day/night, have a good one!" sort of messages are what I use the shoutbox for. A nice, brief chat then back into the forums
Yep, absolutely! Having the shoutbox is great for the quick stuff, and having down at the bottom of the index as well as a dedicated page helps to keep it from drawing too much focus, but it is nice to have it. Threads and forums are just perfect. Start a conversation, go away for a bit, come back and it's still there for you to carry on with! Can't do that with chats, the conversation moves on.
I am not a fan of shoutboxes, don't use them.
Whats wrong with them?
I enabled a shot box once on a previous forum and the forum activity dropped almost completely. Everything was posted on the shout box.
I stay away from them now.
I'd might consider it as a feature for a premium membership.
I stay away from them now.
I'd might consider it as a feature for a premium membership.
That sucks. I've never had seen that happen on a forum I've ran. People always stick to the threads and just use the shoutbox for a quick "hi" and "bye"
Helps when it's on a separate page or at the bottom of the index. Out of site, out of mind. When it's up top it definitely detracts
Oh yeah, I've always had it at the bottom of the index page. Looks out of place anywhere else.
I moved mine up top because it works for our community, but anywhere else that's the worst place to put it.
So anywhere that's not top = Worst place to put it.
Offtopix has put it below the main content.
Offtopix has put it in the worst place they could.
@Nebulous this is an indirect shot at how you run the forum. She's provoking you.
I dumb worded. lol