Open chat for the site?

[PipeIT]

I have tried Discord. I found it a bit messy. It could just be my lack of knowledge of it.

Discord is as simple as you want it to be, like only a few channels, or a massive insane place.

Discord is very easy to use, run and operate a server.

I built a pretty complex Discord server with over a dozen channels text and voice, along with Slack integration, in only a few days, less than 40 hours.

AI Work Management & Productivity Tools

Slack is where work happens. Bring your people, projects, tools, and AI together on the world’s most beloved work operating system.

slack.com

Little 13 year old kids run and use it LOL, it’s easy peasy.

 

[captainsousie]

Use a VPN service if you are paranoid about your IP.

I use to teach on forums VPN and Computer Security, I also gave tech support for a VPN company for about 7 years.

There’s a lot of great VPN providers out there, and a lot of crap too.

I actually use Mullvad, they’ve been around a long time, very well know in the VPN world. Based in Sweden, no logging, 100% secure and private, for only 5 Euro a month.

Mullvad VPN - Free the internet

Free the internet from mass surveillance and censorship. Fight for privacy with Mullvad VPN and Mullvad Browser.

mullvad.net

They also offer Wireguard, which is a newer protocol over OpenVPN. Wireguard is really fast too.

WireGuard - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Sorry, I was unclear with my terminology. By IP I meant intellectual property. He's been very resistant to any use of the PM forum name that is not specifically sanctioned or designed by him. Again, I completely understand why.

 

[Searock Fan]

Years ago I had some experience with a new chat room. It seemed the biggest problem was getting the ball rolling. So often no one would be on it and so when someone visited they just blew it off and went away. For what it's worth, I suggest there be certain times where it would be open and everyone know about those times. The key to success with a new chat room is... patience.

 

[LotusEater]

I like the idea of a live video chat room for PM members and most platforms offer a text or voice only option that can be used by those who prefer not to join on camera. That said- I would probably only participate occasionally.

I wonder though if having a live chat might reduce traffic in some/all of the forums threads?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I like the idea of having a Zoom video chat and placing faces and voices to members whom I generally only associate with their avatars. I don't know if having this hosted on another site (Discord?) is a good idea—the last thing we want is to divert people from this one and jeopardize the forum. I'm sure we're here because of ads that get seen by us, which won't happen if we're somewhere else.

There is another pipe forum that has a weekly Zoom meeting on Friday evenings. I believe people can just pop in by clicking a Zoom link. I've yet to attend it, but will check it out at some point. Some of you are members there. Have you participated?

 

[Searock Fan]

Since we're talking about ideas for this forum....

How about getting rid of 99% of the emoticons that no one uses and add some fresh ones.

I seem to remember that years ago on this forum there was a feature I believe was called a "Gallery". Member's could create a gallery account and post pictures of their collections. These were kept and could be viewed by other members at any time. The account holder could also edit it, but others could not comment. I don't know why it was eliminated but I suspect one reason was it took up a lot of memory. Things have changed and storage space is now really cheap. Plus a gallery like this can be set up to where it automatically reduces the file size of super large pics so the space required is less.

 

[HRPufnstuf]

How about getting rid of 99% of the emoticons that no one uses and add some fresh ones.

I would personally like to see a neutral icon that indicated you read a thread but don't have an approval/disapproval stance about it. I find myself "liking" posts merely to indicate I have read them. People want to know who reads their comments, I do not want to deceive them.

 

[PipeIT]

I don't know if having this hosted on another site (Discord?) is a good idea—the last thing we want is to divert people from this one and jeopardize the forum.

This is a good/valid point, but those who like certain platforms usually stick to those.

The Posting crowds stick to forums.

The Real Time crowds stick to platforms like Discord.

The forum should not be in jeopardy, if anything, it jeopardizes loosing the Real Time Crowd that don’t like forums, is how it should be looked at.

 

[PipeIT]

Sorry, I was unclear with my terminology. By IP I meant intellectual property. He's been very resistant to any use of the PM forum name that is not specifically sanctioned or designed by him. Again, I completely understand why.

Ahh ok...

Discord respects and protects these rights.

https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/4410339349655-Discord-s-Copyright-IP-Policy

There are major corporations all around the world using Discord. Apple, Microsoft, Google, Samsung, to name a few use Discord...

 

[wernerat]

Why not make a discord? People can join in anytime and it s free and we can have different rooms?

Ps: after reading my post was not that creative:D

 

[obc83]

Yeah, Id like to talk directly to a couple of ya right now... haha

 

[chilllucky]

No one could or would stop you from making a discord chat room on your own. You may even be allowed to link to it here. But it won't be official PipesMagazine™ unless @admin wants it.

 

[captpat]

Had my fill of Zoom when I was working, especially during COVID, I don't believe I'd use a chat feature if it were available, however different strokes for different folks....

 

[admin]

The answer is no.