Shoutbox or Chat

[AWS]

I go back and forth on this. On a couple of my sites I have chat enabled. The chat works well on those sites and compliments the forum well. The sites I use chat software on are an off topic forum and a computer help forum. I have used it on other sites and on those the chat took over. Everyone went to posting in the chat instead of the fourm.

 

What's your thoughts?

[Shawn]

I think it can be beneficial for some niche forums.

 

If I find a good one for vBulletin, I might add it to Off Topic Forum. To me, an off-topic forum would be the perfect vehicle for a shout box.

 

For this forum, I feel like it would take over like it has on TAZ. That's about the only activity TAZ gets now, on a shout box, sadly.

[capnsquarepants]

I think it can be beneficial for some niche forums.

 

If I find a good one for vBulletin, I might add it to Off Topic Forum. To me, an off-topic forum would be the perfect vehicle for a shout box.

 

For this forum, I feel like it would take over like it has on TAZ. That's about the only activity TAZ gets now, on a shout box, sadly.

I agree with this. A shoutbox (or worse, discord) would take activity away from the forum.

[AWS]

I think it can be beneficial for some niche forums.

 

If I find a good one for vBulletin, I might add it to Off Topic Forum. To me, an off-topic forum would be the perfect vehicle for a shout box.

 

For this forum, I feel like it would take over like it has on TAZ. That's about the only activity TAZ gets now, on a shout box, sadly.

My off topic forum has one. Works great to supplement the forum.

 

On one of my tech sites has chat setup for staff. Some of the staff think it would be great for users too. That's I am hesitant about.

[Shawn]

On 10/9/2024 at 8:21 AM, Cloaked said:

My off topic forum has one. Works great to supplement the forum.

 

On one of my tech sites has chat setup for staff. Some of the staff think it would be great for users too. That's I am hesitant about.

Maybe make it for computer-related questions for users rather than just chit-chat. Keep it niche-based.

[Immortal]

I do not like shoutbox in forums. I believe all the discussions in the forum should happen in the main forums. I have never used shoutbox in my forums.

[Exoticdreamer]

On 10/9/2024 at 6:47 AM, capnsquarepants said:

(or worse, discord) would take activity away from the forum.

Discord is a no-go for me unless it's discussions with the staff or a small group of people.

I have seen forums shift from websites to Discord because the admin or owner decided to duplicate threads there instead of letting people just interact with them on the forum.

[Debashis]

I would always prefer to have a general chat thread instead of a chatbox/shoutout box. Reason? They don't help enhance the forum activity stats.

[Cpvr]

On 11/4/2024 at 9:50 AM, Immortal said:

I do not like shoutbox in forums. I believe all the discussions in the forum should happen in the main forums. I have never used shoutbox in my forums.

I don’t either. I’m not a fan of shoutboxes.

I think they take away all the general banter talk away from certain forums, which isn’t a good thing.

 

 

[Shawn]

I've considered adding one for some of my forums.

I have a local cycling forum, and it's made up of mainly local folks; we all know each other.

I think I might try it there and see how everyone takes it.

[Immortal]

In some forums chat box might work for instance, it is good to talk what you ate for dinner in a chat box rather than on a forum post.

[AWS]

11 hours ago, Immortal said:

In some forums chat box might work for instance, it is good to talk what you ate for dinner in a chat box rather than on a forum post.

Never looked at that way. You are right.