Live chat
hey web gods, any chance of getting a live chat feature where we can chat with the people who are currently online?
some of the other forums I use have this feature and its pretty handy Andy.
in the meantime here’s a pic of a cat in the snow.
I was thinking the same thing the other day. Would be an awesome feature.
Cat
We have thought about it many times and it will most likely be in the pipeline of future features.
There are pros and cons of having live chat, and I would argue it may not be in Boardworld’s best interest to have this feature (I would appreciate your feedback on this).
For one, it would take a lot of attention away from the forums, which is something we will be focusing heavily on when the new website launches. There is so much great information on the forums that comes up in search results (whether it’s Google or our site search). You can’t search a live chat (as far as I’m aware), and therefor doesn’t add to the database of information available.
I also feel live chats can be a lot more prone to spam and advertisers. I witnessed this happen on another industry website. That all said, there are also clear benefits to having a live chat feature. I’ve always hesitated by the main two points above.
What do you guys think?
another forum I frequent (car related) has a live chat but you are not actually alowed to chat technical about cars in it. any technical talk must be on the forum. and then live chatter can be in the chat box. it also cleans up the forum from clutter threads like in the social area.
I dunno, It was just a thought.
Yeah im for it, having somewhere to just chat and talk about whatever would be good.
The rule of not talking about boarding specifics without referencing a thread is a good idea, so it dosent take from teh sites content.
Yes, I do like that idea re: just keeping it to chit chat. We will look into it. Our developers are currently working 100% on the new website for early May launch, but I will discuss this with them after launch.
Actually, while I was snowboarding today I had an idea…
Specifically as a feature for a future Boardworld phone app:
A chat area as you’ve described, but also the ability to create and subscribe to “groups” within the chat. So I could create the “Whistler 2015” group and members in Whistler can subscribe. In here we can leave messages of meet-ups on the mountain and chat in realtime with not only one person, but everyone in that group. I thought it would be super helpful in finding friends or Boardworld members to meet up with, or even just to talk shit. Today was a perfect example of when I would have liked to use something like this.
How would you guys feel about have a chat feature but specifically for mobile instead of on the site?
another forum I frequent (car related) has a live chat but you are not actually alowed to chat technical about cars in it. any technical talk must be on the forum. and then live chatter can be in the chat box. it also cleans up the forum from clutter threads like in the social area.
I dunno, It was just a thought.
It’s a great thought, mate. I always appreciate ideas and feedback, and discussion about it. That’s why I created this section on the forums. Please always feel free to give us your ideas, feature requests, and feedback. It’s super helpful and gives us direction for the future. Thank you, LG! 
I think on both would be good.
On the phone, yeah it’d make meet-ups and the like, easier.
But on the computer would be better for general socialising. personally i much prefer typing on a computer, chatting on my phone its a pain. I also dont have my phone with me at work.
Would there be an option to have live chat turned off, but still be able to read the live feed?
Only curious, I have no interest in live chat. Or cats.
just going off the model of the forums that I visit that have the feature, you can read the chat but you dont have to post anything in it if you dont want to.. that entirely up to you.
I’m iffy on the live chat. I got most people here on Facebook *(feel free to PM me and add me if you want) that I can talk to if I want anything. Otherwise, I can post and get a quickish response.
Main benefit for me is that you would attract people who generally lurk to throw in 2c every now and then.