I'd have to admit, to begin with, that I've never accessed the Archive chat room, partly because my interests are somewhat tangential to those of most Archive participants, and partly because, after a year or so of occasionally accessing chat rooms, I finally decided that they were of too little value relative to the time it took to get any substantial interchanges in them. I did access one chat room for an hour or so a week, the first year and a half that I had internet service. And I noticed some things that perhaps are common to most chat rooms.

My reason for making this post is that, from what I read, Phil and Bub, who appear to be rather congenial fellows, had an unpleasant experience in the chat room. I presume this was a difficulty caused by someone who entered the chat room with the intent of making somebody angry or miserable. From what I experienced in chat rooms, my impression is that this sort of thing happens too frequently to be ignored. Again, judging from what I've read, several people have left the Archive chat room, never to return, because of someone's obnoxiousness.

So my question would be, could some system be devised for checking out people, or, perhaps, for requiring them go through a probationary period, before they were admitted to the regular chat room? I don't know of any website which does this sort of thing, but perhaps two chat rooms, or a chat room divided into two sections, could be used. As I understand it, anyone who signs up for the Archive, can go into the chat room. This means that anyone roaming around cyberspace can get into the chat room, regardless of how negative his intentions might be. If there were a kind of "probationary" chat room which people were allowed to access immediately after they signed up, and also a regular chat room which was open only to those who had been specifically been given the sanction to enter it, then the characters who enter the chat room only to make trouble, could be identified while they were in the probationary room. Presumably, the monitors could be in both rooms at once. After someone had been in the probationary room for a day, or a few days, and had shown himself (or herself) to be a congenial chatter, then the person could be allowed to enter the regular room.

I realize that anyone can be banned from the chat room, if he or she misbehaves, but this doesn't help much after a person has done his damage, and caused somebody to leave the chat room, and perhaps the Archive, permanently. I don't know if the sort of thing I've suggested would require additional software, but there's no doubt that the chat room which I frequented for a time, would have been a more congenial place if the obnoxious people had been kept out of it. Those of us who are thick-skinned usually just let bad behavior bounce off us, but a considerable number of people are sensitive, and shouldn't be asked to endure abuse if that sort of thing can be prevented.

Bad behavior in chat rooms seems to be just another example of a circumstance in which the less desirable element in society, take advantage of any opportunity to cause trouble for the much larger number of people who are decent and amiable.

Its always hard to judge people to see if they will or will not make a good op but we have to remember we are all just people and we have falts and problems that can cause us to react in ways we wouldent have thought we would do.I realey feel River has done an exelant job in keeping things running smothly but he cant controal everything that goes on nor should he that is the job of all of us that go into the chat room. It is everyones job to be polite and kind not just the ops to controal things when we get out of hand.

So chat responsably and have a good time it is a place to learn and have fun

Thank you Sag,

I do feel bad about Phil and Bubba, but as they say the show must go on. As for screening before letting people chat, that would never work. We do have our element of spamers, etc. but for the most part everybody does get along. One thing about being an op is to have a thick skin. Also remember after castration you do go through a ruff period of time, the body dosent like parts removed.

I do hope P and B return

River

The chat room has been a huge help for many and has been a life line for others. I have enjoyed my time in the chat but there have been problems over the past months some were dealt with some were not. My choice to leave the chat was not emotional not driven by anything other than logic, my time and need for the chat were at an end. they all have helped me at one point or another and I am greatfull. I just really don't need the chat anymore and felt that it really didn't need/want me so I left.

i honestly don't need the chat room either. i can remember to breath without somebody reminding me. on most nights, i tend to give more than i take. at least i strive to do that every night but some nights are diamonds, others are a lump of coal. As to you not needing us, we miss you both and some actually NEED you. we are a society of like minded folks of various sexes and finding acceptance in society is just not going to happen.

we have our family in here an we are open and readily invite anyone to join it as one of our own.

But, like every family, the kids often don't always get along. we have our spats and all, but let someone from outside our family pick on any one of our family and see how many of us are quick to join the frey.

Thank you both Bubba, and Phil, for contributing to our community. both of you are very helpful and approachable and always willing to listen. We will be happy and whole when we are all back together again.