The Windrivers Chatroom - Good or Bad?

[NooToo]

Having been a moderator in the chatroom for a while now I have seen some of the worst behaviour and the best behaviour.

What I would really like to know is, do you find the chatroom a useful friendly place?

If you don't, I would like to know the reasons - having said that, please stick to the facts and not start flaming.

If you do, what do you like most about it.

This is not a popularity contest for any particular person who uses or moderates the chatroom, I genuinely want to know what people think and why.

Thnaks

[AlienDyne]

Hi NooToo.

I have to say that I don't use to visit the chatroom everyday, as you may already know, but I think it's as useful as the forums.
Needless to say, you (Mods) do your job as fine as the Mods here!

[CobraTekMax]

I go in like once every couple weeks and mostly just hang out. I help with what I can, and shoot the breeze with Darren, seedyrom, Scuba, or whoever else I might recognize.

It's never been a bad experience for me, but I usually avoid chat rooms in general. The Windrivers chat is about the only exception, because there are some cool people in there.

[Darren Wilson]

It's a damn good resource, if it was kept to Tech support issues whilst people asking for help are in there. If there is noone in the room wanting support, then fine lets talk about non-related stuff. I frequently am in the Chat room, and people are helping each other, but then suddenly it all goes to pot with 'Cray' or 'the Internet is down' jokes. Also why do the 'users' seem to think we know exactly what spec there systems are???? .

[Elbatcho]

Originally posted by 'Cobra':
I go in like once every couple weeks and mostly just hang out. I help with what I can, and shoot the breeze with Darren, seedyrom, Scuba, or whoever else I might recognize.

It's never been a bad experience for me, but I usually avoid chat rooms in general. The Windrivers chat is about the only exception, because there are some cool people in there.

But Cobra your Evil so the Chat room would be a great place to hang out.

I don't like Chat rooms because it is way to hard to track subjects. I can come here see the subjuect, post or read and then be on my way.

[CobraTekMax]

Originally posted by Elbatcho:
But Cobra your Evil so the Chat room would be a great place to hang out.


Actually, Darren tried to ban me once for being Evil. :(

[Matt_29]

I have poped in and out over time .. its ok im just not into chat rooms anymore ... years of it during the 90s have worn me from it ... i was a efnet irc cop for a couple years .. i got sick of being flooded and all .. people like to be buttheads .. and expect you to answer everything .. i have seen how nootoo and tech666 and them help and some people are just so rude ... for the ones who are nice and people can help .. we thank you ... i think its a great place ... and just like our forum mods .. these others need a big "great job"

[DaOnly123Kid]

i don't like chat rooms in general, but i have been in windrivers chat a couple of time, and always recieve a warm welcome from the members, and as cobra said i pretty much just shoot the breeze, i go back every once in a while

[Radical Dreamer]

I have only been there once and did not like it at all, I had a problem with one of the mods in my opinion being rude to me (I am in the process now of working it out though) I thought that since I was a "newbie" to the chat rooms here that I should have been shown some courtesy.

[Kyr0n]

No, i dont find it a friendly place.

Most times when i go in there, and ask any kind of quesiton, i either get flamed for it, or ignored....mostly ignored

And they're just simple questions like where to find a driver, or if anyone has ever experienced (insert problem here)

[EvilCabbage]

I lurk in the chatroom every now and then, and I've come across a few people that Ive been able to help, and a few people that make me wish I could go back in time, and give thier parents contraceptives.. like these forums I guess.

The mods to a good job, and its just as good a resource as the forums.

[Darren Wilson]

Kyron

You must have visited it at the wrong times dude.

I am frequently in there and any drivers that are requested are posted unless they do not exist no more or don't exist full stop.

I am in there now, and all questions have been answered with links to the requests.

What goes on when I am not in there, I do not know about obviously, but I will say that NooNoo, Tech666, Imac, Kedrin, Ferrit, and the other regulars ALL help out.

Belive it or not, the biggest questin that comes up is 'where can I get drivers for my CDRW for Windows 9x/ME/2k/NT?' or 'What drivers do I need for my Video Card?'. All the questions get answered to the best of everyones capabilities.

The only complaints that get raised are from the people who don't help or ask the impossible. Sorry but that is my perspective of things.

Oh, and giving links to the WinDrivers homepage is not all that helpful, as the person asking for the drivers may not fully understand the Internet or cannot find them via the homepage navigation.

[Sowulo]

Originally posted by Elbatcho:
I don't like Chat rooms because it is way to hard to track subjects. I can come here see the subjuect, post or read and then be on my way.

Ahhh, aaaaa, this is not a good way, aaaa, to start the, aaaa, week, aaaaa, I agree with ELBatcho? LOL :D :D :D

[Larommi]

Never had a prob in the chat room. I pop in now and then and say hi to people I reconise. I don't really type fast enough to keep up with everyone.

General rule of thumb for me is that I got burned out in chat rooms and I really don't much care for them. But to be perfectly honest with you I have never seen anyone go unanswered in there.

[LPetrarca]

Never use 'em. Like being able to post and follow up later.

[Budster64]

well, last week I went in there for the first time. I haven't been in a chat room in at least a year. I asked how I could change my nick, one of the ops there answered in this fashion.... "just type in /nick i am an idiot". so I did which resulted in my nick being imacisanidiot. But I changed it back to my nick.
Aside from that wonderful welcome, the rest of the ops and room were pleasant.

[thirdfey]

i popped in after reading the cray post in tech tales, hadn't been there in a long time. more ppl were interested in making fun of just ppl in general(not ppl in the chat room) instead of helping the guests that were looking for drivers and help identifying hardware and other things. I saw it as being a live version of the tech lounge when I was there, but there were still a few ppl helping those in need.

Maybe 2 chatrooms are needed, a tech lounge and an actual live assistance forum.

[Budster64]

Originally posted by thirdfey:
i popped in after reading the cray post in tech tales, hadn't been there in a long time. more ppl were interested in making fun of just ppl in general(not ppl in the chat room) instead of helping the guests that were looking for drivers and help identifying hardware and other things. I saw it as being a live version of the tech lounge when I was there, but there were still a few ppl helping those in need.

Maybe 2 chatrooms are needed, a tech lounge and an actual live assistance forum.

Hmmmm hey guys maybe that IRC tech lounge thing is a heckuva lot better idea than my adult lounge thing.

[Radical Dreamer]

I spoke to the person that I was having problems and I believe that we have begun to see eye to eye. I might give it another chance if I can ever pry myself away from the boards

[Cable Modem Tech]

i am not a big chat room fan but I logged on today between jobs, and it was very cool to talk to everyone who i wouyld normally just see as posters..... ill be back..... long live the chat room
CMT

[J189]

I've found that the windrivers chat room is quite helpful, although the 2 room idea thing has some merit as it doesn't take much to get everyone on some non-related subject and then all the comp questions get forgotten about,

also the mods are doing a great job, and believe me that is no easy job (i ran a chatroom for about 2 years, that finally snapped and quit) anyways keep up the good work!!

[CobraTekMax]

Okay, correction. Darren DID kick me off last night for being evil. :(

Other than that, the chat room is pretty cool.

[NooToo]

Well, an interesting set of views. It does seem that the chat world and the board world are serving different personal preferences.

I would like to point out a couple of things, questions people have asked in the room from time to time, that may not be understood.

The moderators are not paid by windrivers and are online while at work, so often the help you are getting ceases abruptly because work has to come first.

There are a number of people who desperately want to help but are, well, not up to the task and give poor or bad advice.

The chatroom at one time had no moderators and was left to the wisdom of the people in there. Unfortunately the moderators had to be set up to police those who do not capable of having a little self discipline.

The chatroom is open 24/7, but depending on the time zone you are in, depends on which batch of regulars and moderators you come across, so try a radically different time if you don't find the expertise you need.

The chatroom allows for direct chats between persons, and quite often I have 5 or 6 conversations going, 3 or 4 of them will be intensive help and I don't always notice that some one has come into the lobby because I am looking through the net for some obscure driver. So if you don't get answered right away, mebbe you could take a ticket and wait a while?

And finally, during some part of the day, I bet most of you have a good laugh about something or another after having worked hard. I bet you find that helps relieve the stress and helps you face the rest of the day....I think the moderators and regulars are entitled to a little bit of letting of steam.

Just to let you know, the thing I find the most rewarding about this job is finding the driver that someone has been after for a while...

And the most frustrating? Well, thats finding the drivr that someone has been after for a while, but has decided not to wait and logs off never to be seen again. I have a whole bunch of driver links waiting for that person to come back in again!

Have fun, and please if you feel put out or mistreated, tell a moderator directly so that something can be done about it.

:)

[Skatman]

Originally posted by Kyr0n:
No, i dont find it a friendly place.

Most times when i go in there, and ask any kind of quesiton, i either get flamed for it, or ignored....mostly ignored

And they're just simple questions like where to find a driver, or if anyone has ever experienced (insert problem here)

I have to agree on this,.. as i mentioned in a previous thread it seems like if you arent in with the people already in there then you either get ignored by the mods or get laughed out of there and flammed when asking a question.

[NooToo]

Skatman, would you please let me know where and when you were flamed and by whom?

Come into the chatroom and talk to me privately. Please do not log in as just Guest..

I have never seen you in the chatroom, do you come in under a different name?

[Skatman]

It was awhile back maybe a few months,... so i cant remember who it was but the mod was just talking like it was an AOL chat room and wasnt helping the people that came in and asked for help... sorry and yes i will come to the chat room to speak with you privately if you still want me too

Edit: I should say it wasnt the mod laughing or flaming,.. they were just talking with their buds instead of helping people out

[NooToo]

Mr JVAguy

please check your messages

[Matt_29]

no msgs ... and since all my stuff is being barred and removed .. ill just make the log public .. if people dont start chilling out ..

[NooToo]

JVA you were sent a message by Txgirly and one from me on her behalf

Please come back in the chatroom so we can talk?

[SubZero]

I'm confused.
Originally posted by Mr. JvaGuy:
no msgs ... and since all my stuff is being barred and removed .. ill just make the log public .. if people dont start chilling out ..

[Matt_29]

something happeend this morning .. that pissed alot of people off in the chat room and i loged it (being i was also hit by it as well) .. and i published the log to scott and to the ops of the channel.. long story, the reason why i published it here is cause many of the users here are users there as well. Thats why im human resources .. i publish things to let people know and help them .. even if its in a mean way :)

Originally posted by The Big Q:
I'm confused.
Originally posted by Mr. JvaGuy:
no msgs ... and since all my stuff is being barred and removed .. ill just make the log public .. if people dont start chilling out ..

[Darren Wilson]

One user who caused this problem and I will be speaking to the Op who gave the individual Op rites. The user has been klined and if they come back into the chatroom they will be automatically kicked and their domain klined that they are using. The person responsoble was a regular and did take things seriously and this has confused teh hell out of us to why they did it.

[NooToo]

Yes, once again the good enjoyed by many has been ruined by the selfishness of one person.

But I still say, you have got to give us time to fix it before telling everyone how awful we are.

Its especially hard to fix when you have your head in an HP printer :D

[Matt_29]

hmmm thats itself is a curse .. head in a hp printer .. better watch out itll suck you in .. and print on you ... i dont think you want windows test page printed on you

Originally posted by NooToo:
Yes, once again the good enjoyed by many has been ruined by the selfishness of one person.

But I still say, you have got to give us time to fix it before telling everyone how awful we are.

Its especially hard to fix when you have your head in an HP printer :D