A new feature has been rolled out - "Blog-based ChatRooms".
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Previously, we had one-on-one private Chat feature, which was not very successful. The reason was that Chat Invitations are sometimes intrusive. The recipient may not be free to undertake the Chat, even if they are Online, and also the other person ends up disappointed. Another aspect is that for this and other reasons, people may be unwilling to share their Online/offline status with others. Moreover, these Chats are always private. If it is a general, public question and answer session, only 2...
more... people can access the information, even though others may also benefit from the info.
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The new Blog-based ChatRooms are another experiment to address some of the above shortcomings. Here are the salient points of this new feature:
1. ChatRooms are just like regular Blog Posts in that they are posted and stored forever along with the blog.
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2. You enter the ChatRoom voluntarily, if you wish to have quick informal discussions regarding any particular Blog Post. You enter the ChatRoom and wait for others to show up. When you enter a ChatRoom, the corresponding Blog will show a Green button, indicating how many members are inside the ChatRoom.
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3. ChatRoom messages are very quick and informal. Whereas, posting and replying on regular blog posts may take time for others to refresh, read and respond, ChatRoom chats can accomplish the same thing in a much shorter time (if others join in, voluntarily).
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4. Generally, we do not permit casual short posts like Hi, Good morning, welcome inside blogs. These constitute spam, and you may get Objections. But you may enter the ChatRoom for that blog, and send short Chat messages - even if no one else is currently in the ChatRoom. When others join in, they will see your messages.
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5. Access to ChatRooms is the same as that of the corresponding Blog. Anyone who can see and post to the blog can enter the ChatRoom. For example, for public Forum blogs, the ChatRooms are also public. If there is a pvt. blog post between 3 members, then the ChatRoom associated with that is a Private ChatRoom accessible only to those 3 members.
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6. ChatRooms are associated with both the main Blog Entry as well as the Replies. So, you may have a public Blog Entry, but if there is a pvt Reply post within that blog, you may open the ChatRoom for ONLY that Reply, which will be a PRIVATE ChatRoom.
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7. The Header title of the ChatRoom will clearly specify whether it is a Private ChatRoom or Public ChatRoom. If it is a Private ChatRoom, all the member names of that pvt. post will be listed underneath the Title.
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8. Generally, discussion in a ChatRoom should ONLY pertain to the Blog Entry/Reply in question. In other words, Chats should be contextual in nature - not general. All Chats are stored forever along with the blog.
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9. When you click on "Enter ChatRoom", the ChatRoom opens in a separate window, and you just VIEW the ChatRoom. That means you do not immediately HAVE to enter into conversation with someone. You may just view the prior Chats, monitor the window, and enter into "Active Conversation" ONLY if you decide.
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10. The Right-Hand margin of the ChatRoom will show who the Active Participants are.
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11. While Blog Posts generally should be long and well-considered, Chats may be quick and short.
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So, in summary, ChatRooms are an alternative way to have quick and fast public conversations, in the CONTEXT of the Blog Entry in question. They are for online/offline conversations, and all chats are stored within the Blog. The feature is completely non-intrusive. There are no "invitations". You enter into and out of ChatRooms voluntarily, if and when there is a need.
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Coming soon:
Group Pvt. Posts.
Just like pvt. posts, except that members will be able to group all their contacts into a Group. Thereafter they may post a blog to the entire Group.
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Hope the new feature is of some use. Thanks.