WE NEED A CHASER CHATROOM

[Shane Adams]

The old, storied 'chaser' chatroom is crap. We need a true, dedicated chasing chatroom, evenif it's just one night a week and even moderated. I'm tired of sitting in the mIRC room watching nothing or conversations about anything BUT chasing. Let's re-create the original ST chatroom like we did back in February of 2001, the room that started it all (and eventually became the POS chatroom that currently exists on mIRC).

 

[Blake Michaleski]

Absolutely Shane! I remember when it was a good chatroom. Those were the good ol' days i guess. Back then it got alot of the well experienced chasers in there and you could actually have meaningful conversation and maybe even learn something.

 

[cstrunk]

I like the idea. There have been a lot of situations where I'd come to this site to find out some information about an event close to home, yet there would be no discussion. A chat room would be an easy way to communicate specific thoughts and questions to people who could answer them.

 

[Kem Poyner]

chat room

get 'er done!

 

[Steve Miller]

If ST is not able or willing within this domain, I'll make an offer to fund space for the first year providing it can be the ST "preferred" chat area or whatever variation on that can be agreed upon. I'm sure we can work out additional years-worth of funding providing the chat is a success and not just abused.
PM or e-mail me if this is something someone would like to work out.

I haven't been on mIRC in years - lets make it easy for everyone to communicate.

 

[Stuart Robinson]

I will make sure that the powers that be are aware of this suggestion – While I am not promising anything you can rest assured that your suggestion Has been forwarded…
As an aside – what was it about the old dedicated chasing chatroom that you liked???

 

[Shawn Gossman]

If I may suggest. x7chat.com has a wonderful free chat room script with great features that I am sure integrates with vbulletin.

 

[Shane Adams]

If Steve or someone else funds the first year, I will do everything I can to get the word out about it. As much as I hate to admit this, it will need to be moderated to have any chance of surviving.....too many non-chaser types eventually overrun any room that's wide open, it's inevitable, I've seen it over and over the past seven years.

Maybe the one-year thing would be a good trial run.....either it works or no one gives a damn. Hell maybe even make it seasonal, maybe every day from March through July or whatever, maybe alll year once a week, maybe Mon-Wed-Fri. There are many options.

The main thing is it needs to cater to chasers first. There are more than enough weather enthusiast-driven rooms, we need a true chaser chat. If enough chasers would be interested to make it work.

Hell maybe even make it...GASP!...invite-only. At this point I'm willing to try any approach.

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

We could try to make an IRC chatroom, which also could be invite-only...

 

[Scott Bell]

You don't have to use IRC for a chat room. As was mentioned above, there are other script products out there that can be used. Then, you can limit access to it through VBulletin (you can probably incorporate authorization using the VBulletin login id so only ST members can get in/post). It might take some work, but something like that would be pretty handy.

 

[mike scantlin]

i would also throw down some cash for this to happen. if needed.

 

[Mikel Shively]

I would also be willing to donate some money if that is what it took.​

 

[David Drummond]

The reason none of us have said anything, or done anything with this. If it's going to be on the ST server or endorsed by ST, this has to be approved by Tim V. As most of you know, Tim has had some personal issues taking up his time lately and hasn't had much time to come by ST. Anyway, that's who has to make it happen.

 

[Steve Miller]

A modification to the ST collection of pages supporting our hobby has been requested and funding has been offered by several people. This tells me there is interest in a chat room with direct relation to ST and its members. This may or may not be of interest to Tim V. and if he chooses to not add more at this time, that's fine, just let us know and we'll pow wow and figure out what to do.
Lack of response to this topic as well as the many requests for memberships to ST I keep reading about that have not been granted/rejected suggest to me that Tim should consider giving his trusted moderators the ability to make some decisions like this in his absence.
I am not aiming to change the topic here, just pointing out the issue I see.

I agree with Shane in that an open chat would probably not work. It would need to be structured and moderated and only open during events and special hosted chat subjects that would be announced in the ST forum.

I see potential here – anybody out there?

 

[mikegeukes]

I have not visited the old chat room this year, it be nice to see a new chat room again.

It should be somewhat moderated, to keep the chat focus on weather and chasing.

In the old chat room, you name it, it was said. I was guilty as everyone else going off-topic.

By the way, I left Oklahoma this March, and moved to Lansing, Michigan.
The reason is: To take care of my father, he has the beginnings of
Congestive Heart Failure, swelling of the right foot. He is 78 years old.

Also, I felt out of place living in Oklahoma. Michigan is my home state.
If I do any future chasing again, I will keep to Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

Mike (EF)
Lansing, Michigan
Yes, my grammar is bad.