Chat room/events ideas.

[griddlebone]

Hi :]

I would like to see if any members have any ideas of temporary rooms/ events that they would like to see in chat.

I always forget that sometimes people on the forums are scared to go into chat so if anyone has any ideas on what would make chat more inviting or any ideas on theme nights etc Im open to ideas.

Liv.


P.S. On the 21st July at 7pm (UK time) there will be a 'mixer night' where I am hoping that forum members will venture into chat and mix with people who are in chat regularly. I hope people will attend and I will post a reminder before next week.

[CaiteeBug]

What about having a Newbie chatroom? I feel sometimes that some Newbies enter chat and often feel scared or ignored by the veteran chatters. I know when I'm in any of the rooms, I try to say hi to all who enter. Sometimes chat moved too fast and some people get missed.

[Snow White.]

I was going to suggest something similar :)

[lozza]

a newbies chat room sounds good and what about discussion events like on different mental health issues so people are able to chat in real time and maybe what comes out of the discussions can be posted to help out other members?

just an idea...

[Scaredy-cat]

I cant ge into chat. Think its cos im on an ipad. I know theres an app for forums which i think maybe would let me, but it costs money, and as my ipad is linked to my mums card, seemingly irreversibly, she'd know if i bought it.

Id like to try chat, but as far as i know i cant, and id assume that im not the only one, even if i am in a minority.

[griddlebone]

I quite like the idea of a new persons chat room but I think it might do better as events. I know new people join everytime but we already have 4 rooms that we have trouble with people using correctly and I would worry with a new person room that this would happen and plus I would worry about a divide, its all about integration really so I think maybe hosting an event for new people on a regular basis would be nice.

I like the idea of discussion events on mental health thats a good idea!

xx

[GlitterTrashDoll]

What about a weekly pub quiz night?

[The One Who]

plus I would worry about a divide, its all about integration really

I agree. Whilst it could encourage people who don't normally use Chat in there, it could create another divide, especially if the 'regulars' didn't use it.

Have there been discussion things in Chat before? I seem to have a vague recollection of something like that. It can be pretty fast moving and can jump from one point to another, but that's the nature of things.

I don't have many ideas as to how to boost people using Chat. The bingo was good, but as said elsewhere we don't know if there will be much take-up of that again.

[Nargles]

What about a weekly pub quiz night?

I like the idea of this!

I think I'd be up for a mixer night, I just can't do the 21st. I think I would come to future ones though :)

[griddlebone]

I agree. Whilst it could encourage people who don't normally use Chat in there, it could create another divide, especially if the 'regulars' didn't use it.

Have there been discussion things in Chat before? I seem to have a vague recollection of something like that. It can be pretty fast moving and can jump from one point to another, but that's the nature of things.

I don't have many ideas as to how to boost people using Chat. The bingo was good, but as said elsewhere we don't know if there will be much take-up of that again.

We had a CT meeting once!I think it was the CT, or maybe it was 'ask the chat mods' something like that.It worked really well I think....we aired some issues and stuff and from what i remember everyone was civil etc!

I do like the idea of a pub quiz, but I think maybe fortnightly might work better?Or even monthly?I just think if we do it every week it might be overkill, Im not sure.

Also scaredy cat im sorry you cant get into chat....im not sure how to fix that im afraid!x

[talaiporia]

I like the idea of a debate; though it can get a little intense sometimes.

EDIT: my mind saw pub quiz and read it as drinking games. Bad sign. :p

[griddlebone]

I was thinking (on the idea of mental health discussion) whether people would be willing to share their experiences of certain things. Obviously we would have to vet it before hand but say someone could share their experiences of being in a unit or something?People could ask (suitable) questions and the mods would be on hand to keep things on track.

[GlitterTrashDoll]

Monthly could be good for pub quizes. encourage newer people to come in and join in.

It could also be in teams? One new person could team up with a chat regular?

[The One Who]

We had a CT meeting once!I think it was the CT, or maybe it was 'ask the chat mods' something like that.It worked really well I think....we aired some issues and stuff and from what i remember everyone was civil etc!

I do like the idea of a pub quiz, but I think maybe fortnightly might work better?Or even monthly?I just think if we do it every week it might be overkill, Im not sure.

I knew there was something! I was worried I imagined it.

I agree that less often tends to be better. Monthly could be good, and perhaps make it on different days and/or different times so that more people could get involved?

Would the answers be whispered to the 'quizmaster'?

It could also be in teams? One new person could team up with a chat regular?

How would teams work? Through whispers?

[GlitterTrashDoll]

Yeah, I don't know how feasable it would be. It's just an idea for people to get to know each other.

[griddlebone]

Ha, no it existed. It was a long time ago though, I was trying to grasp what it was!

I guess the answers would be whispered....or maybe done in a seperate PM?Then counted up at the end, but then I guess that gives people more time to look it up on the net!Hmm. I will think about the logistics of it.



Do you think there is anyway to shake off chats 'scary' image?Does anyone have any opinions as to why its seen as scary? Whenever people have ventured into chat it nearly always gets a positive response, so Im wondering what it is that makes people reticent before they have tried it!
x

[The One Who]

I guess the answers would be whispered....or maybe done in a seperate PM?Then counted up at the end, but then I guess that gives people more time to look it up on the net!Hmm. I will think about the logistics of it.

Yeah, I was trying to think of the logistics of it. I don't think there is any way to stop people Googling answers, plenty already do it at normal pub quizzes! But then introducing time-limits per question/answer of, say, twenty seconds, may be a bit much.

Do you think there is anyway to shake off chats 'scary' image?Does anyone have any opinions as to why its seen as scary? Whenever people have ventured into chat it nearly always gets a positive response, so Im wondering what it is that makes people reticent before they have tried it!
x

TBH, I think it's the fact that everyone knows one another, and it can be difficult for people to jump in and break into it. That's not the fault of Chat, far from it, but it's also not the fault of the newcomer. Chat's humour also tends to be a bit more, erm, adult and that isn't to everyone's taste. Again, not the fault of the regular Chat users, just an observation.

[Animad]

I cant ge into chat. Think its cos im on an ipad. I know theres an app for forums which i think maybe would let me, but it costs money, and as my ipad is linked to my mums card, seemingly irreversibly, she'd know if i bought it.

Id like to try chat, but as far as i know i cant, and id assume that im not the only one, even if i am in a minority.
It may be due to the hyphen in your username that you can't get in. Chat doesn't like 'special characters' and won't accept them. If you asked the mods to change your username to not have one in (you could just even change it so you have a space instead of a hyphen)..

[[Awakening]]

TBH, I think it's the fact that everyone knows one another, and it can be difficult for people to jump in and break into it. That's not the fault of Chat, far from it, but it's also not the fault of the newcomer. Chat's humour also tends to be a bit more, erm, adult and that isn't to everyone's taste. Again, not the fault of the regular Chat users, just an observation.

This is my experience, although a while ago now. It's difficult to join fast moving conversations, especially if (like me) it takes you a while to process things and think of a suitable answer :-/

It just seems to be quite cliquey, like a lot of areas of RYL. But I think doing regular events, like pub quizzes and Bingo will help break the ice. On that note, I loved the bingo (even if I had to play over Emma's shoulder!)

[Bellatrix]

Maybe a Q&A session with teams like the supporters, FA, ezein, CT, mods?

[griddlebone]

I think the whole 'clique' thing is always going to be an issue in chat simply because people are scared of that being the case....so they dont come in more than once or twice and then no one knows them....with chat thats the only way you make friends.

I guess its difficult because unlike the forums theres no wait time, like you cant say hi and then there be a lot of replies.

I think,although we can do events which is fine that people might just have to say to themselves, 'the next 3/4/5 times Im on RYL im going to go into chat and say hi' because after a few times people remember you more.

Q&As would be good too....it might be a good idea to come up with some questions beforehand so that the teams can have some notice.

[Scaredy-cat]

It may be due to the hyphen in your username that you can't get in. Chat doesn't like 'special characters' and won't accept them. If you asked the mods to change your username to not have one in (you could just even change it so you have a space instead of a hyphen)..

I guess i could try that, though i think it wasnt working when i had my previous name too. But i may be remembering wrong

[[Awakening]]

^ I saw someone with a hyphen in their name in chat today :-S

I ventured into chat, I only didn't hang about because no one was in the general rooms and i wasn't in a serious mood.... I will try again another time though :-)

[Scaredy-cat]

I think its most likely to be my ipad really

[midnightphoenix]

How about a designated "games" room? Members can go in there and play word games? Or once a week have Room 1 as the word games room?

[griddlebone]

That sounds like a good idea, again I would veer away from making a permenant room otherwise were going to make chat even more confusing, but good idea!x

[griddlebone]

I had an email today asking whether it would be possible to have an online support group type event. The chat mods and I thought maybe we could do it for specific things such as alcohol abuse?

[talaiporia]

That sounds like a really good idea. Do you mean like, weekly (say, Xpm, thursdays) or just a once off?

[griddlebone]

Im not sure actually!It might depend on how successful they are!Maybe fortnightly or something!x

[random.swirls]

I cant ge into chat. Think its cos im on an ipad.

I tried on my iphone and couldnt get on chat so I think that's probably whats going on rather than your user name

[Alliethulhu]

We had a CT meeting once!I think it was the CT, or maybe it was 'ask the chat mods' something like that.It worked really well I think....we aired some issues and stuff and from what i remember everyone was civil etc!

I do like the idea of a pub quiz, but I think maybe fortnightly might work better?Or even monthly?I just think if we do it every week it might be overkill, Im not sure.

Also scaredy cat im sorry you cant get into chat....im not sure how to fix that im afraid!x


I agree with you on pub quiz..weekly would be fun but maybe a little overkill and I think we would get higher attendance if it was monthly.

[Bleeding Angel]

I had an email today asking whether it would be possible to have an online support group type event. The chat mods and I thought maybe we could do it for specific things such as alcohol abuse?

It doesnt sound like a great idea, people are only going to be segregated more if everyone is going into online AA, Gambling, etc support groups. And if it did happen it would have to be moderated during the chat. These groups work outside because you have people there and a team that have been through it and recovered so lead a group helping them, i cant see it working online.

[griddlebone]

It would be moderated :]

[Bleeding Angel]

I would still feel uneasy due to the fact it wont be structured like what they are in the real world, and might not be benifical. But then you have to ask why not do threads instead rather than chat?

[griddlebone]

Because Im guessing sometimes its nice for people to have a live discussion and means everyone can discuss their issues rather than a thread being made for one person with their problems. Its not like were saying dont make a thread about it, but some people find it easier to talk in a live setting.

It wouldnt be structured exactly the same no, its just like people discussing their self harm together which people do, but it would have more structure. Plus there are those of us who have been through addiction etc who are able to offer advice.

[The One Who]

I think it might be worth a go, but maybe do it on something a bit more common (that's the wrong word, but my brain isn't working), just to see how it works?

[griddlebone]

yep!didnt have a particular topic in mind so far :P x

[The One Who]

BPD? Anxiety? I don't know. Just thinking of something reasonably common for numbers of posters and whatnot.

[Bleeding Angel]

i would just maybe say addiction as that covers a wide range of topics in itself so would be something common that many people could relate to. I dont just mean addiction in just the drugs and alcohol side, but i mean in general like people can be addicted to shopping for example.

[talaiporia]

Substance abuse would be good... if you say addiction, it opens it up to everything (including self harm) and essentially, you've not change anything that isn't already there.

It would be nice to have, say, a different theme each night for a week, and see which ones were popular.

Anxiety would probably cover a lot of people, but I'm not sure there's much help that could be offered in chat.

[Grrr....]

I don't really have an idea of an event room, but I must admit, I love having one from time to time. Its lovely to enter chat and see one more room than normal! :D Just thought I'd give some feedback. :)

[Pi.R^2]

I like the idea of specific issue nights in chat. And maybe even having certain members who are doing well in recovery volunteer to be kind of 'in the spotlight', so for example, a couple of people who've successfully recovered from substance abuse could agree to make sure they're around in chat when the 'substance abuse evening' was occurring , or when I've done a bit more of the nomming then I would be interested in helping out in an 'ED recovery night'? Like obviously the mods would still be in charge and running the discussion.

As an aside, I also vote for more bingo!

[squirrelspit]

I like the idea of specific issue nights in chat. And maybe even having certain members who are doing well in recovery volunteer to be kind of 'in the spotlight', so for example, a couple of people who've successfully recovered from substance abuse could agree to make sure they're around in chat when the 'substance abuse evening' was occurring

i think this is a really good idea, it would help to keep a chat on the recovery orientated side of things rather than a 'woe my issues are this bad' 'yeah well, mine are worse' kind of thing.

[random.swirls]

Yeah I think it would be really good if a few people could be there to talk about themselves maybe answer some questions and so on.

I worry about group therapy as it's so hard to get right without a proper therapist and it just worries me but a spotlight night every so often on different issues would be fab

[griddlebone]

I would like to sort out one of these evenings within the next month,should I make a poll and see what people would like it to be on?

[The One Who]

I worry about group therapy as it's so hard to get right without a proper therapist and it just worries me but a spotlight night every so often on different issues would be fab

I agree. Group discussion and support, yes, but not group therapy. That's not fair on the mods or on the 'spotlighted' person/people.

Liv, you might as well. Maybe tout it in Chat as well, for the non-forum folk?

[Pi.R^2]

I agree. Group discussion and support, yes, but not group therapy. That's not fair on the mods or on the 'spotlighted' person/people.
Yeah, that's an important distinction to make!

And I am gleeful at the thought of a poll =D

[griddlebone]

Yeh it was never going to be group therapy!

I will of course spam chat with it, this is why I need a notice board in chat :P

So many options for the poll!

[griddlebone]

ALSO, Im thinking that maybe the person whos spotlighting should have the option to be anonymous (obvs the mods will know who it is) but I can make an anon account?x

[Bleeding Angel]

I think that would be a good idea as there is less pressure on someone if they can be anonymous