trim some of the phat? and add chat!

[tx2sturgis]

Ok...I found it...the suggestion box. Here I am....typing to the crickets!



But...something I would like to see is a reduction in the number of forums, sub forums, and endless granular separation of topics and subjects. It just looks so 'busy'...I know it was set up this way to be all things to all van-dwellers....but...that ship has sailed.

What we have here has evolved into something more personal. 

This forum functions on a more friendly face-to-face level...more like a small group of friends sitting in a house...you know...5 or 10 rooms is easy...I can easily find who I'm looking for. But having 40 rooms as in a mansion...where the hell are MY buddies? If I go over and post into thread so-and-so.....will anyone give a damn about that post in a thread they never look at? Sometimes I click on what looks to be an active topic in another forum and it's been dead for years. But it still shows to be active with 'bold' print.

Having about 40 individual places to post, and now the user has to decide WHERE to post things....for anyone new dropping in, it might be a bit over-whelming...and even for me...it sometimes seems a bit over the top to have that many forums and subforums and that's not counting the individual state-by-state subforums. 

I think most members seeking out step-by-step how-to directions on technical topics are probably looking elsewhere. This forum seems more user friendly for chatting and sharing.

I'm not saying we need to delete stuff...but maybe there would be a way to merge some of the existing threads with other similar threads. Of if an entire subforum has been un-used for a few years...archive it and close it to further replies. Cull off the extra 'phat'.

Along the lines of a more streamlined, user-friendly experience, I also suggest the addition of a live chat-room. I used to love active chatrooms. This forum is small enough that you can set up a chatroom that opens up on say, Tuesday and Friday nights, for a few hours....and lets members get in and live chat or just watch the others live chatting...it can be a lot of fun...and of course, it has to be moderated to some degree...

Chatrooms can be entertaining. You can be typing along saying hello to the group and other people can play sound effects, or play music (if allowed) and they can send emojis, memes, etc.  Some chat rooms even have live webcam capability but then you get into 'un-charted' territory if you know what I mean.

Chatroom software is cheap or free...depending on the version and features you like. Some forum software can have a simple chatroom plug-in...or you can set up a separate chatroom with a link that is active on the nights the chatroom goes live.  

Similar to the chats on youtube live stream...it can really be a hoot. 

Just a thought. Lets see if anyone else has any thoughts about either idea.

Thanks for reading!

Now...back to the crickets....

[shadowmoss]

A large percentage of users of the mobile lifestyle have data limitations. Most chat programs, especially with video, need real time data with lots of bandwidth and high limits. It is a sliding scale, but a lot of folks have asked to keep the quote function of previous posts down to a minimum because of data limitations. Also, a lot of folks are on a phone. Live chat can be frustrating when typing realtime on a phone.

Just some considerations.

[tx2sturgis]

Yes, but...most van dwellers these days have a laptop....and most smartphones can share the data connection to the laptop...

Text-based chat is very frugal on bandwidth...no more use than reading this forum.

And of course....its optional. No one has to join the chatroom if they dont want to.

[Cammalu]

I’ll go in the back and see if there is a chat room option. There are one million pages of crap to look thru.

TX I like using tapatalk. REALLY like it. It’s a piece of cake to run thru the new posts. I click a tab that says new posts or unread or something (I’ll try to screen shot) and I can just go from one to the next without going back. Easy peasy. I don’t even notice what thread or forum section I’m in unless I go look.

BUT …. This has made it MUCH harder for me now that I need to use the regular forum now as admin. Crud. I don’t even know how to attach a photo without tapatalk. Another thing it’s really good for it will shrink your pics so u don’t have to worry about size.

I found myself posting less and less on the other forum now because it doesn’t allow tapatalk since it was taken over. It’s a pain in the butt without it and takes me at least three times as long to look at new threads.

[tx2sturgis]

Here is a basic free chatroom I set up...just as a test...

See what ya think:

https://minnit.chat/VandwellerChat

I'll try to hang out in there for a day or three...

[Scott7022]

I see it works. Not sure I’ll use it much and as for moderation one asshole strike in chat, as viewed by moderators and you’re booted from the forum for life. No warnings no excuses. Bye bye До свидания


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[RoamerRV428]

what gets me on a chat room thing is I fly in and out.
I don't 'set' for a longer term 'chat' online with anyone, never have.
key being I wonder who sits and waits in chat for another to come in and chat? I know I am not one to do this function but heck if it floats others boat, yea I get it....cool
Since I don't do chat, does it alert someone has 'entered' the chat room on laptop or phone to know someone is sitting there or is it the kinda thing----lets meet on Thurs night at 10pm and chat?

being a dinosaur in all this crap truly I don't know alot about all this stuff. For me, I fly in, read a bit, type a post, chat up online and out I go fast as can be kinda thing, this is just me.

not even sure if I am asking correct questions about what a chat room is really HA

[Scott7022]

Just like an RV Chars can be as basic or as elaborate. Tent to EarthRoamer. So yes some chat programs will do those things. This free basic version is the let’s meet at X or someone could host a second Tuesday campfire crap and cringe evening.

I am a Tapatalk user as well for ease and speed. I have too many messenger and messaging apps already. I don’t look at my phone when it beeps. I try to limit my interaction with these types of apps as people tend to expect you to instantly available. Or respond within some preexpected time frame.

Only my Mom gets that kind of attention. Lol.

But back to the original if it is easy to integrate. By easy I am taking into consideration the noob forum badge both of them are wearing. Why not. Could help someone who likes reading chats and beat the lonely


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[tx2sturgis]

Yeah sorry I was actually sleeping when a couple of you came in....I spent an hour or so setting it up late last nite.

But anyway. My intent would be to promote it one or two days a week, have a couple of the main YARCers show up...visit a while...then try again in a week.

No pressure...no expectations....but maybe a way to enhance engagement here. And maybe talk it up over on the other forum and possibly bring some of that traffic over to this forum for the 'campfire' feel.

And hey, it was free to set up for up to 40 users...I can't imagine having more than five or ten at any one time.

If it dies on the vine...so be it.

[RoamerRV428]

I don't even own a cell phone. hate them. only reason I will get one in 1.5 yrs is I will be on the road with my hubby with my one and only daughter in college, then I must have instant contact with her. So I will be cell phone ready in 1.5 yrs, til then, no damn phone. Just me, no use for them. When I am out and about want 0 technology and have survived on it for this whole 60 yrs so far, even on the road, but then again, hubby has a cell phone permanently attached to his fingers like my kid does, so I do have use of one when wanted.

I find I want no tech mostly in my life, ''extra'' thru election. In that my rv demands knowledge of maintenance, and axles and tires and all the crap inside I use for my comforts on the road, but that is a necessity. I limit what I require as must have vs. getting extra crap for the sake of it. Since I use my laptop when wanted on instant demand, that is enough for me. Phone, could care less on it but when kid goes to college and we leave and hit the road, oh yea I will be 'texting' which I will have to learn HAHA
Plus I got real long fingernails, love them that way can't even pretend I can type on a friggin' phone with that little damn miniature screen, lol
need glasses for my glasses to see a damn phone screen!