Why is the Fluther chat so dead?

Never used it. Why? Don’t feel the need.

Just realized it was there…when do people chat there?

When I go in there it’s usually dead despite the 6 or 8 people inside.

When it is jumpin’, the content is utter garbage – like 99% of all chat rooms on the internet.

It seems awkward to me. Like having a conversation with an audience. I have tried it. I don’t get chat rooms.

I’m goin in!

Sigh. I always feel like I’m in the basement when I’m there and my fingers can’t keep up with the conversation!

By the way, I just watched that video…I like South Park so when I saw the name of the song my brain read: Eric Cartman, then after a minute of that ass-clown that resembles a dandelion I then realized I was listening to Eric Carmen.

I just stopped going. I feel like I’m not liked and I don’t go where I’m not wanted.

@jlelandg There are people all day. Well, most of the day.

@ducky_dnl Aww, we like you :)

It’s very difficult to carry on a conversation there. People are talking about ten different things. You have no idea if anyone is paying attention half the time you’re there. And most of the conversations are about things I know nothing about and can’t imagine being interested in.

Anyway, I think most of the people there are young people in one school or another, and the last couple of weeks have been midterms and papers being handed in, and so I think they are probably out there being productive instead of socializing. I’d expect it to pick up soon.

I always felt chat rooms were for gabbers and lonely people. I’m neither. I could be wrong, but it’s just not my thing.

@jonsblond Dude, what’s a gabber? :P

@bob_ Let me just de-rail your thread for a sec. A gabber is “one who gabs” A dancer is “one who dances”. Putting “er” on the end of a verb changes the verb to a noun. So, having got that established, I once knew a couple who named their kid Trever. No Trevor. Trever. I asked them; “Does he trev?” They looked at me like I was crazy. I maintain that they are the idiots.
We now return you to your regular broadcast thread,

I rarely go into those things. Reminds me of when I used to go into all those AOL chat rooms in the 90’s. I’d rather browse through the questions and provide my answers.

I’m not a chatroom afficionado. (janbb has just left the building.)

I always forget it’s there but love it when I use it.

@Trillian Ah, see. I had looked for gabber, and this came up. Then I searched for gab and it was all clear. Thanks!

@bob_ Dude, never use Urban Dictionary as your first resource. just sayin’ ;)

@jonsblond I actually tried Google first, to no avail :)

I just tried to get in but my computer keeps kicking me out of there, giving error

I’ve been staying out of it for the most part the past few days. That’s probably why~

I generally feel pretty much ignored and that’s not a good feeling obviously

I can never seem to find a good place to jump into the conversation(s), so I really don’t use the chat. I never seem to know anyone in the chat, either, when there are actually people there.

Fluther what?

Every time I’ve looked there’s been either no-one there, or just one or two people I don’t know. If I saw people I knew I would drop in and say hello. I’d love to be involved in the chat room if it was busier.

Part of it, I think, is it being the holidays. Also some people have been chatting in other places. I still check it out but not as much as I used to. Hell, I used to live in it until I formed better friendships and began to chat with those people outside of fluther.

The chat is definitely not for everyone. We don’t really gossip about other people, FWIW. We goof around some, post pictures/music, discuss our personal lives and actually have meaningful conversations. We even help users out when they come in with a question and a mod isn’t around. As with the site, it fluctuates. When I first joined chat, and I’ve said this on another question before, it felt like an unfriendly clique; however, it really isn’t that at all. In any group you will have a few people who are just not nice; they don’t make up the majority. I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. I’ve learned a lot about people, I’ve discovered new music and it’s been a wonderful experience.

Everyone’s avoiding you, Non-Bob.~

@erichw1504 I used to go to AOL chat rooms in the 90’s too! I had forgotten about that. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
I have been in the chat a couple times and either no one talked to me or it was silent. I kinda felt like: shhh, Chyna’s here, don’t let her know we’re here.

I would enjoy an active Fluther chat room but the few times I’ve ventured in, it did have a “velvet rope” vibe. Only a few people already into a personal conversation which left me with the impression that it’s exclusive and not very welcoming.

and actually have meaningful conversations

LOL

You mean, even I am not in the chatroom anymore?

@FutureMemory Yeah, actual meaningful conversations about life, poetry, music, art, politics, etc. Just because it’s not been that way when you’re in there does not mean it hasn’t happened. Further more, you seem to be making an assumption that we’re a bunch of idiots who could never have a meaningful conversation. I take offense to that.

I don’t mean anything by it, really. I’m mostly teasin’. Every single time I’ve gone in there though, it has never been anything more than fluff, like 99% of all chatrooms out there. I’m sure there’s plenty of cool conversations that happen. I apologize.

Chat is fun.

Give me a kiss J0E

@FutureMemory Oh. Good! :)

I’m not a fan of live chats.

After reading the question and seeing a big influx to the chat because of the question I see a couple of reasons. People already using the chat know each other very well, by first names. Keep referring to each other by that – which is confusing to anyone who is new or who is a name-amnesiac (me most of the time). Another is that the topics are not open (some of the time) – but insider information-based. So it’s much harder for someone to jump in. Unless they just start yapping off and somebody joins.

I suppose it takes a certain kind of people to wait it out and integrate. That’s what I see so far.

But the quality of the chat depends upon its dwellers, it can change for the better or worse at any time.

I noticed that about the first-names. I was there looking at the list, trying to figure our who is Kevin and Erin.

Everyone leaves whenever I go in there. :*(

@phoebusg I wondered if this would lead to a chat population explosion. That’s exactly what I meant by exclusive. The regulars seem nice enough, say ‘hello’ and all, but it’s like a club I don’t belong to.

@Blueroses You totally belong, my love. Anyone does.

The chat will get busy when !@#$% is outta there, and probably busier when they give out awards there, too. I’ll be up bright and early to chat – when I get a feeding frenzy award to do so. ~

It’s too much stimulation for me… too much going on, and my brain overloads. I pop in there very rarely. I enjoy it while I’m there, but I can’t handle it for long.

Too busy.

I didn’t know there was a chat feature on here. I’m not sure what I would “chat” about when asking questions and posting answers is enough for me or when I do on certain occasions pm someone.

I like it – but yeah the names thing is really confusing sometimes. I just wish it were an IRC channel so I didn’t have to have it open in a browser all the time…

Today’s song of the day: I am so lonely.

@bob_ I will find those chipmunks and kill them, only because Fluther tolerates so much vulgar language and hate.

there’s no point to chat when you can just answer questions.

Oh @noly, there’s still a point to chat. You can get to know flutherites on a different level. It’s the same as having some jellies being facebook friends. Chat is the back part of the fluther-mullet: Business up front, party in the back.

Maybe you could sent some PM’s to people you want to chat with and ask them to meet you in the chat room.

Maybe I should, ‘cause man, that place gets lonely.

That’s exactly how it works. @YARNLADY is correct. If you want love, you gotta ask for it. Most jellies, in my experience, don’t regularly check the chat rooms. If you want to get one going, it isn’t that hard. PM a few friends and ask them to PM a few more and you have a party.
and @bob_ you know that song makes me cry. Why you gotta go there?

Because…