There was a long time since I was installing an IRC chat client for a forum, but I guess I can do that again. What do you think, do we need it really? Pros: we could discuss all questionable things there, without pulling them to public, besides, chats usually help with building friendship between members. Cons: it is possible that chat will distract attention from the forum, and prevent members from participating in the discussions. This can be dangerous with art/fic boards, if all opinions will be voiced in the chat room, the respective threads will get nothing.

It would be nice, but it's true there's a chance the board will get less attention because of it.

I think we should at least try it, because it would be awesome if we had a LTS chat.

Well... I've never seen a forum-related chat-room that would actually be popular with visitors. I think it's quite a useless idea, but disregard me:-) I just have problems communtcating with more than one person simulatenously:-)

I say aye!

Sounds like a good idea, would like to have a chat with everyone here.
Though, maybe if there is only members enabled to chat rather than guests, or another method so that member names are not cloned.
Up to you Serge.

If most of us aren't against, I'll try to do something next week.
The hardest thing would be to find a decent IRC network. I know several, but they are all Russian.

brakusaetsya
ISFF's chat was scaring me too sometimes, but for different reason. While having the proud "#simpsons" name, the channel wasn't simpsonic at all... but maybe that was just me. I wasn't there for nearly a year now.

You're right, there isn't a need for one, but it's a nice, useful feature that might come in handy.

Okay, I've found a decent IRC network and even managed to secretly connect LTS' subdomain to it.
The server address is irc.lisa-simpson.net and the channel name is #lts. Easy to remember.
Feel free to join (if you know how), although at first, the chatroom can be empty most of the time.

The next task for me will be to add a webchat page to the forum for those members who don't use a special IRC program like mIRC. You will need Java to be installed on your computer though, otherwise webchat won't work.

Another important question: how we're going to use it? Will it be always open for random meetings, or should we maintain certain days/hours for the regular ones? I'd prefer second option, because chances for random meetings to happen aren't very high. On the other hand, we all live in different timezones, any time chosen could be inconvenient to someone (for example, when it's evening in Britain, it's late night here)... I'd like to hear your suggestions.

And the last thing I'd like to accent on: Please remember that this chat shouldn't replace the forum for you. If you have an interesting topic to discuss, please reserve it for LTS instead. Chat is for chatting, forum topics are for discussing things. I'm not afraid that LTS will die just because the chat opens, I'm sure we'll easily keep that balance. Still, a reminder.

I think, this might be a good idea.

I always chat with my friends in Finland. Good one, Dag.

Is it like an IRC channel or what?

Andreas
I agree, but I'm awful at writing tutorials... especially about things I'm not good in myself
If anyone does that for me, it will be very much appreciated!

Suusje
Thanks, although the only thing I did so far is the simple subdomain parking.
And I still have to sort that thing out with the server owner, I guess...

Casper
I'm going to write a guide for mIRC to help everyone with getting on the LTS chat. So that'll probably solve your problem. ^^

A first cons: the IRC network I've chosen, apparently uses the "forced join" feature. That means, if you are in the chat (at least if you're using mIRC, like me), you may be invited to another channel without even being asked. Not a big deal, but I thought I should warn you.

Thanks, Serge. I can't wait to try it out.

ametur_poet
Well, we didn't figure out a time for "regular meetings" yet anyway... the only thing we agreed on so far, it's convenient to make them at weekends. So you don't have to wait if you want to chat, join the chatroom any time you want. Suusje is there most of the time, I join it randomly, someone else can be there as well. Don't expect a special invitation, it's just a chatroom, rather quiet most of the times.

Me too, it has been a very good addition so far

I like to have the chatroom, but why in the world is the world round?   

He's talking about the different timezones and not being able to be in the chatroom while other people are on.

But that's why we need a meeting time! I think 6PM GMT or 7PM GMT in the weekends could work out for most people. Than it would be 10AM in western America and 12 PM in the part of Russia where Serge lives.

Any other suggestions?

CargoOfDarkness
This question is to me
First of all, which kind of chat? We have two: IRC channel (everyone connects with their own programs, like mIRC), and webchat client. If the first one doesn't work, maybe you just joined the chatroom when no-one was there. If the second one, make sure your browser supports Java (it's also called Java Virtual Machine), and you gave it all needed permissions when your browser asked you for them.

Suusje
Aside from the fact that you suggest me to join the chatroom in the midnight, everything's fine.

Dag
That's why I'm asking for suggestions. If you don't want to stay up that late, just say it.