Chat Window?

[johnmeyer]

This chat box gets the Jar Jar Binks award for the most annoying user interface I've seen in years. It covers things that I actually want to look at, and it cannot be closed.

Recommendations:

1. Add a preference so you can stop it from appearing in the first place.

2. Add a "dismiss" (X) option, so it can be removed, if it does happen to show its ugly face.

I have no issue whatsoever with adding the chat feature. The only issue is that the implementation is very badly done.

 

[mosparky]

I know Jeff said he had a ton of request for chat and it is a nice feature if used. Opening night I saw quite a few people in there, but not a single one since. Nice of Jeff to go the time, trouble and expense to provide it, but it needs to get used.
I'm generally not a big fan of chat but perhaps in time. I'm certainly not going in there to talk to myself, I do enough of that at work.

 

[pc farmer]

I know Jeff said he had a ton of request for chat and it is a nice feature if used. Opening night I saw quite a few people in there, but not a single one since. Nice of Jeff to go the time, trouble and expense to provide it, but it needs to get used.
I'm generally not a big fan of chat but perhaps in time. I'm certainly not going in there to talk to myself, I do enough of that at work.

There was 8 of us there tonight. It gets active. Years ago alot of us ised it I have been in it. Still am

 

[zachd]

This chat box gets the Jar Jar Binks award for the most annoying user interface I've seen in years. It covers things that I actually want to look at, and it cannot be closed.

Recommendations:

1. Add a preference so you can stop it from appearing in the first place.

2. Add a "dismiss" (X) option, so it can be removed, if it does happen to show its ugly face.

I have no issue whatsoever with adding the chat feature. The only issue is that the implementation is very badly done.

I agree it doesn't bother me on the web browser but on mobile it is a pain

 

[TulsaJeff]

I have removed the chat bar from mobile for now.. however, we are still working on it and deciding how to make it work best for everyone. For now, you can go to https://smokingmeatforums.com/chat if you want to use chat on mobile.

 

[HalfSmoked]

No problem on my PC glad to see it back. I have not been on yet just haven't had the time but I spent a lot of hours on it in the past. Met a lot of member's on there and spoke almost nightly. Brianmudd for one.

Warren

 

[tropics]

I have removed the chat bar from mobile for now.. however, we are still working on it and deciding how to make it work best for everyone. For now, you can go to https://smokingmeatforums.com/chat if you want to use chat on mobile.

Jeff Thank You Sorry to say I can hardly make my phone do any more then make a call,I appreciate you and your staff working on it
Richie

 

[HalfSmoked]

I'm with you Richie I don't even do internet or what ever you call it on my phone. If it rings I answer it I can make a call on it and I do text. That's it for me and my phone. Old dog doesn't learn to many new tricks.

Warren

 

[johnmeyer]

I'm with you Richie I don't even do internet or what ever you call it on my phone. If it rings I answer it I can make a call on it and I do text. That's it for me and my phone. Old dog doesn't learn to many new tricks.

You have a cell phone? I still haven't gotten one.

Yup, I'm a Luddite.

 

[flatbroke]

I have removed the chat bar from mobile for now.. however, we are still working on it and deciding how to make it work best for everyone. For now, you can go to https://smokingmeatforums.com/chat if you want to use chat on mobile.

Damn I just logged in to look at it on my phone. Had to search and found this. I liked it better before. Guess those of us that like the feature got hosed.

 

[TulsaJeff]

Just a note for mobile users: We are working on putting a link at the top that says "Chat" or something similar. For now, you can just go to https://smokingmeatforums.com/chat to access the chat as needed.

 

[GaryHibbert]

I have removed the chat bar from mobile for now.. however, we are still working on it and deciding how to make it work best for everyone. For now, you can go to https://smokingmeatforums.com/chat if you want to use chat on mobile.

Thanks Jef. TulsaJeff . Sure makes it a lot easier to use my cell here.
Gary

 

[johnmeyer]

I have now had half a dozen instances, using Firefox in Windows 7, where I am typing, just as I am now, and when I get to the bottom of the page, and still need to type more, the text I am typing goes underneath the chat (it just did thisright now) and I cannot see anything I am typing.

I just tried to close the darn thing, and instead of closing, it opened up and covered the entire screen (oops, I'm under the thing again and can't see what I'm typing ...). It took me almost a minute to figure out how to get rid of the chat screen.

How hard can it be to add a "dismiss" button or "x" in this thing? If you used a standard Windows construct, those things are built in.

 

[bmudd14474]

If you click on the chat word on the bottom right it toggles the chat window back down. Pretty simple. hope that helps.

 

[chopsaw]

If you click on the chat word on the bottom right it toggles the chat window back down. Pretty simple. hope that helps.

Yeah , but there is another option that I clicked on the other day by mistake and it went full screen . Had a tough time closing it out .

 

[johnmeyer]

If you click on the chat word on the bottom right it toggles the chat window back down. Pretty simple. hope that helps.

Yes, it toggles it so it covers almost the entire screen!

My problem isn't with that full chat screen, but with the obnoxious permanent pop-up in the lower right hand corner. It is that item, which cannot be dismissed, that interferes with typing a reply, like I'm doing now, if that reply dialog happens to be near the bottom of the screen. At this particular point, the reply dialog is at mid-screen, so the chat pop-up does not interfere, but depending on where the screen was scrolled before I click on the "reply" button, I can end up with the typing in this dialog at the bottom of the screen, and the text disappears behind this pop-up.

I've seen lots of forums and sites with chat, and there is always a way to dismiss it entirely.

 

[bmudd14474]

Well I am sorry you are not happy with it but this is the way it is and prob will be. Its at the lower corner to be as minimal as possible. If you are typing a big reply and you think it will get in the way then you may have to scroll the page a little bit to give you move room to type.

Sorry we don't have any solution for you as of now.

 

[tropics]

Well I am sorry you are not happy with it but this is the way it is and prob will be. Its at the lower corner to be as minimal as possible. If you are typing a big reply and you think it will get in the way then you may have to scroll the page a little bit to give you move room to type.

Sorry we don't have any solution for you as of now.

I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Take It Or Leave It.
Richie

 

[TulsaJeff]

It's not so much "take it or leave it" as it is, we have to prioritize. We worked hard and delivered on the chat interface and for now, it is set so that it works best for most members. If we are able to make it even better later, then we will do that.

All complaints are taken into consideration and while we can't make it perfect for everyone, we do try.

Just like any other fixed items in the footer, you have to scroll periodically in order to continue reading, continue typing, etc.

 

[tropics]

User friendly for the phone does not help me
Leave It not worth my time! Every site going with the chat now has a n X out.
Richie