# There should be a place to "chat" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266 "2003-09-28T07:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/21 "2003-09-29T11:51:11Z")
If that doesn’t cure you, download AOL Instant Messenger, and find one of the threads that contains everyone’s screen name. You’ll be sure to find at least one person. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/22 "2003-09-29T12:05:38Z")
Chat bad. IMs good. ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/23 "2003-09-29T13:46:01Z")
Nothing wrong with chat if you don’t sling a knife at someone’s back on their way out the door. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/24 "2003-09-29T13:51:36Z")
Amen. You make friends through chat that you might not otherwise speak to off-board. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/25 "2003-09-29T13:59:09Z")
Not to mention more enemies. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/26 "2003-09-29T14:39:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Not to mention more enemies. \*\* :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/27 "2003-09-29T14:44:08Z")
I’ve found the chat group to be quite friendly. We are a close group, but always welcome others with open arms. In fact, I was a chat regular before I even signed up on the boards. But that’s a story for a different thread. Being the close group we are, when one of us is called names for no apparent reason, yes, of course enemies are created. It only makes sense, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/28 "2003-09-29T15:37:08Z")
It does make sense, which is why I mentioned. I try hard not to mention things that don’t make sense. The problem with chat rooms in general is that it is infinitely easier for people to gang up on other people for no real reason other than it makes them feel good. A bully mentality can overcome the goodness a room has produced up to that point. Note that I said “in general”; if people wish to believe this about their own chat room, that’s their inference, not my implication. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/29 "2003-09-29T15:51:54Z")
I always liked #straightdope chat, thought I haven’t gone there regularly in ages. Someone ( **Jophiel** , I think) once described it as MPSIMS on speed, and I think that’s fairly accurate when there are a lot of people there. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/30 "2003-09-29T17:09:24Z")
Unfortunately, Jophiel is gone. I haven’t seen him in ages. I really liked him, but I guess life gets in the way. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/31 "2003-09-29T20:47:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by porcupine \* > \*\*I always liked #straightdope chat, thought I haven’t gone there regularly in ages. Someone ( **Jophiel** , I think) once described it as MPSIMS on speed, and I think that’s fairly accurate when there are a lot of people there. \*\* More like the old SDMB chatroom on AOL except there’s none of us hosts to keep an eye on things. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/32 "2003-09-30T01:16:48Z")
Come to think of it, an unhosted chat probably _would_ be MPSIMS on speed. ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/33 "2003-09-30T04:11:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harli \* > \*\*I’ve found the chat group to be quite friendly. We are a close group, but always welcome others with open arms. In fact, I was a chat regular before I even signed up on the boards. But that’s a story for a different thread. > > \*\* I had much the same experience as Harli, I found the chatroom first, then was informed about the boards. I’m very un-prolific here, and a very frequent IRC chatter, so for that reason, most of the dopers I’ve gotten to know are the ones who chat on #straightdope. And like **Jophiel** suggested, it is much like MPSIMS on speed, because you get instant feedback on things. PITing sometimes occurs too, and we occasionally have Great Debates (although more often they are silly debates). ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/34 "2003-09-30T10:25:30Z")
And, see, usually once or twice and evening, _ **I** _ pop into chat, in all my fabulousness, and regale the denizens of #straightdope with tales of my wacky and sordid gay life. And describe what gourmet delight I’ve prepared for dinner, which gets everyone salivating… Then I talk about sex. Evil, shameful gay sex. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/35 "2003-09-30T10:28:56Z")
Degenerate sex, even. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/36 "2003-09-30T10:46:14Z")
Does that mean the number of participants is divisible by two? What does degenerate sex, odd, mean in this context? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/37 "2003-09-30T11:11:44Z")
Thanks for the link. I think I might sign up for it this evening. As for the conversation of otherwise intelligent people turning to sex, come on! I’ve been known to hang out at the Hell’s Mensans group, and it is a simple, observed rule of the group that any discussion, no matter how obscure and abstract the original topic, will eventually turn to sex. Call it “Dave’s Law”, if you will. Discussions of high-order, abstruse mathematical principles have turned to sex. Anyone for iterations of pi? 😃 CJ ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/38 "2003-09-30T11:24:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siege \* > \*\*Anyone for iterations of pi? 😃 > > CJ \*\* When come back, bring pi. 😃 😉 Robin ---
**Author:** ![bittersweet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@bittersweet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bittersweet)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/39 "2003-09-30T12:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Watchin’ a zombie _X-Files_ \*\* **!!!** A man after my own heart. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266/40 "2003-09-30T13:27:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siege \* > \*\*Thanks for the link. I think I might sign up for it this evening. As for the conversation of otherwise intelligent people turning to sex, come on! I’ve been known to hang out at the Hell’s Mensans group, and it is a simple, observed rule of the group that any discussion, no matter how obscure and abstract the original topic, will eventually turn to sex. Call it “Dave’s Law”, if you will. Discussions of high-order, abstruse mathematical principles have turned to sex. Anyone for iterations of pi? 😃 > > CJ \*\* If this is what you’re looking for, I don’t think you’re going to find it in IRC. If you do, please tell me where it is, and I will stay way, way far away from it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-place-to-chat/204266.md?page=1)