I believe that there should be an instant messaging thingy on here... U should be able to send a message to a person that is "Browsing now".... i think that would be cool...

I think that's pretty much beyond the scope of this website. If you want to contribute your own Java-based IM software, we could of course integrate it. But I sure am not going to spend the time writing one.

If we make more precise AIM/ICQ profile fields for people, we could add "IM" links in the message boards (which would work in Windows possibly... Darn GAIM not supporting aim:// links.)

I was thinking of adding a "reply to sender" feature to the message boards. Some quick way of sending an email to the author from within the site.

Anyone else have feedback on these two ideas?

- taubz

I remember suggesting something similar a while ago, although I believe it was sending a message to someone who is online, much like there was on the previous incarnation of TPU.

How about a personal message system, kinda like email, you can PM any member by clicking on their name, then clicking the PM link in their profile. Look at www.forumoc.com to see what I mean (actually you might not be able to see this feature if you're not a registered user)

I think that is a silly, useless feature.

Lord Psion has spoken, all minions shall obey.

If anyone has a good reason why you can't use e-mail, ICQ, or AIM (all of which now have spots for addresses in profiles) instead, then please tell me!

I was just suggesting this.. so that we may have the opportunity to interact with people that were online time... I didnt mean for this blow up out of proportion.... :)

What about MSN?

Well since your on the subject, I recently downloaded a "new" IM program (Psion tells me its "soooooooooo old") but I greatly enjoy it because it has cool skins (because I like that option even though it may sound like a frivolous one) and you can connect to MSN, AIM, ICQ, IRC, and Yahoo! all from the same program. http://trillian.cc

Trillian is sooooooo old.

Trillian is so last month...

Yeah, Trillian may be an old project, but it's not old as such. It works pretty damn well.. Most skins are ugly, so I just go with the standard one (which is ugly too). It solves my need to get on several types of IMs at once, without having a ton of applications installed just for that.

ok so are we going to do the IM thing or what?

Reread the thread, Diego. Psion said he thought it was "a silly, useless feature", and anyone with "a good reason why you can't use e-mail, ICQ, or AIM (all of which now have spots for addresses in profiles) instead" should feel free to try make him think otherwise.

Oh BOY.....

I have a perfectly valid reason for putting one up: Because we're all LAZY. I mean having to actually click the AIM/ICQ/MSN/whatever icon is such a task. However, there aren't enough users on at the same time to constitute writing one, and I'm sure it would be a pain to make. But I wouldn't complain if someone ELSE made one, lol.

"I think that is a silly, useless feature"

One that is used constantly on FOC, I have gotten 34 PM's in the last month. It's a good way to communicate privately and without starting a new thread

I think that letting people send short messages to other users would be a good idea. Think email here--not synchronous instant messages. If it were implemented (not very likely) I think that letting users send 100 or 200 character messages and storing them on the server for about two weeks before deleting them would be nice. Maybe even have the server automatically email unread messages to the user right before they are deleted (for when people are on long vacations or something).

thanx Codered and lamer... at least someone agrees wit me!

Why not use e-mail if you want it to act like e-mail?

Things like Webcrossings (an online learning package) have that functionality. I talked to some of the people who use it, and they've all said that it is much more conveniant. I must agree that clicking on a link is much easier than having to open their profile, then get their email address, then open your mail client etc...

The most convenient thing is to be on IRC while you're browsing the site (and all the rest of the time!) and thus communicate much more easily . Nonetheless, I'll add something experimental with the sorts of features suggested when I get a chance.

Everyone really should join us in the IRC channel!

Yes, they should, although timezones make actually meeting up with people who have normal sleep patterns rather difficult in GMT +1200... Sunday morning (for me) is usually the busiest time...

On OPN we have memoserv for short asynchronous messages :)

I meant for participating in actual real-time chats... I find the memo feature is quite useless because I have the email addresses of all the #tpu members!

You don't have my real address, you have my spam address, which I haven't looked at in over 3 weeks, Muahaahaa

You missed #tpu, and as far as I know, I haven't seen you in there in the last 2 years...

Email is overkill for a short message like "join me on #tpu." It also helps when the email server you used is down because the guy running it lost his house and you can't email him because you don't have access to email and neither does he! (happened before I got unknownlamer.org).

"You missed #tpu, and as far as I know, I haven't seen you in there in the last 2 years..."

I've gotten on a couple times, no one is ever there. Well, people are there, just inactive, like your all in bed asleep or something

We idle a lot...