Since the Chat topic was locked, figured I'd toss my thoughts in here.

I still think a weekly scheduled chat would be nice. The "shoutbox" thing doesn't seem to offer anything that a regular thread on these message boards doesn't, since it doesn't require everyone to be there at the same time, or remain in there. If one reads something in there and responds to it, there's no guarantee the person who put it in there is still around.
Part of the benefit of a chatroom over just a regular message board thread is everyone's all there at the same time and seeing it at the same time, as opposed to posting a message (or something in there) where it may be that no one at all is around or see it for hours. As I said, I just don't see what the shoutbox offers that someone posting a chat thread on the boards wouldn't do. Not saying it should be removed, certainly it can't hurt to have it there, but still.

So, the short version of all that is that I still think, as I said, that scheduling a regular weekly chat of some sort would be good.

possibly. i've unlocked it.
basically a shoutbox is a chat room, but i suppose terris has some valid points. the only way you know someone's possibly looking at it is if they're near the front of the "who's online" list. and even then there's no 100% guarantee that they're on the index page.
it *can* be integrated into other sections too. board indexes, message indexes, etc..but what's the point, since boards & messages are for threads, not shoutboxes!
requests welcome..

Yeah, I didn't mean to make a big stink about it or anything, obviously there's nothing wrong with having it there. Just thought I'd voice my thoughts in favor of a regular chat as well. Sorry if it came across a bit strong

I've never seen a shoutbox before. It's a pretty novel idea, but I don't know how much I personally will use it. Good addition though.