I have recently come to realize that a majority of my time at chess.com, particularly on Live Chess, is spent in the public chat. This means that I may spend an easy couple of hours on any given day simply hagning around and chatting, not helping myself in any manner.

I assure you that I am not the only person who spends hours on this chat, merely wasting hours. It is clear that these hours could spent doing much more significant things. However, how many of us really have all of that will power to never or rarely chat when we've done so consistently for months? =D

My proposed solution is that we either all get the will power to stop chatting so much (extremely unlikely), or we get rid of the public chat in Live Chess.

Now, this may sound very radical; however, there are clear benefits to this:

1) Use your precious hours (normally spent chatting about nonsense) for something like... I don't know... CHESS!

2) Without Live Chess chat, we'd have less complaints about censorship, less deviants running around abusing people (a problem which occurs much more on Live than in the forums).

You might say that this limits community interaction, etc. So here's a small list of problems that could be addressed:

1) Community interaction: go ahead and message whomever you choose to. There should be a list of players in Live 3.0 in any case, so you could chat with them directly.

2) People often ask for moderators and helpers when they have problems with Live - and this is natural. Just have a list of moderators and helpers who are online and are within easy reach. If no staff or helper is online, then a user could ask some regular players via a simple message (these events occur in chat either way).

Thus, it is possible to keep community interaction and solve problems without having the incredible distraction of public chat. In addition, this would eliminate many complaints and much abuse, thus leading to more satisfaction from users. Also consider that out of the thousands of people on Live Chess, a very small percentage actually uses the chat.

Most importantly, this proposition would save many valuable hours for many people.

So, tell me what you think of this idea! =D

This is a serious suggestion! Cooperate, community! This is your website, is it not? =D

Is not my website Doc is belong to erik

I suggest the use of will power. 

I like the idea of limiting public chat to paying members.

That way the free members have another incentive to support chess.com and purchase a membership.

Interesting idea, BlackWaive...

Any other propositions / ideas?

i have always maintained that live chess chat is totally and completely lame.  but i reserve the right for the weak and simple to engage in it.  or the strong and complex for that matter.  no seriously.  i'm with the fake doctor on this one.  be gone long one!

Because we free members are freeloading off of your ChessTv, TacticsTrainer, ChessMentor -

Oh wait...

Yeah, chat is rarely used for chess. I think private chat is a better solution. Keeps everyone happy.

The fake doctor has a point..

but alot of people will quit live chess.. because alot go on to chat and play, but without chat they wont want to play.

thier problem their attitude, serbianchessstar

this point seems to be good...

actually, if we use live chat, what we type it can viewed by all members of the website, i think this tool should be available to the members who are above 1800 in rating....

In this kind of view, if a person who uses the live chat who has rating >1800, there will be useful notes through there chat....

Come on, everybody - if you're interested in changing Live Chess chat at all, then we need your suggestions here. The staff certainly listen! =D

i think the fact that very few people have anything to sayshows who is chatting and who is posting in the forums.  i don't think it's the same crowd.

The rest of us who use the chat in live chess properly should not be put out because you can't control the verbal diarrhea which flows from your mouth and into live chat via your keyboard. If you have a problem with it then you need to sort it. Everything shouldn't be changed just for you sunshine.

An option button to turn chat off is good enough.

ilikeflags, that seems to be a reasonable explanation. Absolutely different environments. =/

RainbowRising, if you'd bother to read carefully, you'd understand that it's not only me - there are many of the same people in the chat who spends countless hours there; some who actually spout crap from their keyboards (luckily, I'm fairly clean). Plus, this is not about controlling one's "verbal diarrhea" - it's simply a way to eliminate a lot of problems revolving around the chat - most importantly, the hours wasted there. So next time, please make an attempt to read BEFORE commenting.

checkmayte - that would be good; however, it's just as easy to turn chat back on then! =D

I did read it, and my comment makes perfect sense. Perhaps you should re do comprehension at school.

I'm not saying that your comment does not make sense - it does not correlate with my proposition and my statements. Look closely - I suggested ways of keeping chat for individuals without having the distraction of the public chat. Now look at what you're saying: "If you have a problem with it then you need to sort it". I'll tell you once again - I am not the ONLY one who chats there consistently. Plus, this is my way of trying to sort it out, while also trying to help others with the same problem.

I sensed some hypocrisy when you suggested I redo comprehension...

No, it simply suits you. Most people have will power. People spend time chatting because they enjoy chatting. So no, it's clearly for your own selfish reasons.