I would rather see staff energy put into making the chess aspects of the site better. I think we have enough ways to communicate with each other around here.
I agree which is why I suggested that something like this might serve as a replacement for chat in the new Live Chess which would actually allow the Chess.com development staff to focus on chess related features as opposed to re-inventing the wheel within Live Chess so that the chat functionality was restored.
Even if it is I think different mediums call for different approaches. Long diatribes bordering on essays are overwhelming enough in these forums, they are certainly not fit for the instant message format.
You should strive to be clear and concise no matter the medium, but I think the more condusive the medium is to quick responses the more concise you should be.
paul, its a maximized/minimized small box thats at the bottom right hand screen. It mainly looks like this:
I just went to that website and tried it with and without scripts. Without scripts the page is fine. Turn on the scripts (necessary for the chat bar) and it becomes a horrible bloated page. You can see the difference just scrolling the page with and without allowing scripts from cafemom.com with noscript.
of course, firefox is a buggy piece of junk so it could be that, but performance is unsatisfactory in ie8 too, albeit less so.
hmm.. since you can hide it, i dont have a problem with it.
Pleaseeeeeeeee Erik, Noooooooooooooooo, No, too complicated t/y for asking the members, p.s. i think premium members votes should count more t/y Kissinger
I think it's cool, I like it!! I vote yes!! 
Jonathan
As long as I have the option to turn it "off" to avoid annoying interruptions, I couldn't care less if you add it or not. I'll never use it. Facebook has it and I don't use theirs, either. Just my opinion. Some people love it.
The most useful function for an IM feature as far as I see it is to be able to invite your friends in *real-time* to play Live Chess. Currently, there is no efficient and foolproof way to do this, as people often overlook Messages.
It would also be useful for analyzing games in real-time with friends.
But as far as the social networking function goes, I don't think that's needed on this site.
MOTION TO VOTE
:D
As far as it could be easily depleted with some browser add-on (as pointed out by sstteevveenn), you can do whatever you want. I've already blocked that single script via the page erik offered as example.
The philosophical question is: "chess site with some social devices" or "social network where you can play chess (too)"?
Kibitzing in real time could be appreciated. But farther than that, what is the direction? And, could that script slow down the site on not-so-young computers (that don't use noscript)? Functionality > "sociality" imho.
If you REALLY wanted to chat, you could easily open a new tab and log onto meebo yourself. There is no point in making EVERYONE use this add-on, especially when there's no option to turn it off.
I checked it out on www.cafemom.com - indeed NoScript blocks it, so I won't have to look for a new website to play chess. But unblocked feature looks disgusting... I wouldn't go to a website in which I wouldn't have the ability to block such things.
im gonna say yes but i dont think ill use it much but im sure many others will enjoy it
I like it, since we only have messages and game chat currently.
If you REALLY wanted to chat, you could easily open a new tab and log onto meebo yourself. There is no point in making EVERYONE use this add-on, especially when there's no option to turn it off.
Indeed if it ever gets implemented I will block it using NoScript. I still find Meebo's attitude of wanting to force their ads on free members wrong.
I already do, due to the police'n here, yo!