live chat with experience members (TO the MODS)

[satya]

Hello Moderators,
Is it possible to have a popup or some chat window like that, displaying who are online so that we could have a live chat with the experienced guys and could get our issues quickly resolved.

[Viking]

Re: live chat with experience members (TO the MODS)

Different people are experienced with different things, but at some point everyone learns something. And if things got resolved in chat windows instead of in threads of posts, then nobody else learns from it. And it's not searchable after the fact.

So, I'm not a fan of your idea.

Just my $.02

[tomliotta]

Re: live chat with experience members (TO the MODS)

I very much agree with Viking.

A site such as Code400 builds value by keeping a repository of problems and solutions. Many members and visitors come here to search and read about the experiences of others. Personal chat sessions would hide anything of value, and almost no one would come back again. It can't reasonably act as a "support" site for individuals. If "support" is needed, then a Support Contract should be created, either with IBM or a Business Partner, or a training course should be taken.

Some members make a living providing support. If it's given away free by them or by other members, then it takes away from the living of others.

The repository of questions and answers here benefits the entire community. A private chat session only benefits the single individual that receives help. That probably should be done through a paid service.

By participating in public threads, even expert members benefit. Perhaps only by advertising their knowledge, but also by honing their skills and sometimes even learning new stuff they hadn't run into. In some cases it's simply because it's fun or satisfying.

The downside for those asking questions is that it takes more time. Unfortunately, that's just how it goes when learning something new.