Do you chat with other members often?

[Dr Unne]

How does one even go about initiating a chat with a random EoFFer? I was told that tracking down an EoFFer's Facebook account was creepy. I can find most people on Twitter, but Twitter isn't chat, it's "I talk, you listen". The same as the forums. EoFF used to be a fairly tight-knit community, and I think it was largely because we all chatted away from the forums all the time. I feel like nowadays things are way more disconnected. Maybe it's just me?

There are people I'd like to chat with around here, but I'm not sure how to get started. All I use is Skype (IM, not voicechat).

[noxious.sunshine]

Heeeeeee.. I have to be pretty tanked to build up nerve to video or voice chat on Skype.

[escobert]

I'm just too lazy to go in chat or playing DayZ ;p

[noxious.sunshine]

Yer a face ass. :P

[escobert]

[noxious.sunshine]

Olive you? <3

[escobert]

[chionos]

See, here's an example where esco and n.s should have had a little chat outside of EoFF instead of spamming the forums.

=P

[Parker]

please don't say that, they'll do it in the chatroom instead

[Sefie1999AD]

I used to chat with other EoFF users in #eoff, MSN Messenger, AIM and Y!M. Nowadays, I haven't done that much anymore. Facebook is somewhat awkward since I use it only for contacting friends that I know IRL.

Maybe the site staff should come up with a new IM system so that you could easily chat with other users? And no, I'm not talking about the PM system, as I think that one's meant more for longer messages.

[Shauna]

*cough* Look over here *cough*

[Relena Peacecraft]

I don't really have many one-on-one conversations with any EoFFers anymore. It's not from a lack of desire, but I tend to be shy and self-conscious about starting conversations. Most of my best friends over the past few years have been people who basically forced themselves on me at first.

Also, it seems like the last few people from EoFF I've talked to a lot in private have randomly disappeared off the face of the earth. Suspicious, methinks.

[Loony BoB]

How does one even go about initiating a chat with a random EoFFer?

The best starting points are Visitor Messages, Private Messages and #eoff, because those are places that don't require any stalking whatsoever. If you happen to be playing FFXIV on Sargatanas, there are a bunch of EoFFers in there, too, but the chat levels there can go up and down like crazy depending on the hour, the day and who happens to be on at the time (some people are far chattier than others).

After that, I would say the next most common way to get in touch with someone these days is through Facebook.

I was told that tracking down an EoFFer's Facebook account was creepy.

Just gonna say straight off: Nahhhhh. Many people might not be interested in having you add them, but there are a lot of ways they can either ignore your friend request or just politely say "Sorry, I prefer not to have EoFFers I'm not really close to on my friends list, it's nothing personal!" However, I know a lot of EoFFers that are constantly chatting on each other's Facebook statuses. If you want, I can ask on Facebook (I can restrict the question to EoFFers which I have in one nice big group) who wants to be added by you and you can pick and choose based on how well you know them! But yeah, Facebook is just Facebook and people should never get too worried about being on someone's list or off it, either.

EoFF used to be a fairly tight-knit community, and I think it was largely because we all chatted away from the forums all the time. I feel like nowadays things are way more disconnected. Maybe it's just me?

I wouldn't say it's just you. I feel that way a lot of the time, too. I think it's down to a huge amount of things, from the rise of WhatsApp, Skype, Twitter, Facebook (and even international texting) to the demise of Y!M, AIM and MSN... and also just a case of an aging population within EoFF meaning people are generally busier than they were at the age of 16. There's also something I've always felt and that's that now that we're all meeting each other and seeing each other, we're part of each other's lives. It's no longer a group of friends who can chat online rather anonymously. Sometimes opening up can make people a little more nervous than it used to because if they open up, there is no easy escape. Still, I do think that there is a place for chat in today's world, and I'm actually kind of surprised it's lessened over the years considering smartphones should really increase the use. I suppose the negative part of that is that smartphones tend to be always-on and always-around, so getting messages at work can be annoying as hell at times so perhaps people are reluctant to give out their info.

I do miss the Y!M days though. I'd have about 10 chats going on at once and that would be my evening's enterainment.

[Shorty]

I am certain that each and every person here has stalked everyone else on facebook. Many of us are on the EoFF facebook group, and facebook tends to make suggestions about people you might know.

You might not get added if you add someone you don't know very well, but it doesn't hurt to try!

[Shauna]

I do miss the Y!M days though. I'd have about 10 chats going on at once and that would be my evening's enterainment.

Teamspeak is veeeeeery reminiscent of Y!M. I suppose that's why you like it so much. ;D