Virtual hangout/chit chat in the Brown Leaf? Ideas please

[Rockminer]

This thread is to gauge interest and garner ideas about having a smoke/drink/hangout time here on B&B. The idea came from a thread Boris started titled " A smoke with Boris". He started a thread in which he lit a cigar, poured a drink and invited people to hang out with him. I was part of it and it was a blast, even though I wasn't partaking.

So I wonder if any of you would like to have a get together, so to speak?

Here are some of the ideas and thoughts I have. Also some potential pitfalls.

-We could have a specific time and/or day for the get together. We could do it weekly, monthly etc.
-It would be open to anyone who wanted to participate, whether they partake or not

Potential pitfalls

- Getting a specific time nailed down. People on the east coast may not want to partake at the time it would work out for the west coasters.
- We may need to make these get togethers time zone specific
- If we're looking for a tiny bit of privacy, we may want to originate these threads in the clownhouse. I imagine they would be put there anyway and it might be better if they don't show up on the main page

Anyway, just brainstorming at this point. I'm sure some of you have better ideas than me so lets hear em

 

[shavious]

I'd propose organizing it in the form of a Google+ hangout. Basically, you just log in to Google+ with your gmail account [or create one if you don't have one or want to maintain your private account outside of the hangout] and we'd create the hangout and share the link to it. I've seen this work out well in another community I hang out in.

In regards to time -- well, a cigar can last a couple hours. A pipe can last an hour or longer. Maybe just set up a fairly long period of time (3 hours?) and encourage people to drop in for as long as they can. You could basically just post the link in a new thread that we could sticky and then at the designated time, people can just log in. The cool thing about it is that after you set up the permanent hangout link, any time a couple guys wants to get on and have a virtual herf, they can just click the link, log in, and be all set. So say Rockminer, Boris, and myself notice we're all online discussing things -- we jump on hangout and have an impromptu herf.

 

[nemo]

Skype? Or find a free chat room.

 

[Robster]

+1 on the google plus hangout or skype, anything like that really. It could run 24x7 with all the international timezones rolling through.

 

[Argonaut]

Haul your butts to Oklahoma, we'll have a herf.

 

[the_edski]

I'd propose organizing it in the form of a Google+ hangout. Basically, you just log in to Google+ with your gmail account [or create one if you don't have one or want to maintain your private account outside of the hangout] and we'd create the hangout and share the link to it. I've seen this work out well in another community I hang out in.

In regards to time -- well, a cigar can last a couple hours. A pipe can last an hour or longer. Maybe just set up a fairly long period of time (3 hours?) and encourage people to drop in for as long as they can. You could basically just post the link in a new thread that we could sticky and then at the designated time, people can just log in. The cool thing about it is that after you set up the permanent hangout link, any time a couple guys wants to get on and have a virtual herf, they can just click the link, log in, and be all set. So say Rockminer, Boris, and myself notice we're all online discussing things -- we jump on hangout and have an impromptu herf.

Is a Google+ hangout chat, video or both?

 

[Shave_Rat]

Is a Google+ hangout chat, video or both?

Pretty sure it's both. I know it's a chatroom, pretty positive I saw a webcam option in there as well.

 

[shavious]

Pretty sure it's both. I know it's a chatroom, pretty positive I saw a webcam option in there as well.

Yep. It's both. Even if you don't have a webcam, you can see and hear the others on webcams and you can interact via chat.

 

[the_edski]

Pretty sure it's both. I know it's a chatroom, pretty positive I saw a webcam option in there as well.

Yep. It's both. Even if you don't have a webcam, you can see and hear the others on webcams and you can interact via chat.

Thanks guys, I'm all for Google+ !

 

[Rockminer]

Google + sounds like a great idea. Couple questions since i've never used it

-Is there a limit to the number of people who can participate at a given time, using video? does it show up on a computer screen like a security cam monitor?
-is it essentially an open mic? seems like people would end up talking over each other

This may work out better if we just use text but I like the idea of using video, if one so chooses, as well.

 

[shavious]

Google + sounds like a great idea. Couple questions since i've never used it

-Is there a limit to the number of people who can participate at a given time, using video? does it show up on a computer screen like a security cam monitor?
-is it essentially an open mic? seems like people would end up talking over each other

This may work out better if we just use text but I like the idea of using video, if one so chooses, as well.

I think there may be a limit, but I've never seen it reached. I've been in hangouts with like 8 people before without issue I think.

Videos are displayed in a row across the bottom and you can select which one you'd like to have as the larger main window at any given time. You can also run it so that it switches video to the person who is talking automatically. It is basically an open mic, and occasionally it can result in talking over someone else. Most of the time, though, it's fine as long as the participants are courteous (and hey, this is B&B... Everyone is courteous).

 

[Rockminer]

Ok, I've done a small amount of research on Google +. I'm wondering if there is a text only chat room part of it. The more I think about it, the more I think people will be more willing to do it if they don't have to video themselves. I guess we could do text and audio, or maybe it would be good to just set up a time here and do like the other thread Boris made. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Jim]

We just have to consider pointing folks off B&B while using the B&B to do it!

 

[shavious]

Ok, I've done a small amount of research on Google +. I'm wondering if there is a text only chat room part of it. The more I think about it, the more I think people will be more willing to do it if they don't have to video themselves. I guess we could do text and audio, or maybe it would be good to just set up a time here and do like the other thread Boris made. Just thinking out loud.

There is a text only chat area. So people can communicate through that if they aren't comfortable being on video.

 

[Rockminer]

We just have to consider pointing folks off B&B while using the B&B to do it!

I was wondering how the site felt about this. I'm not sure I completely understand what you're saying. Are you saying that you don't want us to point people to another platform, or are you saying you don't want us to do it here? Or maybe something other than that?

 

[Jim]

Its a slippery slope to have B&B members directed to participate off B&B. It would be always better to keep them here. What can we do to facilitate that?

 

[the_edski]

We just have to consider pointing folks off B&B while using the B&B to do it!

Its a slippery slope to have B&B members directed to participate off B&B. It would be always better to keep them here. What can we do to facilitate that?

We would still be using B&B. We would just be utilizing a Google chat at the same time because the chat on B&B is either non-functional or non-stable.

 

[Rockminer]

Its a slippery slope to have B&B members directed to participate off B&B. It would be always better to keep them here. What can we do to facilitate that?

Just a couple of questions with absolutely zero knowledge of how difficult it would be to do it.

-could we have a specific group? Some place where we could interact with each other and not have it on the main page or on the site, other than the group?
- A chat room? I'm new here and have heard that this may or may not work.

What are your opinions on this? Would it be better to have a group, or just be upfront and out in the open. Maybe we could originate it in the clown house. As I understand it those threads don't show up on the main page?

 

[Jim]

Is there a reason not to do it in the BL?

 

[Rockminer]

Is there a reason not to do it in the BL?

Possible legality? I was just trying to get it away from the main page if there was something I wasn't thinking of, tobacco and alcohol related wise. If the site would rather us just do it in the BL, i'm fine with that.