Next chat this Sunday: Need your input

**Caroline** · 03-14-07, 09:46 AM

This Sunday, Connie Hurley will be our guest. With the experience of the first 2 chats, I would like to maybe change some of the way of doing it. I would like your input on the subject, especially from those who where in the chatroom these times.

First, I think we should set a theme. This will give us the possibility the discuss more in depth about the subject. And probably make a chat less confusing.

Also, I am not sure this way of doing is the best way. Maybe I should get the questions first and ask them myself, in a better order maybe, I don't know. Any ideas? What do you think?

Also, I know we had major issues with booting and slow chat. I changed the software and it is now really stable. Some of the members tested it already and it is really promising.

So... how should we do that next time? And on what theme would you like Connie to talk about?

**HanneysCorns** · 03-14-07, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Caroline

This Sunday, Connie Hurley will be our guest.

Excellent choice again. I love the variety of our guests so far; we really do have a wealth of knowledge on this site.

First, I think we should set a theme. This will give us the possibility the discuss more in depth about the subject.

Another wonderful idea! Narrowing down the topic/topics would allow us to again have the guest return at a later date to discuss another of his/her specialty areas of interest and it wouldn't seem that the same questions are being asked each time.

Also, I am not sure this way of doing is the best way. Maybe I should get the questions first and ask them myself, in a better order maybe, I don't know. Any ideas? What do you think?

If we all submitted our questions first, then you could compile them in an order. I also think that perhaps the guest should have these questions ahead of time too. Although it's fun to ask the questions and get an 'off the top of the presenter's head' answer, I sometimes think we are doing them a disservice. I'm sure if you asked both Don and Joe, they probably thought of additional comments they would like to make after but didn't have that opportunity unless another similar question was asked.

Giving the guest the opportunity to really think about how they would like to respond to a specific question, to me, is a curtesy I think we should extend them.

Also, I know we had major issues with booting and slow chat. I changed the software and it is now really stable. Some of the members tested it already and it is really promising.

Last evening was the best chat yet. I got to stay until I wanted to leave...

And on what theme would you like Connie to talk about?

The ACR...We've passed the infancy stages. What are Connie's thoughts on its success/useage? Members thoughts on changes/improvements. Thoughts on getting more corn folk involved and aware of its existence.

Just my thoughts, and once again Caroline, thanks again for allowing us the opportunity to input.

Ruth

**Hurley** · 03-14-07, 10:39 AM

For me, it's probably not necessary to have questions in advance. I can generally type quickly and responding isn't a problem. This is to be a chat. If it was "submit answers ahead of time and write answers ahead of time" it could, quite honestly, be done in the forum as a thread.

Sometimes a chat attendee gets a good question to ask sparked by the ones before and we'd lose that if it was all submit ahead of time questions.

The moderating of the questions in the room feature is available with this chat software and I honestly don't mind using that feature or just doing it as before with people "raising their hands" with a "?". Whichever is easiest for Caroline as moderator and whatever people prefer.

As for topic, while I'm happy to speak on the ACR, since Chuck and I both run parts of it, it would probably be best to have us both on for that topic, which could be arranged for this next chat or scheduled for an upcoming one.

**Nanci** · 03-14-07, 12:00 PM

If you do decide to limit the topic, maybe you could have a short period at the end when people could ask anything?

If you had people submit questions in advance, I am still interested in who asked what- and I think identifying the asker would allow that person to elaborate or ask a related question.

Maybe offer the guest the opportunity to preview the questions, or not?

I wish I could stay awake long enough to actually make it to the end one of these times! (Eastern time...)

Nanci

**Russell** · 03-14-07, 12:05 PM

I guess my personal thing with the last chat was all the questions about, are you going to produce this, or that, which I felt exasperated Joe. This stuff is on his website or can be better asked and answered in personal mail to him. I guess if I was the guest speaker, I'd like to talk about my Okeetees, not say over and over again, yes Lucy is having eggs, yes Ember is having eggs, yes Edmud is fathering two clutches... That just seems a bit boring for everyone else who'd rather discuss more in depth things. Just my personal opinion of course!

And yes, being able to respond quickly helps move the chat along, otherwise it does get rather dull.

But there are some questions that I thought were asked both times that are always good ones to throw in. Such as lag times where no one's asking anything, go ahead and throw them in. Like where do you see this hobby going, and fifty years from now, what would you like to be remembered for questions.

But anyhow, I still think it's a great idea, we just have to keep moving ahead and trying to do diff things to make it work. I just felt this last time it was boring for many and Joe himself!

galenwbritt · 03-14-07, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Hurley

For me, it's probably not necessary to have questions in advance. I can generally type quickly and responding isn't a problem. This is to be a chat. If it was "submit answers ahead of time and write answers ahead of time" it could, quite honestly, be done in the forum as a thread.

Sometimes a chat attendee gets a good question to ask sparked by the ones before and we'd lose that if it was all submit ahead of time questions.

I agree, as I had mentioned this before we even had the first chat session. Some questions can come up spontaneously, without having thought about it prior to the time at hand. Also, it makes it more of a "one on one" session, which I think makes everyone feel more involved.

The moderating of the questions in the room feature is available with this chat software and I honestly don't mind using that feature or just doing it as before with people "raising their hands" with a "?". Whichever is easiest for Caroline as moderator and whatever people prefer.

I am not sure that there can be a better way to operate the question/answer session than taking turns in order of received. Other than being different than Kingsnake.com and changing the "?" to maybe a different symbol/letter/number.......I think the way it is has been great. So I would agree here also.

As for topic, while I'm happy to speak on the ACR, since Chuck and I both run parts of it, it would probably be best to have us both on for that topic, which could be arranged for this next chat or scheduled for an upcoming one.

That would make for an interesting discussion, having two sets of views and answers. I also think that a "Topic" would help in some ways, but once the subject has run dry and there is still a bit of time left, I would think it should be an "open" discussion for listeners to be able to ask questions of any topic. The last two (or first two, whichever you prefer) chat sessions to me have been excellent, as the fact that all varieties of subjects and bases seemed to be covered........and to me, that is how people learn about not only the field of snakes, but the persons themselves.

Just some of my feelings which may be agreed and/or disagreed with, but thought I would post them anyway. The last two Sunday nights have been fun and some learning was done on my part. Granted, Joe would have rather had one particular "Topic" to discuss on and dig deeper into, but I just have the feeling that one of two things can happen this way:

1. Only the "smarter" ones or ones that have been in the field for quite awhile would be able to get involved, as the rest (myself included) would just stand by and watch. I am speaking of certain topics only, not all of them.

2. Eventually the "Topic" at hand could become stable and it might only be 35 minutes into the scheduled session. Then what.

Galen

**Hurley** · 03-14-07, 12:35 PM

I do like the idea of a "topic" chat followed by time for a "free for all" chat. These things are what, 1 1/2 hours?

Perhaps assign a topic (or break up into topics) the first 45 minutes to an hour and leave the last 30 to 45 minutes for a free-for-all session?

**MohrSnakes** · 03-14-07, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Hurley

If it was "submit answers ahead of time and write answers ahead of time" it could, quite honestly, be done in the forum as a thread.

Sometimes a chat attendee gets a good question to ask sparked by the ones before and we'd lose that if it was all submit ahead of time questions.

I could not agree more. If there are questions ahead of time there is no need for a chat...just submit answers to an email list.

Originally Posted by Hurley

As for topic, while I'm happy to speak on the ACR, since Chuck and I both run parts of it, it would probably be best to have us both on for that topic, which could be arranged for this next chat or scheduled for an upcoming one.

I think an ACR topic would be great. The pros, cons, the website, etc...

And I think a part topic part free time chat would be a good idea as well.

Then again, I haven't been in either chat so I'm not sure how exactly they work but I plan to be at more of them in the future...I think my travel is done for now. NY two weeks ago and FL this past weekend. This weekend I'm staying home....or so I hope.

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**Cornsnakesalive** · 03-14-07, 02:35 PM

Now that I have been a participant in the chats, and a guest, I can tell you that your perspective from these different points of view are very different. I really did not know exactly what to expect when I was a guest, but I think the “live” theme of the chat should be maintained.
I think a topic may be helpful, but my last impression of my chat when we were live, was perhaps not correct. I do not really feel that an in-depth topic could really be covered in a chat type atmosphere. I think the chats are more of a chance to get to know the guest on a more personal level, than an information source. I think if we knew ahead of time, if the chat was more for asking personal questions about the guest and his “current” breeding plans or an in-depth discussion about breeding Corn Snakes, it may help. The problem is that we all have different levels of experience, so this may limit participation, but we can all watch.
My number one suggestion may come as a surprise to everybody. I think the time limit of 1 ½ hours is too short. It seems like a long time when you are thinking about it, but the time seemed to go by very quickly during Don’s chat, and mine seemed to be over before I knew it. When we look back at the transcripts, we really didn’t get that many questions and answers in.
My number one suggestion is to keep it live, which is what makes them attractive to me, and perhaps lengthen the time period to 2 hours. Maybe, the first hour could be more of a get to know the guest period and the last hour more focused on a particular topic. I also think that rules for the guest should be written down somewhere, as well as rules for asking questions. I followed Don’s lead, by using OK, as a cue to being finished with a question, but is that the best way to go? For those of us, that are not really in tune with the chat environment, some help in this area, would have been appreciated by myself, and I am sure that others may feel the same way.