How about a "Who's Online" feature?

I know, I know, you've just successfully launched version 2.0 and probably need to catch up on your sleep, but when ya'll are well rested again... say around late fall (here in the States) once the gardens have been covered up?... ;-)

I've been thinking about how cool it would be to see 'who in the world' is online when I am, and 'where in the world' they are!

Is anyone else interested in such a thing? Is it feasible?

*HUGS*
Donna/TuttiFrutti

Well, we tried it a couple years ago (actually, almost three years ago) and the feedback wasn't overwhelmingly positive: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/114983/ Granted, we're a lot bigger now...but it's up to Dave whether he wants to reintroduce it (or if it's feasible from a resource perspective.)

Been there, done that on other sites (including one of my own at one time). It's intrusive. Many members come here to "get away" from things, learn a little, interact at their own speed and desire. If you put it up as a Toll Booth question, I'd vote NO. I had members re-registering under alternative ID's to avoid being "spotted" and the intrusion of others into what they considered their private space and time.

I'd LOVE that option with the choice of being visible or not. After reading that whole thread I'm wondering if Dave ever did put up another version with invisibility-mode?

DG is a much bigger place now.....afterall only 99 people voted on that Poll. It would be interesting if nothing else to ask it again today in the terms of "what if".

Terry, what a fascinating poll result!

I, too, value my privacy, so I tend to login under 'invisible' mode when using Yahoo IM; it's similar to using Caller ID to identify the caller and/or allowing one's answering service to pick up a telephone call even when they're home. That way, I can pick up any offline messages (or emails) since I was on last and initiate contact on my own time with the many friends I have made over the years. Folks with whom I am close enough to share my contact info know this about me up front, and we're STILL friends. :)

I have friends in Australia, Canada, and in the UK (as well as here in the States) with whom I love to chat. It's not always timely so we play tag a bit in order to have a live chat... but oh! So delightful when we're both free to do so!

The beauty of email contact through DG is that one may choose whether to answer an initial email sent by another; privacy is maintained by not responding there (but their questions/comments can still be acknowledged through a Forum thread).

I don't think 'harassment' would be worse if folks saw you were online. They'll email regardless, whether they see you posting in Forums or not, if harassment is their game.

Many thoughts here... still wanting the "Who's Online?" feature, and liking langbr's suggestions of a new poll now that we've passed the 100K mark on members as well as the option of setting an 'invisible' preference on our profile!

Donna

Gosh, I hope I didn't discourage anyone from responding here based on my last post!

I'm soliciting comments on this feature in hopes that Dave will reconsider it 'cause I really think it would be neat and not because I'm trying to get everyone to agree with my opinion. Everyone has one, ya know? ;)

All comments here on your interest and/or experience (such as provided by the posts thus far) are very valuable! It lets me know if I'm barking up an empty tree... or indicates that I'm just slow in recognizing it... *smile*

Donna

Last time we did this, we did include an invisibility option. Some folks did use the invisibility option, but a LOT of folks really didn't like it, at all.

For the sake of those folks (a few of whom were very important to me) I took away the feature and decided it won't be put back in, despite the fact that it's a very simple feature to program.

I know that most other forum sites have this feature, but, well, the members have spoken. :)

dave

Gotcha, Dave! :)

When I started reading this thread, I thought it was about the Chat room at first but then realized it was for all of DG. I've felt a number of times that I would like to see who was in the chat room before I 'spoke up' because I feel like I may be interrupting in the middle of a conversation. Then again, since I've only been in the chat room a few times, maybe I'm missing a click somewhere that already shows who on. ?

There is a button on the side of the Chat window that says 'Who's On'. If you click that the list scrolls in the chat window of everyone who is there.

But you should never feel like you can't join in! Last nite's chat room was full but only a few of us actually said anything and so we just started rambling about nothing in particular. Mostly waiting for someone to jump in!

thanks! I guessed I was missing something... lol My pc is finally virus free for over a month now so I can get back on chat again. I'll jump in one of these days. :)

Yeah- Come chat, kooger!!

Dave, I just wanted to "Thank you" for *not* putting the "Who's Online" here at DG. At another site, even when I logged in as "invisible" there were at least two other places on the site where other users could see that I was online. It didn't bother me that they *knew*...it bothered me that I'd leave the computer while still connected to the site. So it looked as though I was *always* there. I do the same thing, now, here at DG, and I love being able to do a quick check of updated threads and leave the computer "parked" here.

~julie~

I appreciate not having my name posted as being online. My computer is "parked here" from morning until I shut down at night. I have a wireless connection so when the computer is on, I'm always online.

I don't think I would like the feature because:
I am usually on-line but don't always respond. Not that I don't want to just that I am busy at the time a can't devote the time deserved to a topic or I don't want to. So I am glad people don't know I am always there, because I'm really not. And I don' t want anyone to feel I have ignored them or that I have hurt anyones feelings for not responding right away if they knew I was on line. Does that make sense?
:o)
Dee

The feature ain't gonna happen.

"eyes"

In tutti's defense, I think it sounds like a good idea at first. But reading the posts I realize that it would be sort of a hassle also. Now, we can just lurk at will :)
charlotte