from a long-time chatter (Chatrooms in general)

Member Name: awalsh

Product:	Chatrooms in general
Date:	28/05/02 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: its anonymous, you get out of it what you put in, get to meet some nice people from all over the world

Disadvantages: its anonymous, you get out of it what you put in, get to meet some right idiots from all over the world

I guess the first thing t ounderstand is that chatrooms are really no different to any other means of communication, like telephone or mail. They're just a medium to communicate with other people, and as such, they aren't intrinsically good or bad... they depend totally on the people you're communicating with.
I've been using chatrooms for around 8 years now, and I'm involved in a few different chatrooms as an Op or Moderator, and I guess I've seen a lot of different types of people over the years. The vast majority are just normal everyday folk, and its great to have people from all over the world getting along and having a good time. A lot of us have met in real life, as well, and I've made good friends through the chatrooms.
The best piece of advice I can give newcomers is USE YOUR COMMON SENSE! If somebody phoned you up talked for a couple of minutes and then asked to meet you, you'd think twice, right? Same should go for chatrooms... also, don't give out anything like bank or credit card details, and if someone sends you a file, check it for viruses first.
Personally, I never give out ANY personal details until I know someone well. I've been accused of paranioa in this regard, but hey, I've never regretted it... and people I've known have regretted giving out personal info, so I think I've done quite well with that little rule.
Another thing to realise is that while most people in these chatrooms are pretty much norma, there are a minority that enjoy using the anonymity to cause trouble. A lot depends on which chatrooms you use, and the degree of moderator involvement. Its best to just check out a lot rooms and see which one suits you... each has their own character and atmosphere. The best ones tend to be ones in which the moderators actively participate.
So, there you have it, folks. Bit hard to share all my thoughts on chatrooms in this kinda space (it need
s an essay!), but to summarise:

use your common sense
don't give out personal info til you know someone
if you arrange to meet anyone, meet in a public place
choose your channels carefully

Thats about it for now!

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