Freeserve My Introduction to Chatrooms (Forums & messageboards in general)

Member Name: Multtinems

Product:	Forums & messageboards in general
Date:	04/12/04 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Meet people, Talk freely, Helps the lonely

Disadvantages: Idiots, Perverts, People can take it too seriously

I wanted to tell you of my experiences and of how I got into using chatrooms. Freeserve are and have always been my ISP. On the whole Freeserve/Wanadoo is a very informative easy to use server. My Review concentrates on the Chatroom as that is what I have most experience in. I first used the chatroom's in the year 2000.

Getting to Freeserve/Wanadoo Chat:

When you log onto the Freeserve/Wanadoo home page you are met with a huge quantity of options. First go to the left hand column and select 'chat and forums' then go again to the left hand column and select 'chat'. You are then met with several options on this page. These are to do with what age group or peer group you'd like to converse with. Select say for example '40 somethings'. This takes you directly to the log in page, for the first time ever you'll have to register a nickname and your email address this enables Freeserve/Wanadoo to send you a password.Once equipped with these you can log in straight away. If you have no Java configurations on your pc this is the point where you will be invited to install them. Which doesnt take too long.
Once in the chatroom there are various options of font colour and avatars to put beside your name. The simply put your text intot he long box at the bottom, send, and you're away. You also can make yourself a profile page and a facelink to show members in prvate your picture if you so wish.There are various rules and the rooms are moderated. The main rules being no swearing (supposedly) and no advertising. These can result in an instant ban varying in length.

My personal experiences are as follows:

I found astounding the fact that you could chat to strangers in any guise you chose. So I started to fill out the registration form with some trepidation after all I'd heard about these places!
I logged on for the first time and got largely ignored but was fascinated by the names and comments and strangely drawn back for more. The second time I got brave and spoke. My name seemed to draw attention 'what did it mean?'.I had to explain....When I had to choose a nickname I found it ridiculous, of course now I know its obviously to protect anonimity. So I typed 'Me'. Of course Me wasnt accepted so I typed 'Mine' of course that was and I was saddled with a daft nickname then. But from then on I was hooked. I couldn't get enough of the place.
The rooms used to get very full and of an evening flew with everybodies comments which was quite hard to keep up with. It consisted of members some of whom obviously knew each other. There were profiles you could fill in all about yourself and the common question from members of the chatroom was A/S/L (Age, Sex, Location)
You would spend time on line thinking of witty comments to get the lol factor (lol=Laugh Out Loud)which was a comment put by other members meaning what you'd said was funny ) I felt my confidence rising along with my self esteem. Oh I was hooked well and truly. I found astounding the fact that you could chat to strangers in their own homes whilst you were in the comfort of yours. Of course met the idiots 'are you wearing any knickers?' But a few wise quips soon sorted them, I wasnt going to be abused or insulted in my own home! I felt my confidence rising along with my self esteem. Oh I was hooked well and truly.

So the Pro's and Cons are self explanitory the Room basically is what you make of it. Don't allow yourself to become a ' victim'. It can also be taken far too seriously. They are only words after all. Basic common sense tells you not to divulge personal information to strangers (ie address and phone number) But I think the individual is the best to judge whether its safe or not to do so. There are plenty of warning's to remind you on the site.It can be an enjoyable medium not everyone's cup of tea...... But hey I met my Husband on there so thanks Freeserve

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