It's not used by many but nevertheless, a group of LJN members get together in the evenings for a bit of light hearted banter after a busy day at work and let their hair down.
Topics are not always confined to landscaping or gardening and it's never been intended that chat should replace the forum when it comes to asking important business questions.
For a start there's no stickability or searchability for chat topics and when the screen gets refreshed at the start of the day, whatever's been written is wiped away forever.
Unfortunately, at times, there has been a need for a small amount of moderation and I have to admit that is something I've never really wanted to or thought would need in a professional network.
I've been awoken by telephone calls ranging from 2-4.30 in the morning: some calls are from genuinely concerned members who feel the chat is getting out of hand and other calls from chat participants who feel grieved because they feel someone else is dominating chat.
I have to make it clear that it's a tiny tiny problem but nevertheless I feel the tiny tiny few are stopping the majority from enjoying what is and could be a very valuable tool.
Do we need chat or should we concentrate on the forum or if chat remains, should it be up to the individual to respect other participants' views and right to be there?
Views: 14
Replies
I would have deleted the account of those that rung you in the early hours.
I feel that this chat is used predominently by people who do not do much gardening/ landscaping business at all as they are on for 6 hrs a day and many come on at 11pm at night.
i do not use it anymore as nothing is said of any interest to me : mainly drivel again for the last 3 nights ive looked on.
they are just socialists in my opinion talking about dogs & chocolate.
i have run a business for nearly 10 years and have invested every penny into my lively-hood, it is my work , my job, my life, my hobby , my breadline and my future.
people with arrogance and attitude have ruined it for many people who wish to come on and talk to us to ask questions regarding this network/ business / the industry.
i dont see the problem with a variety of discussions but when it is losing you members / advertising / income due to people talking nonsense and arguing i find it disrespectful to you phil.
www.gardens4u.co.uk
i agree with gaynor and rob,
i've been using chat and ljn less recently partly because i have work to be doing and i like to keep my own garden looking good. i see chat is a place to have a chat and the forum to discuss work related topics. chat can be good for quick advice and instant answers. one of the things that puts me off using it more often is the very petty nit picking that occasionally takes place. a few members like myself leave their computers on 24/7 and leave ljn open and keeps you signed in but i'm not at the laptop 24/7
as i said a while ago when a post like this was up that you need some of the more long standing and honest members of ljn who are always contributing with good honest and helpfull replys to be moderators, even if they dont get involved in the chat all the time but some one else who could pop on to tone things down or even hand out a 24h mute if some one is going to off the rails,
i personaly have only used the chat a handfull of times but when i have it was a good laugh and i enjoyed getting involved in the conversation and was not made to feal excluded or pushed to one side, but thats just what i have seen on there and to be honest again i have not been a member for that long either
Although I haven't been a LJN member for long (well a week lol)
But I quite like the chat facility, It gives me chance when I'm not out working to speak to like minded people (gardeners) about topics we are generally interested in. If people are getting upset about comments or topics, then dont use it, when you click the chat button its your choice to stay or not.
Well thats my 2p's worth
Cheers
Chris
So time to say our bit.
Does LJN need Chat? Well obviously not as less than 2% of the total LJN Membership use the facilty on a regular basis. There are many other brilliant resources for business on LJN.
Why do we use Chat? If you are a Landscaper and had a room full of 20 potential customers wanting their gardens done, would you hang around for a lead? We supply Landscapers and Garden Designers with plants, and all on chat fit that category. 20 potential customers in one room is very tempting.
Have we ever been attacked, or felt intimidated on chat? Yes
What happened? We fought back as nobody walks over us. Yes we regreted fighting back as we lowered our standards to those that know nothing and just wanted an arguement.
So walk away? We say no, why give in to bullying. We have spoken with several LJN Members regarding this in recent weeks, and most we spoke to no longer use this facilty, or even worse LJN. So lost LJN Members?
The answer? We put forward two options.
1. It would be an important Business tool for us to lose, but our view is suspend Chat for an undefined period. Phil can look at the hits LJN gets and see if this has any major effect on traffic to the site.
2. Regulate from within. Phil has enough work to do building LJN and Creating Landscapes so that we all gain. So he appoints 3 LJN Members that use the facilty to monitor it and report back to him any issues and recomendations for any action.
Phil's vision has made LJN what is today, we all need to step forward, help him and back him.
i would go with t&s with the regulate from within as i personaly have never seen or been on the reciving end of any small minded people on chat but im not saying it never happens.
its nice to let lose but you do need to know your own limmit and as bridget says "sometimes things read could be taken in different terms" its like text messages with out listning to the way some one is saying some thing its hard to take writen words how there ment, so maybe we should all be more responsable for what happens in chat because i think to lose that option would be a shame.
I'd like to make clear that I never want to sterilise debate. I think LJN has become what its tackling of tough subjects. Whether others choose to see it or not, it's forced change in our industry and everyone to a man and women must be able to speak up for what they believe in.
I think it's personality clashes rather than any policy or technical issues that are the problem.
As I said in the opening this is a 'tiny tiny problem' but nevertheless when it becomes distracting from other important tasks (or sleep) then it has to be dealt with.
Self moderation has got to be the first way to deal with any bad feeling - just walk away is my view. If I get involved in moderation I have to be careful I'm not acting on a complaint from someone who's just got irritated at the other person's point of view.
I like Gary's idea of an industry related chat. This is something we trialled (both voice and type) using Skype groups when LJN started in 2008. It worked moderately well and this was discussed again at the beginning of this year (in chat funny enough) but Skype have stopped supporting large groups so it would make it tough.
I could probably host a large Skype conference call and save the audio.
Skype text chats would be a better tool because of the facility to save the text from the chat sessions and turn them into a forum post (that way the content can be useful long after the talking has stopped).
I've looked at other tools for this but they come with a price and I'd have to be sure the cost was justifiable.
Although I host it, the chairperson can be new every week.
I'm happy to support this.
I've kept out of this for a while, but I feel it's a few who ruin it for others, compounded by other's getting on the band wagon (who by their own admission don't use it) creating a far bigger issue than really exists.
I see no need to police it unless the "chat" is racist, sexist or totally offensive or illegal activities (!) are taking place.
If you don't like chat, don't use it. Simple. Don't ruin it for others...Just respect each persons right to speak openly and plainly.
I quite often use Chat if I'm stuck in the office working during the day, quoting, pulling my hair out or trying to find info, but to be labeled as someone "who does not do much gardening/landscaping" I find really rich !! Why should I be labelled as such just as I happen to run a business with staff that means I am sometimes office based. 'Pot calling kettle black" springs to mind.
Phil, can Chat be seen by guests or non-members ? If it can, that is something that should be reviewed. If not, then I struggling to see how it can affect the outside view of LJN ....