These are the reasons that I think nobody shows up in chat.
1-They have tried chat back when it was just a shout box more or less...did not get a reply so they said screw it.
2-They are not used to the idea of chating with a complete stranger and are a bit scared.
3-They have no idea why they cannot view the new chat. [you need the latest java plugin for your browser]
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Try these tips to insure you catch someone in chat.
1-When you login right click on chat button located at the top of your screen...select "Open link in new window"...now you will have 2 windows open so you can browse the forum and check to see if anyone has said anything in chat so check often while signed in.
2-A lot of people don't have clue how to read the computer chronograph the chat uses so what I do is just post a smiley in chat and not the time of my post in relation to the post before mine. example: [06:53] Gemini37:See the reasons I mentioned in that thread and ask yourself which one am I?
the post above me said..[03:48] andylo: ... so please begin the poll announced here: http://peachyforum.com/forums/thread/324695.aspx
Looking at the times you can figure that nobody is currently online in chat because the last post was 3+ hours before me.
Had the post above been said min or two before [06:50] then that is a good indicator someone is online in chat now.
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We need a real-time notification when we recieve a PM. If we had that then when someone wanted to chat with someone that was signed in they could just go over at the same time when the recieved a PM invitation to chat.