Chat box

[CountryLad]

It's unreasonable to expect people not to talk politics over the next few weeks, with a UK election coming up, but perhaps a Politics channel could be opened for the duration, please?

[Landprofits]

It's unreasonable to expect people not to talk politics over the next few weeks, with a UK election coming up, but perhaps a Politics channel could be opened for the duration, please?

I think I'll bump this thread. I agree with you that it's not unreasonable for a political disucssion to arise and that it is perhaps inevitable at the moment. I like to pop in for a chat myself and myself and everybody who are in there aren't talking betting all of the time.

However, what I would like to point out is that a few weeks ago I saw somebody come into the chatbox who had one side of a bet uncovered due to a book closing the line. IIRC this was a 4 figure bet and the line wasn't available at the majority of books!

He posted the issue in the chatbox highlighting that he was having trouble finding the line anywhere, and I think it was either Slim or Andy who managed to find it, saving the poster from a nasty result and demonstrating what a great feature the chatbox is.

Hope this doesn't sound like i'm trying to say "no off topic discussions!" which isn't the case, all i'm saying is, if there is a heated political debate going on and somebody needs some help.... perhaps it would be a time to pause the discussion

[U4EA]

http://www.donation4charity.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/gordon_brown_mp1.jpg

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Please don't post large images that break the forum! Far too high a resolution image in so many ways that image...
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--munk

[munk]

On the subject of a new chat channel for politics... well I'm sure it was a joke(?) but I don't think we can create more chat channels unfortunately (would be good if we could and there is the option to do it with this chat software but I think you have to pay for it perhaps). I don't think there's enough political chat on the chatbox to warrant it though!

EDIT: well, I have to admit I do see your point regards the chat about politics, it did go on for over 2 hours all in all. To be fair though when someone finally did ask about a betting related issue they did get an anwer straight away and that seemed to stop the political talk dead.

[musicbox]

However, what I would like to point out is that a few weeks ago I saw somebody come into the chatbox who had one side of a bet uncovered due to a book closing the line. IIRC this was a 4 figure bet and the line wasn't available at the majority of books!

He posted the issue in the chatbox highlighting that he was having trouble finding the line anywhere, and I think it was either Slim or Andy who managed to find it, saving the poster from a nasty result and demonstrating what a great feature the chatbox is.

Hope this doesn't sound like i'm trying to say "no off topic discussions!" which isn't the case, all i'm saying is, if there is a heated political debate going on and somebody needs some help.... perhaps it would be a time to pause the discussion

Spot on and I think this is what any use of the chat comes down to really regardless of whether people are talking music, pollitics, hunky men, vavavoom ladies, poker or whatever... that if someone requires urgent help or they just have a question about a WR or whatever, they won't be afraid of posting in the chat to 'disturb' the chat and that people will put aside whatever the subject of the moment is to help the person out. And to be fair, from what I've seen that does tend to happen here as people are generally respectful of others.

[Fella]

If I can just chip in, I'm certainly guilty of ranting on about politics (or other off-topic-topics....) far to much so I'll attempt to police my own chat more effectively in future...

[CountryLad]

Nah, we all go off topic all the time mate. It's half the fun of the chat box! I was just concerned that it was looking like it would drown out everything else 'till May!

[Landprofits]

So who's gonna win the election then?

(That was a joke, please don't reply)

[Andy]

Nobody did anything "wrong", although the large image was probably overkill please dont post any pictures that big again. The "chat" box is there for chat and you can talk about whatever you want (within reason).

The politics chat did go on a bit but that was the only problem with it, if a few people had have been chatting about the last Summer holiday they had in Majorca for two hours, it also would have been a bit much. The problem was the length of time spent on the topic rather than the topic, and even then I use the term "problem" loosely.

We cant have a dedicated politics chat box, although by all means in the Day to Day life section start a politics discussion thread. You can bet on the results as well if you want Betfair have many markets available. If/As the chat box becomes more active or too active though it is something that will be looked at. At the moment it is a good balance.

Thankyou for the feedback.