Chat room vs Group Chat?

So Ive joined a few groups to get the feel of things - to keep apprised of special offers and new offerings and to get notices and all that.

most of them have a 'nospam' rule, but one group in particular has people waiting in it to pounce on any conversation (no matter how 'on topic') and tells them to take it to the chatroom.

I haven't asked what or where that is yet cause I get the info I want already.

I suppose Ive got 2 questions (or 3 or 4 heh) - why have a group with chat capabilities and then a chatroom for the same group of people? and Whats up with all the peeps that just love jumping in and saying 'take it to the chatroom!!'

ohh - how big is the 'mute' list - Im thinking about muting all the tools that jump right in and start harasing people about talking and stuff.

thanks

Good Question. Some groups are fairly big, so when you join it, they give you an option of joining another one if you like to chat and ask questions among members. The first one is the 'official' one. Some people enjoy belonging to a group and getting info on special events and such sent to them, but don't particularly like to 'chat', or have their screen filled up with a bunch of different group chat from all the groups they're in. Imagine belonging to 25 chatting groups and they all start to IM at the same time.

I belong to a group where they give you this option, so I chose to be in both (I like to chat ). I once used the wrong one to ask a question, was berated by a few, then had my Q answered by a kind soul. I was confused at the time, hadn't realized I hadn't chosen the right group... Then I felt kinda dumb
It happens, no biggy.

Just a guess, but it could be that you joined a group that actually consists of two groups: one that is supposed to be all quiet and where people just join for whatever reason, and the other group exists soley for idle chatter so that those who *want* the chatter have somewhere they can do that.

Unless it's explicitly stated that group chart is fine in the group charter, you're always best off if you assume the group isn't meant for group chat until you see others do otherwise (and not get torn to pieces for it ).

(And I just noticed that's basically what Isabeau said already )

The main reason is because group chat is a "captive audience". IE, if you are in the group, you WILL get group chat, whether you want it or not. It's not like normal chat systems, where being in the actual "chat room" is optional, even though you have all the other perks of access.

Many groups are there for notices/announcements, or as access controls to land, vendors, objects, etc, and people who join are not as such joining for chat. However, because of the "captive audience" issue, they disallow use of the group chat to prevent people from giving up the required access to group resources to get away from the "spam".

as a merchant, i think it's silly for any store to have an in-world group, and think most of them should go to devices like subscribe-o-matic, where they can send updates and notices without having to babysit chat spammers. unfortunately, most stores are too poor or too cheap (i suspect the latter) to pay for a system like this, and until LL gives an option to opt-out of group chat, there's not much to be done for it.

the only real reason to have an in-world group for a store is if you are going to close off your land for special group only sales, or allow group members special privileges like setting your home to that location.

I love the subscribe o matic

I make very little per month on sales, but this is on option I will not drop

I love how easy it is to use and no spam from ppl coming into the group to spam their store info (seen this happen in some well known groups) when that happens I im the owner and let them know about the subscribe o matic (some have switched to som, some stay with in world groups)

I agree, in part. I have my own system I am finishing up for communication/updates with customers. However, I still will have a "store group", which is there mainly for product support, and is optional.

There are uses for groups and group chat, but they really need to separate group chat from the group functionality. That's been one of the sorest of the sore spots with the group system for a long long time.