Hi, bye ... zzzz

[Deleted Member]

So this might be a controversial one for those they spend time in the forum and maybe I've just been unlucky thus far. Every time I go to check it all I see is everyone greeting or departing with very little to give an opinion on. Could we not scrap the whole Hi/bye and just put thoughts up for discussion?

[Mz****]

As much as hi's and byes can be a little annoying if there is a topic of conversation going on, because I understand it can be disruptive..it's, rather importantly I think, a way for new people using the rooms to reach out, newbies are often shy or a little intimidated, and a hello can feel welcoming, can help someone feel included, break the ice as it were, even if they don't have the confidence to join in initially they can often manage a hi, it gets their name &/or avatar noticed, and they start to recognise others, helping them to relax, get used to 'speaking', to find their confidence.

I've never been in the room when a topic has been presented for discussion and it's been shut down, unless it's been politics, which is against the rules anyway, rather, it's more that it's difficult to keep coming up with new subjects, so please, do speak up when in chat if you have ideas for discussion, or a question you want to ask, I'm sure it will be received well.