Feature to show when someone is online.

1. 72

   Hauntyposted 11 years ago

   Please, make a feature that lets us know if someone is online (or not) when we visit the person's profile, or tell me why it is not a good idea.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I feel it would be a bad idea.  The recent changes (QAP etc) are designed to emphasize the fact that HubPages is a place to write articles with earnings potential - not a place for writers to network.  The networking opportunities here are a bonus, not the site's raison d'etre.
      
      We already have enough trouble with new members thinking the site is all about writing for each other, not for a wider public - I think more of those type of features would only make that worse.

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         Hauntyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I can't argue with that. If it has been the experience of HubPages that too much interaction among members is counter-productive, then let's not make such a feature.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            It is, actually, because if writers focus on interacting with the community instead of reaching out to communities outside, they will be less successful. HubPages can't make money from advertising if we all stay in our own little world!

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      relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So, you support enabling web stalkers and tracking people online...
      
      I don't see this thread ending on a positive note.

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2. 71

   Reality Bytesposted 11 years ago

   At the top of the profile, it states when the member joined and the time of their last activity.  Pretty close, a little green or red symbol near here should not be hard.

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3. 72

   Hauntyposted 11 years ago

   Giving us an option to indicate our status would even bee better, I think. It could be online/offline by dafault and then you could set it to available/afk when you are online to indicate whether you can be talked to.

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4. 77

   Greekgeekposted 11 years ago

   But why is it anyone's business?
   
   I realize that the web has changed a lot in the past ten years, but I still don't think that my online status and activities are the business of my readers. It feels to me almost as intrusive as requiring book authors to print their phone number on all their books and have an answering machine message that informed readers whether they were home or out.
   
   YMMV, of course.

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      Hauntyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is one of those problems that can easily be resolved by an opt-out setting. If you are interested in finding and talking to ppl in real time, this feature is most useful. However, if you don't think this is appropriate for a writing site like HP, you can disable it. Personally, I would love to be able to reach like-minded people instantly when they are online. I think this is one of the functions of the net that should be utilized in a community site.
      
      On a side note, you started by saying you realize that the web changed. I noticed that too. People are now using so many abbreviations that I don't seem to be able to fully understand something without going to Google first.
      
      YMMV, ofc.

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      moonlakeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      agree.

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5. 97

   LongTimeMotherposted 11 years ago

   I can't see any reason for indicating who is online. If there was Personal Messaging and a chat room, yes. But what's the point for writers producing articles? We are hoping to attract readers from the outside world ... whether or not we are online at the time.

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6. 81

   jimmythejockposted 11 years ago

   I don't really want people to know when I am online, especially when I am writing. I already have to turn of chat on my facebook most of the time because I get question after question from new hubbers when it is on.

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      WryLiltposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My thoughts exactly. I come here to escape Facebook.

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7. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   Yes, why is it anyone's business?  Many hubbers stay logged on but aren't present.  It's not a necessary feature.  That kind of feature has never appealed to me.

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8. 84

   Robinposted 11 years ago

   Thanks, Huanty for the suggestion.  We have discussed this in the past and decided it wasn't something we wanted to implement.  Hubbers can email one another and many connect via Facebook.  That's probably the best way to communicate with one another.  Have a great day! 

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