Chat room

Completely agree with tri in the post above. People will begin to lose faith if the service cant be provided.

Suggest a rethink

agree with this. if someone is trying to log in but can't because the room is full, this could be the difference between relapsing and not.

assumedly reduced the number because otherwise the room would be overcrowded; I think everyone would rather have an overcrowded room that helps ALL the people that need help as opposed to turning people away....

A limit of 12 people is not enough especially with it only being open for one hour a day. I attend nearly daily not always because I have to but to see if someone on there needs some support. How will that person who needed that support be feeling now after being told to come back

Hello all

We are sorry to anyone who was unable to get into chat. We've recognised that chat has become busier in recent months. Above 12 the room gets harder to manage, and some members may not be heard. We are planning to open more chat rooms during the day as well, so users can also choose a different time of day to access the chat room.

Again, sorry to anyone who has been unable to get into chat. Keep trying. You might find it easier to get a place in the room if you try as close as possible to the start of the chat hour.

Thank you all for your support of the chat rooms.

Forum Admin

Forum admin wrote:

Hello all

We are sorry to anyone who was unable to get into chat. We've recognised that chat has become busier in recent months. Above 12 the room gets harder to manage, and some members may not be heard. We are planning to open more chat rooms during the day as well, so users can also choose a different time of day to access the chat room.

Again, sorry to anyone who has been unable to get into chat. Keep trying. You might find it easier to get a place in the room if you try as close as possible to the start of the chat hour.

Thank you all for your support of the chat rooms.

Forum Admin

When are those different times going to become active? There's clearly a need for the help right now as you've said yourself.

Might help to better explain what your planning? This is the first any of us are hearing of it and it feels cruel to close the room to users who need the help and leave a carrot dangling.

Hi triangle and all,

Thank you all for contributing on this thread and for your feedback on the chat rooms.

I was sorry to hear that some of you had difficulties getting into the chat room and that it was really unsettling for you. Many apologies. We will post more specific information about additional chats in the next couple of days. We aim to have more chats running from next week.

As already mentioned, it has been increasingly difficult to involve new chat members and members who find it more difficult to make themselves heard in chat, due to "overcrowded" rooms. Please keep in mind though, that anyone requiring support can still contact us directly on the Netline http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/netline#.VtQgAunct5g or on the Helpline on 0808 80 20 133 at the time when chats are running

Your feedback is much valued and many of you have made some excellent points. We will address all the points that you have raised in the coming days.

Hope that's OK.

Kind wishes

Gabriele

I've not used the chat much as I found it to fast..lol...may be my age...would it be possible to have something like Facebook's idea...so we can see who is online now...and start our own conversations in real time...if you could somehow show who was actually on the forum now....then we could talk as much as we wanted...when we wanted...if that makes sense....I suppose it's all down to costs....but just an idea....I know if I got an urge...or a down moment it would be great to come on here...see who's about and chat away....

How ridiculous having a room for 100 people and then having the d**n nerve to reply with, in my words, when it gets busy we'll slash the numbers. That is simply backward thinking. Any normal person with an ounce of common sense would increase the number of spaces the busier it becomes. This chatroom is for the UK, a whole country, and it's cut to 12 people, 11 users and 1 MOD. I say again "ridiculous." You also come out with "Above 12 the room gets harder to manage, and some members may not be heard." which again is a crock because the room was initially set up for 100, and they have MORE chance of being heard in a room of 100 than not being able to get into the chatroom in the 1st place.

I believe we're all adults here so a little piece of treating us as such would be appreciated

Hi Admin I agree with all the above comments that the new rule of 12 people is unacceptable. I have been attending chat room most nights since November when finding out my son has a gambling addiction. It has been invaluable to me. I have had great support from other members and learned how to help my son with this addiction. I am usually the only family/friends member on chat so feel I bring an alternative viewpoint to members. Since the 12 person rule I have decided not to attend chat as often as I would hate to think I was taking up the place of a cg who needed advice and support at that time. I know there is plans of additional chat rooms during the day which may suit some people but not everyone. I think gamcare should rethink the 12 person rule in the evening chat. I have never seen a problem of an overcrowded room since I started. Why change something when it clearly was working for the people who were using it. Wcid

I, too, agree with my fellow members that a chatroom limited to 12 is unreasonable. On the nights I have joined chat there has been a maximum of 11 and everyone is heard and given constructive support. There is a warmth and camaraderie among some members who are familiar with each other and new members are always warmly welcomed. I know when I first joined I didn't say much but felt at ease watching the chat roll along seamlessly and I felt encouraged to join in. Restricting the numbers will mean that someone will be unable to join the room in their hour of need and I feel that this may lead to that person(s) relapsing. Please reconsider this.

I have just decided to leave the Chatroom early tonight not because i wanted to but because it was full and thought someone might need it more than me. I just hope that others on there can give the same advice and support I would have given them.

KTF

Just show the need I have been trying to get back in for around 20 mins now but the room is full. We need more spaces

I too agree with all the above comments. When I first started going in the chat room I was happy to sit back and just read the posts and comments people was making. I have found that chatting to like minded people is aiding my recovery. It's a shame that not everybody can get in when they really feel that they need the support or are able to offer support. I have noticed that new people coming in do get a chance to chat and get support. The room really needs to be open to more people than 12. I agree and like Loxxie's idea above about being able to see others that are available and the option to chat to them.

Just think it would be a good idea tilly...some sort of way we can all see who is "" live on here ''...if any of us are facing ' urges"...or some sort of problem......I do hope us gamblers are listened to on this....but am I right in thinking it all comes down to funding