How to Find a Good Chat Room

Chat rooms are a way to meet new people online.

Chat rooms are Internet-based discussion groups in real-time. Similar to message boards, chat rooms offer users a place to discuss a variety of topics with a wide range of participants in different locations worldwide. Users can talk verbally or type back and forth to one another and immediately receive responses. Chat rooms are frequently used in academic settings, as well as for business discussions or personal interest development. Some Internet users also use chat rooms to get advice on parenting or medical issues, or just to make new friends.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access
• Javascript

Instructions

1. Select a topic of interest to you. This can be a hobby, religion, foreign language, location or relationship status. While many chat rooms are general rooms that discuss multiple topics, more specific chat rooms tend to have greater participation by multiple chatters. General discussion chat rooms are frequently paraded by non-participating patrons, commonly referred to as "lurkers."

2. Perform a quick Internet search for a chat room that discusses your chosen topic. For example, if you want to meet with Catholic gardeners, your search should say "Catholic gardeners chat room." If you want to meet married people who speak Polish, do a search for "married Polish language chat room."

3. Browse the selection of chat rooms that your search brought up. Each chat room may offer different features, so choose one that best suits your personal chatting preferences. If you prefer voice and video chat, the chat room you choose should have web cam capabilities. If you prefer text-only chatting, any selected chat room should suffice. Some chat rooms, especially those with video capability, require that you install javascript or another free software application before the room will display on your computer. This will be noted on the chat room page with a link to the proper required application.

4. Enter the chat room and create a user name. This could be your real first name, but most chatters use an alias for personal privacy purposes. Take note of how quickly the other participants are speaking. A fast-paced chat room means plenty of conversation for you and creates a lively environment that will entertain you for a while. A less talkative chat room may be more difficult to enjoy, especially if the subject is one you are passionate or curious about.

5. Double-click someone's user name to begin chatting privately. Some chat room users prefer to discuss topics only in the general room, while others enjoy talking one-on-one with chat room participants. If you are uncomfortable with private chatting and the room you are in encourages it, try a few different chat rooms until you find one you are comfortable with.

Tips & Warnings

• Most chat rooms are free to use, but some websites charge chatters a registration fee. This is especially prominent on dating websites designed to help you find a mate. Whether you want to pay to use a chat room is up to you, but paid membership does not always guarantee a better chat room.

• Be cautious when divulging personal information, such as your real name, employer, address or any other information that makes you easy to find. Remember that you know nothing about the person you are speaking with and there is no guarantee that he is truly who he says he is.

References

• BBC: Ask Bruce: How Do I Find the Chat Room I Want?
• University of Southern California: Live Chat Room
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: What is a Chat Room?