[pigro]

I've never used a chatroom, but if I'm correct it either involves turning up at pre-agreed times to chat with specific people, or just turning up whenever and joining in with whoever else is around (or beating a sharp retreat if the only users around are ones you DON'T want to chat to ...)

I couldn't be bothered with the former, and I'm not sure how workable/appealing the latter would be given the relativly small number of 'active' members and the widely differing times at which they choose to post currently.

Personally, I quite like the 'post at leisure' format & I can't see myself spending much time on a live chat facility - though I dare say I'd suck it & see if it was offered.

Also, (I think this was pointed out in a thread a couple of years ago?) there may be a tendency for most of the interesting stuff to get aired only in the chat room & therefore only amongst the 'regulars' - as the live chat isn't captured for posterity, that may result in less (& less interesting) posts on the IM forum. Whether thats important depends on your own viewpoint, but I guess Italy mag's may be different to the chat users on that front? it's essentially the resource vs. community debate in miniature.