Isn't that what the Menewshan Nation is for?

Menewsha Nations is indeed where you make threads specifically for chatting, but it's not the only place where chatting is allowed. We don't permit bumping, so chatting is the method most people use to keep their threads on the first page. We don't permit people to create threads just for chatting in the exchange - their threads must be made for buying and selling - but there's no reason why people can't hang out in their exchange threads.

This is often true in Menewsha. In quests, your thread must be dedicated to a quest. In Art Shops, your thread must be made to sell art. However, in both of these locations, it's common for people to talk about things unrelated to their quests or their art. As long as the thread continues to hold the purpose that it was created for, this conversation is fine.

The same, of course, would not be true for threads in Media, Life Issues, or Debates, simply because those threads are created for the sole purpose to talk about something (unlike where the threads are created to sell, buy, or organize), and as such would not be continuing to hold their purposes if the conversation strayed.

This has been a topic of debate for a long time now. We've decided to keep the exchange open for chatting for now, but you never know what will happen in the future. It was discussed in the staff room at length, and I think it was also discussed in Site Feedback among the users.

People like to chat to keep their thread active in the Exchange because it's a fast-moving forum (moreso than the others at least). You can bump once your shop moves off the first page, but lots of people would just rather chat to keep their threads up.

The Exchange is probably the most visited forum, and I would even go so far as to say it's the lifeblood of the site. Now, I don't hang out in the exchange really, but I know a LOT of people do, and I think if we didn't allow chatting in the Exchange, there would be an uproar. XP

I'm sure some exchangers/staffers will be happy to share their opinions on this as well, as this has become quite a debated subject.

With the possibility of a marketplace, this should be less of a problem for users who aren't chatty, as you can just buy/sell in the market instead of wading through threads.

EDIT: And yes, Cami's logic on this is also true. We allow chatting in a lot of places that aren't Nations. Art shops, quests and charities are some of those...

OK, thanks.

Originally Posted by Sizzla

I think if we didn't allow chatting in the Exchange, there would be an uproar. XP

You're probably right :sweat:

There's also the small issue of how would we stop people from chatting?

People complain about users having nothing to sell or buy, and just using their exchange thread as a hangout. But really there's no solution to it. We can't bring out rules stating that unless you have something to sell, or want to buy something, you cannot use your exchange thread.
Because for a start, that's just too harsh, and secondly it would be impossible to enforce. People would find ways around it, by saying they wanted to buy an item that no-one's selling for a start..or one that they have nowhere near enough gold for. By saying they are selling an item but asking an excessive price for it so no-one will buy it..

Realistically, things just have to stay the way that they are until we have an alternative in place, then it won't matter so much.

If chatting wasn't allowed in the exchange, then I would probably quit menewsha xD;;

I agree that's it's annoying seeing exchange threads without any buying/selling purposes, but when you're actually buying/selling something I don't see anything wrong with chatting to keep a thread alive.