Etiquette for Gay Chat Rooms

Gay Chat Room Etiquette

by David Abrehart

Gay chatrooms are extremely popular places to cruise and hang out with other guys and you’ll find them on many gay dating sites, including Mothership.  The great thing about gay chat is that it is live, generally cruisy and you can socialise with several guys at once.

To run smoothly, the best gay chat will adhere to a chat room etiquette:

1 When you enter the room say hi.  When you leave say goodbye.  When someone else enters say hi to them.  Exceptions would be if they’ve already been welcomed, or it is a very cruisy sex room where it doesn’t feel appropriate.

2 Be short and to the point.  Chat isn’t the place for long rambling sentences.

3 Keep on topic if the room is themed.  On Mothership there are general chatrooms and sex chatrooms.

4 Use abbreviations and emoticons if your chatroom has them.  Mothership has a range of emoticons which are very useful in expressing your feelings succinctly and light-heartedly.

5 Don’t use capitals – it is the online equivalent of SHOUTING.

6 Remember you’re dealing with real guys with real feelings.  Be considerate to others, don’t be pushy, don’t humiliate or treat them rudely and be patient with newcomers.

7 If you’re going to be away from the room for a while use brb (be right back)

8 Address your comments to a specific guy if you are talking to him.  On Mothership in the Club Class chatrooms you can use whispers and send a chat message privately to that person if you want.

9 Don’t be abusive to others or enter into arguments with others (‘flaming’).  If you do receive abuse then report it using the facility provided.  On Mothership you can also use the ignore button.   If you do witness an argument or abuse keep it in perspective – this is live chat, and sometimes it is going to happen.

10 Don’t use the chatrooms for commercial gain ‘Spam’.  If you see this then report abuse.

Above all remember that gay chat is generally centred around 2 things – fun and sex!  Keep it in perspective, treat other guys right and have a good attitude.  If you do you’re sure to make new friends, and maybe meet up in RL (real life) too.

What do you think?  Post your comments below!

03.03.2009

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