Pownce!

[illadria]

Okay guys. We all love each other, and have drifted so much in the past, but keep coming back, peeking in, etc, as Stormy has been so generous as to keep this site up and running. It would really be awesome if there was a easy way to keep in contact in a more constant way.

When I first was invited to Pownce, I really wasn't all that sure about it. Who wants more programs to keep track of. But once I started on it, the very first thing that came to my mind was that this would be the best way to keep in contact with my old Tolkien family.

What it is is basically the most unobtrusive IM program ever. Something of a cross between a forum and a chat log. Imagine if your friend wants to IM you, but you're either not online or are busy. They just post a note in Pownce and then you see it at your own leisure.

The link for it should show up in my signature, I hope.

[Stormrider]

Illy:

It did show up in your signature just as you said. And your name there is deSalire if I understand your signature message correctly. They have a link to html code to give you a Pownce icon to add to your signature, too. But I don't think html works on this forum. The sideways carats are used < and > instead of the brackets [ and ].

This is the first I've heard of Pownce. How did you discover it? Does it have a buddy list like AIM so you only have your own friends listed and they are the only ones who would see your posts, messages, IMs?

This forum has a chatroom, but you need to load the most updated version of Java to your PC and several of our members can't get in it. That was why we tried the Chatsy chatroom. It worked well enough but we had to keep posting in it periodically to keep it active...and alas! we didn't keep up with it and will need to create a new one if we want another chat in the future. I wish everyone could use the new chatroom with this forum. sigh!

[Stormrider]

I was looking at the website and they are a young group of people who have developed this system. pownce.com/about/ I wonder if it is compatible with Mac users, too.

[illadria]

Yeah, it didn't work in my signature nearly as I wanted lol there is a nifty little button you can post as a link to your own pownce so that people can join and find you with ease. So the way I have it in my signature right now is the best way I could figure out how to do it.

I found Pownce because I was invited to it. And when I first got on I honestly couldn't see how it could be of any real use. That opinion probably lasted all of a couple of hours though.

I am almost positive it works with Mac. I couldn't actually see a yes or no to that question anywhere on the site, but when I look at the applications associated with it, most say they work with MAC, Windows, and Linux.

Yes, there is a buddy list. And you have the option of separating your buddies into different catagories. So, you can post messages to one person, to your entire friends list, or to just a specific group.

I like it much better than traditionl chat rooms because if any of your friends are unavailable when you make a comment they can always reply to you later on when they finally get around to seeing it.

[illadria]

Nevermind. Pownce, as good a program as it is, is closing down.

[Stormrider]

Oh! Dear! How long has it been up and running? It sounds like the old MSN forum where I have to move the old archive site over to Multiply--some weekend after the holidays--I want to make sure I have several hours to do it just in case it takes that long!

[Androga Erindalant]

I didn't know Pownce either. I wouldn't have any problem with trying, pity that it's closing before we could try it.

This topic does made me think that we haven't got some "contact" thread, like there were a few on the old Msn board. I use Msn messenger, Yahoo and IMVU (3D chat). I have homepages on Facebook, MySpace and IMVU. I'm way too few on those homepages, but I will be notified whenever I get a message there. Then we have a way to find each other on those places we've already joined (and perhaps we are persuaded to join some new ones too ).

The sites Friend list can already provide e-mail addresses and a homepage. Yet some people use several e-mail addresses (I do, to some extent). As far as I know, the list can only display one homepage, and some people own several of these. So a thread could expand the Friend list possibilities.

Furthermore, if a thread like that would be made, I think it's best started in The Prancing Pony forum. In a protected Friends only area our personal info isn't thrown out in full public. I'm not even sure if the Friend list is full public or limited to logged in Friends (will check that as soon as I log out). What do you think?


Edit: Okay, I just checked. The link to the member list isn't shown when logged off, BUT, it seems that anyone can display everyone's profile, just by clicking the user name. (at "Active Users In The Past 24 Hours" and basically in everyone's post). So I guess the profiles aren't totally "safe"

[illadria]

I think Pownce was around for a year. It's closing is not due to failure but to being bought out by Six Apart (which some of you may know, has been responsible for ruining several fine systems).

The group that got me going on Pownce has moved over to Plurk which seems to be suitable. Plurk is a social networking system like Pownce (some say similar to Twitter. It operates like a timeline as it displays all your friend's posts, but there's an option for a mobile view which I find preferable, which is just a standard top to bottom listing. Think of it as a cross between a chat and a forum. Some people may see no benefit in a system like that. Others will find it invaluable as a central integration location of all your online networks.

Instead of going to Myspace, Facebook, and all your various forums every day, you just pop in there (or leave it open the whole time you're online) and have a bit of a chat just like being in a chatroom or having all your AIM chats going in one manageable window.

I will say that no one I know started in Plurk and loved it right away, everyone took at least a day, some longer, to get used to it. Oh, but I'll also say that it's actually LESS confusing in there than it used to get back in the day when The Prancing Pony was at full capacity... and can be just as wild and fun (especially if we're all there together!).

I'm not sure how or if this link works, but I'd love to see you all join Plurk. No pressure, just give it a try if you have time or feel inclined. Thanks!

plurk.com/redeemByURL?from_uid=3298327&check=1370625216&s=1

My username there is deSalire

[Androga Erindalant]

I just joined Plurk too. I'm there under the name Androga. It's been fun on my first day! ;D Anyway, I hope to meet more TR friends in any of those other networks, if you're out there.

[Desi Baggins]

I have not heard of plurk, pownce or twitter??? I have facebook and myspace...I am liking facebook cuz it is much more about just sharing and staying close to friends....myspace is more a glamor look at me thing because you can do up you profile any way you want.........

Anyone have myspace or facebook?

[Androga Erindalant]

Facebook: Philippe Roo
MySpace: Androga

I need more friends on both! So far I haven't been very busy with both, but I'm trying to change. ;D

[Desi Baggins]

My screen name for myspace is: Splat
and facebook: Marcia Serotzke Pal

I sent out friend requests to you!

[Androga Erindalant]

I accepted your requests, and I polluted your walls already! ;D

[Desi Baggins]

You didn't pollute them! It is always so nice to get comments and chat!

[Androga Erindalant]

Sometimes I express myself in unusual ways lol. It's indeed nice to give and get comments. Hope to see you more around again! ;D