Duly noted...All opinions are needed...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Visitors will see it and have to become members to post on it.
A MORE lively line of conversation with members will result from members seeing what's happening when they first get online.
The who's online list should be up there too.
The top of the forum list is still visible below the shoutbox and the shoutbox when placed at the bottom is several scrolls to even be able to see.
I LIKE IT ON TOP AND SHE DOES TOO!

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"Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well. The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively and without self delusion---In the long run these are the only people that count."Robert Heinlein

I don't have a strong opinion either way, although I tend to favor it on the top since I forget about it when it is on the bottom. Is it possible to come to some kind of consensus as to where we would like it for the sake of visitors, and then let members individually choose where they wish to display it?

I agree that a visitor checking out the site is going to scroll through it. The question is what would be the best first thing to have a visitor see. That is very important, I agree. And let's not forget that the last thing they see is important as well. People will remember the first and last things they see more than everything in the middle, and if MY memory serves me correctly I think the first is most important.

I'm pretty impatient and hard to impress when it comes to checking out a new website, so if it doesn't catch my interest within several seconds I'm most likely gone and I probably won't even see the last item on page one. I don't think I'm very unique in this surfing habit.

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I really do prefer it on bottom, or at least move the "Who's online" section to a point right above or right beneath it. I don't want to try to shout at anyone that isn't online...

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Initially I don't like it at the top. But, that could be due to the fact that I'm just not used to it being there. When it's at the bottom I do tend to forget about it. The shoutbox or a chat feature I also believe is good in fostering a sense of community as Spencer spoke of.

I'm here regardless of where the shoutbox is located.

Is there a way that the forums could take up 2/3 or 3/4 of the width of the screen & the shoutbox could take up the other 1/3 or 1/4 of the width of the screen? That way you could see both, the shoutbox & forums side by side, at the point you open the page. Plus the shoutbox could be visable even while posting in any thread. I don't know what the parameters of the program are --- just making a suggestion.

If you look at the top of the page --- there's a box divided similarly to what I've suggested. On the left it takes up about 2/3 to 3/4 of the width where it says political wrinkles & indicates what forums you're currently in --- the portion to the right, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the width of the screen where it says your screen name & last time you logged in etc...what if the entire page was set up that way with the forums taking the large portion to the left & the shoutbox taking the smaller portion to the right? Is that possible?

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http://thecourier.typepad.com/rightonthemark/

"To educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society." --- Theodore Roosevelt

The software modification doesn't have the option of side by side...Just a couple places to decide on the length...no width options...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I moved the Shoutbox back down to the bottom...

And just when you were getting used to it up top...

I'm working on other things for the top of the homepage...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

When you want the Shoutbox just hit your end key..

Another idea,setup a community page or chat page and put the Shoutbox there. That way it can be expanded to a FULL page..