[justinthyme]

I don't subscribe to the 'it'll be trouble because ppl can't behave themselves, so don't do it' idea.

I would venture that most of us who are members of this forum are fairly mature in our thinking and behaviour. Certainly we share a keen interest in learning about guitar and furthering our playing abilities.

There are often lots of people online at any one time here - people with potentially a lot to share. As in any arena of polite conversation, steer away from the contentious subjects (we all know what they are) and you'll be fine. You can't legislate against disagreement, of course - its bound to occur, and does. But that's life.

The tone of this forum is set from the top and is polite and helpful, in the main. I believe chat should be given a chance to be the same. The idea of limiting it to members is a fair one, I think.

If folks don't want to participate in chat, that's fine - your call. But you *may* just be missing out on a great opportunity to discuss your and my favourite subject (or one of them, anyway) with a whole lot of others interested in exactly the same thing. After all, its just talking to your fellow humans via a computer rather than say, on the phone. Immediate response and flow of ideas - what's wrong with that?

Try it - if it causes more problems than its worth, dump it.

Just my two cents ...