View source for Talk:Online chat

{{merged-from|Synchronous computer-mediated communication|27 December 2024}}
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== Imprecise terminology ==

I've looked around at various sources and found that "online chat" is often used to mean [[instant messaging]], but can sometimes refer to any kind of [[synchronous conferencing]], typically in [[chat room|chat rooms]]. Is "online chat" really a clearly defined concept that differs from these other concepts? [[User:Helpful Raccoon|Helpful Raccoon]] ([[User talk:Helpful Raccoon|talk]]) 08:18, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

== Merge to [[Synchronous conferencing]] and move usable content to various articles ==
{{Discussion top|result='''Merge''' for overlap, merging [[Synchronous conferencing]] to the more commonly-used term ([[Online chat]]) on the grounds of ''least surprise''. [[User:Klbrain|Klbrain]] ([[User talk:Klbrain|talk]]) 12:40, 27 December 2024 (UTC)}}
This isn't exactly a standard merge proposal, but I'm not sure what to do with this article. "Online chat" does not have a clear definition, and nothing in this article seems to cover what [[Instant messaging]] and [[Synchronous conferencing]] do not. The article's current state is a jumbled mess that mainly focuses on [[instant messaging]], but also includes [[synchronous conferencing]] and [[computer-mediated communication]] in general. 

This article is also a level-5 vital article, so it would also have to be removed from the list if it is merged.

Side note: this article was created at a time when "instant messaging" primarily referred to private messaging on commercial apps such as [[ICQ]], excluding [[IRC]] and similar anonymous, group-based chat services. This definition is outdated, and instant messaging now refers to any kind of real-time text-based computer communication. Online chat encompassed what is now called instant messaging. [[User:Helpful Raccoon|Helpful Raccoon]] ([[User talk:Helpful Raccoon|talk]]) 18:01, 7 May 2024 (UTC)

:I agree that this article is currently very unclear of what it's about. I do think [[Synchronous computer-mediated communication]] is probably the right article to merge it to. However more needs to be done to make it easier to read ([[WP:TECHNICAL]]) and elements of the current introduction of this Online chat article will have to be in the synchronous article after merge. I agree with your definition of IM today although as mentioned on this Online chat article, ''MUDs and online games'' is a perfect example of something that is synchronous conferencing but is not normally considered an "instant messenger". These points will have to be clearly explained in a simple way and also it must have links to related articles like IM, [[videotelephony]] and [[text messaging]] (I am happy to assist with that after a merger is done). [[User:Sucrehypsy|Sucrehypsy]] ([[User talk:Sucrehypsy|talk]]) 14:00, 4 August 2024 (UTC)
::'''Support''' the idea of a merge (for overlap), but suggest that [[Online chat]] is the better target because it is the more natural English term - the one that readers would be least [[WP:SURPRISE|surpised]] to see. [[User:Klbrain|Klbrain]] ([[User talk:Klbrain|talk]]) 11:11, 16 November 2024 (UTC)
{{Discussion bottom}}
:{{merge done}}