1. How do get in to the chat room?

You must first register for a login on the message board. Once you log in to the message board, click the CHAT(#) link in the top menu line. The (#) indicates the number of people in chat.

2. When it the best time to find people?

The chat room is usually busiest between 9:00PM PST - 1:00AM. However people come in 24 hours a day. if you hang around the chat room for 15 minutes, you should see someone else.

1. What are the technical system requirements for chat?

The chat room uses Adobe Flash Player.

a. You must have Flash installed, which can be found at:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

b. If you have an outbound firewall (like ZoneAlarm), you must open port: 51127 (unconfirmed)

c. If your web cam works outside the chat room, but not in it, open outbound firewall port: 1935 (unconfirmed)

2-1. Clicking CHAT link brings up a blank window.

Close that window and click the chat link again. The new window should show a graphic in the center saying Connecting...

2-2. I am having difficulties connecting to chat.

If you have never successfully connected to chat from the computer you are using, check that you have the latest Adobe Flash Player from FAQ 1a, and upgrade if necessary.

Next, if you are have:
hardware firewall : broadband router;
software firewall : windows firewall, zone alarm, norton internet security;
proxy server, netnanny, or other internet limiting applications...

Shut them off one at a time and retry the CHAT link after each one. Do not turn anything back on until you get chat working - that is because there may be more than one thing causing the problem.

Once you get the chat application working, then you can turn them back on one at a time, retesting chat each time. This will identify the problem blocker that needs to be reconfigured.

If your broadband router firewall was the problem, check the port forwarding configuration settings.

3. Mac: How do I get my Apple iSight webcam to work in chat?

a. Click on the cam icon above the list of names.
This brings up a black cam screen and the cam light on your computer is off.

b. Press and hold the 'control' key, mouse click in the black cam screen, then select Settings.
This brings up the Adobe flash player box.

c. Click the camera in the lower right of THAT box, and change the drop down from DV Video to USB Video Class Video.
(External iSight webcam users will need to set it to "IIDC Firewire Video".)

d. Click the privacy icon and verify that the "Allow" button is selected.

4. PC: I just plugged in my cam and it shows up as a black display.

a. If you plug in your webcam after you are already in chat, it may not be recognized by the chat application.
Close ALL browser windows, then relaunch chat.

b. If you have another webcam application running, like Yahoo cam, or skype, it may have exclusive access to your cam.
Close the other webcam application, close all browser windows, then relaunch chat.

c. If you start the cam in chat and get a black window, right click in there and select Settings.
Verify that your webcam is listed on the Camera tab.
Verify that the Allow box is checked on the Privacy tab.

5. The web cammer denied my request to chat and I can't ask again

Once you are denied, the system caches the response until the web cammer exits chat. The workaround is to have the cammer invite you to a private video chat which will re-ask the question.

Upon clicking the CHAT link, a new window will pop up with a list of chat rooms. The number of people in each room is shown to the right:

http://forum.myredbook.com/dcforum2/User_files2/uxo6p1k748iwxvc2.jpg

Click on the Room Name to enter.

http://forum.myredbook.com/dcforum2/User_files2/z3owu3vw3067524y.jpg

Once in the chat room, you can type and Send text. You can:

1. Click on the avatar next to your name, here you can set your gender and avatar.

2. Click on a members cam to view a cam.

3. Click and drag the lower right corner of a web cam to enlarge it.

4. Click the top web cam icon to publish your web cam.

5. Click the Text/Handwriting switch, and play with some of the other icons in the send menu.

Chat Message Types
Normal = Public : Type in the text box and click Send.
Personal = Public : Left click on name, select Personal. Displays in main chat window.
Whisper = Private : Select Personal and check Whisper box. Displays in main chat window.
Private = Private : Opens a new window.

1. Get along or move along. No harrassing others in chat.

Be nice to people in chat. If you have personal issues, take your drama privately via inbox, email, text, telephone, or in person. It doesn't matter if you are right, are telling the truth, want to warn people for their safety, take it offline.

Do not respond to a flame, instead use the mute function. To mute an annoying person, left click on their name and select BLOCK.

2. Report malicious chat users to the support desk at http://www.myredbook.com/support.aspx

If you are repeatedly abused in chat, let us know the date, time, room, username and your story. If your inquiry lacks these details it will be ignored. We do not have extra resources available to do your homework.

3. It's just chat.

It is not a free speech room. You do not have the right to chat about whatever you want. If you have come to chat for intelligent conversation about current events, then you should leave immediately.

4. Trolling is OK, but do not spam.

It is OK to post links to your pictures, your ads, and to tell people your availablilty.

If you are between clients at your incall, we welcome you to come in to chat an fire up your web cam and say you are available. If you do not have a cam, then head over to Frys or Best Buy and pick one up or ask a friend - get with the program - that is why you are sitting idle.

It is ok to promote yourself within the bounds of reason and common courtesy, but do not post your external website links or your other pay web cam site or otherwise promote another site. That is spamming and will result in banishment.

5. No pimping.

Do not solicit females about your marketing, photographic, transportation, administrative, logistical, or other management services.

6. Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, drugs.

We treat 420 like tobacco and alcohol. These are ok in chat and on cam. We do not encourage nor endorse their usage, but we are not your parents.

For harder drugs, like cocaine, heroin, meth, these we ask you do this off cam.

There is also an overriding guideline that you do not sell, buy, barter, or promote any drug transactions.

F. CHAT ROOM MODERATORS

1. Chat Mods are selected by value.

Some moderators have more value than others. All moderators are independent volunteers and not employees, agents, nor representatives of myRedBook manangement.

To become a moderator:
a) Come into chat on a daily basis. If you don't come in, what is the point?
b) Get on cam. You do not need to be nude or show your face, but an occasional nipple slip is a plus. If you want to dance, shower, eat, or put on a show, that's good too.
c) Greet and welcome new people in chat.
d) Avoid drama. Do not initiate or get sucked into it.
e) If we notice you do this consistently, we will recruit you to be a moderator. If you are not approached, signal your interest when you see redbook or Maddie in chat. Continue above steps and resignal you interest on a monthly basis as it usually takes a few months of sustained, consistent behavior to get in.

2. Chat Mods can MUTE or KICK chatters.

The protocol is to MUTE offenders, then escalate to KICK. However it is entirely up to each moderator to determine what is appropriate for the situation at hand.

G. CHAT ROOM BANS AND COMPLAINTS

Complaints about individuals or moderators may be submitted via inbox to: redbook or to the support desk at: http://www.myredbook.com/support.aspx

Please include details like date, time, room, and relevant usernames along with your complaint or it cannot be processed.

Generally speaking, we will not act on any one complaint. We do not have the resources to investigate who said what and to play Judge Judy. We will file your complaint and depending on who makes the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the number of complaints received, then we may take action against the individual.

Banning or de-modding is not an evidentiary, judicial process. It is based on cost/benefit.

When you violate guidelines you increase your cost.
When you initiate or participate in drama you increase your cost.
When you are not able to manage your own conflicts and use the ignore button, you increase your cost.
When you whine inappropriately, particularly around gray area violations or around people where you have had prior drama, you increase your cost.
When you make someone uncomfortable enough that they leave chat because of you, you increase your cost.

To increase your benefit, get on your web cam, welcome new chatters, contribute to discussions, and invite other positive-energy people into chat.

When cost exceeds benefit, a person is subject to banning / de-modding.