Sociopath Community

Get rid of the users? Or get rid of their avatars and leave their names on the side or something. You know how important this is Luna...you can even limit the amount of characters used in each shout.

 Just put it in the header... or the footer below the online users bar.

 I worry a shout box might reduce the number of forum posts. You guys will begin flamming eachother in shout rather than in the threads. 

 if you limit the characters then that wont be a problem...just think about it luna. An active shout bar that follows you everywhere on the forum...ahhhh...gold.

 Why would you want it to follow you into threads or your profile area?

 I've seen many forum that thrived with mini-chat/shoutboxes... I don't think this site would be any different.

 To constantly be able to see updates.

 can you please post a link of an example of these forums?

by Luna Prey

 I worry a shout box might reduce the number of forum posts. You guys will begin flamming eachother in shout rather than in the threads. 

Chat would be good for some back and forth.  It will not deter users from posting in the threads.  Tom's idea of limiting the characters is good and I would suggest adding a spam filter of maybe 5 seconds?  Maybe combining private messaging with group chat and allowing multiple people to be "invited" into a conversation.

 Facebook.