RationalWiki talk:Intercom

Prize
First!  ħ uman  22:18, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Second!  01:10, 2 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Er...., moar like twelveteenth by now.  ħ uman  01:17, 2 September 2008 (EDT)

Copied from beta talk
Orange: Are you using the "new messages" style box to generate this? If so, that might be forcing the orange. You know what html color codes look like to hunt for it, right? Also, mine went away when I clicked "go away".  ħ uman  17:28, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Right, but I am using a table with in the new talk style, and the td cells change color but the actual table wont so you get those white lines. 17:31, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Can you at least get rid of the white lines?  ħ uman  20:03, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I would if I could. The white lines are being created because the table background color is not working. 20:13, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Interesting system. I guess this is for site news? Boycotts and stuff like that?
 * More importantly: could you make it so that the button says "Shoo!"? Pretty please? 20:20, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yes, like if something "important" is being discussed, it makes sure every last vandal knows and can chime in.  ħ uman  20:44, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Is there a reason it is currently unlocked seems like an invitational for trouble? $\approx$$\pi$ 21:25, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * What kind of trouble? I suppose that depends on how much wikimarkup/html the transcription supports.  ħ uman  21:56, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Of course, RA, silly. Working out the technical and social bugs has been on my mind since I asked Trent to figure out a way to do something like this.  However, it is self cleansing...  ħ uman  21:59, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * That's good to hear. Wouldn't want to accuse you of not thinking ahead!   17:21, 16 August 2008 (EDT)

Push me
It appears the temptation is too great on our little intercom system :). Access restricted biatches. 22:32, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Gives me ur access. 22:35, 15 August 2008 (EDT)


 * Can't see the message Trent. $\approx$$\pi$ 22:52, 15 August 2008 (EDT)


 * No, that's true. I thought I must have missed it, but I guess that's stupid under this system. You fail, TMT. 22:53, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I zapped the public display part of the message so that it didn't show up to everyone, just testing that "town crier" passed security checks. 22:54, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I can haz largely defensive weapon of intercom? $\approx$$\pi$ 23:04, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Mee two. Ur access; gives me it. 23:12, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Once it is working fully as intended we will hold try outs :). 23:12, 15 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Eheheheh, sorry 'bout that, Trent. But at that time, I felt my points were valid.  And how dare you erase the record of my announcements—now it's impossible to figure out what Human is talking about above!   17:21, 16 August 2008 (EDT)

Open discussion on the Intercom
This is for any open discussion on the new intercom system. Unresolved issues at this time include:
 * 1) Who should have the right to make messages
 * 2) What should the button text read? "Remove message" has been called too bland.
 * 3) Any improvements on the layout or presentation of the message?
 * 4) Anything else anyone thinks of.

01:39, 17 August 2008 (EDT)


 * Ehm, I've been away for a few days so can you like tell me....wtf? -- 01:52, 17 August 2008 (EDT)


 * What is this new-fangled intercom device thingy intended for?  To communicate a message to all readers?   DogP  01:53, 17 August 2008 (EDT)


 * Oh fuck it. I'm just gonna go headfirst and answer. I would imagine sysops can make them, because anyone could make an account. Granted, we could just revert it. (One question, I've got a question. Is it only for serious messages or can we just write random crap like "PIE!") I would suggest as a remove message button "Who cares?" and layout looks fine. The color stands out good. -- 01:55, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * The issue is that there is no centralized place for community discussion that everyone checks. Also we have not rules about where important conversations often regarding site policy should be held. Rather than try and derive a bunch of policy and recommendations we thought it better to create a system that could alert all users to where and when important conversations are taking place. The exact "scope" of what the intercom can be used for is open to debate as well.
 * Tech wise this sends out the message to every user that has an account at the time the message is created. All message are archived here but only one stays in the queue for each user.
 * Hope that helps, let me know what other questions you guys have. 01:58, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Um, ok, very newby question techwise, where's the code for the message. -- 02:01, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Not sure exactly that I follow the question. Do you mean where is the message stored? The message is created using the form on Special:Intercom. It accepts normal wikimarkup, after it is submitted it is stored in a database and set to display on that intercom page. 02:03, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ideally, as much as we are a gang of rebels, it is "supposed" to be for "serious" messages (hahahaahaha). If we open it to all sysops, that might work, but be prepared for every sysop to experiment with a "free pie here!" message.  Such is the cost of progress?  ħ uman  02:04, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Trent, I mean the actual wikicode for the template doo-dad. Huw, and if it becomes a Boy Who Cried Wolf deal? Perhaps one serious one and one LULZ? With the serious for Beachrats only? -- 02:06, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * It's not wikicode, it's an extension... as in, only Trent and Linus can get to the raw code. And, STS, I share your concerns.  ħ uman  02:08, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

ecececExcellent.

Suggestions:
 * Click on any link in the box (like "here" in this case) to vanish the box? (as well sthe button)
 * Select targets (recent editors; sysops; editors to one particular article)


 * Who can? ME ONLY! Sysops. But have somewhere where anyone can fill in a blank & request a sysop to do it? 02:09, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ah. So no submissions of test things? What I basically mean is is there a way to submit a new one with wikicode, layout, color, font changes. Just for looking at a reviewing? -- 02:11, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * We have some mock ups over on humans talk page you could look at or I could post an example as a subpage.
 * @Susan, I think that's the way to go - some active "trusted" users can post them, anyone can request a message at this talk page. PS, the mockups on my talk page never looked the same as the implemented version, who knows why?  ħ uman  02:34, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

Susan's suggestions: 02:20, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Click anywhere would probably require a javascript programming sitting on top of the intercom (it works on the new talk page because there is only one page that wipes it. An intercom would need the code for every page).
 * Targeting user groups would be easy enough to implement, the other criteria you listed is hard to get at but not impossible. Another idea is to allow users to sign up for particular kinds of announcements like CP, Article of the Weak, whatever.

Layout
The layout for the message has been mocked up at RationalWiki:Intercom/layout feel free to tinker with it or do whatever you like. If people come up with a different layout they prefer I can adjust. 02:25, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

Question
Is this our very own SDG? Awesome! 06:05, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

Who should have the right to make messages
Only "me" (me = you). Question is, do we want another layer of "trusted users" between sysops (mostly vandals) and bcrats (too small a group?)  ħ uman  02:31, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Maybe use the same system we use for the vandal thing? Accounts older than xyz hours and not on the vandal group can post crap, after all, intercoms are used to call the janitors not the other way around. NightFlarei haz a talk page. 02:50, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * But any random IP could do it. -- 02:51, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Nope, IPs are still limited by the anti-vandal thing. NightFlarei haz a talk page. 02:53, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Well....*sticks out tongue childishly* -- 02:55, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * There is something called "autoconfirmed" that could be used. But I think this has propensity to be highly abused. We are, after all, a den of vandals and terrorist :). I was thinking we would actually make it fairly restrictive. 02:57, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Sadly, I concur, that actually posting these thing needs to be somehow restricted. Perhaps if two sysops approve?  Wow, programming challenge!  ħ uman  03:06, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Eh. I don't know about the two sysops thing. It would be very.....weird. If it was an urgent message and we couldn't get two together it time. Just seems very restrictive. -- 03:11, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Please present an example? (I know the programming would suck, but please answer)  ħ uman  03:15, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Example of what specifically? -- 03:20, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * An example of an "urgent" message?  ħ uman  16:50, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ummm...There's a giant asteroid hurling toward earth that will cause intense nuclear winter and leave the earth reeling in fear. WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL EDITING RW!!!! -- 17:19, 17 August 2008 (EDT)


 * level 1: beaurocrats
 * level 2: new group (messengers) go through user list adding all current trusted users. Remove from messenger list on misuse! Or sysops only but demote everyone trusted to sysop?  17:05, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I like messengers. All sysops and special non-sysops. And level one for beachrats only. -- 17:19, 17 August 2008 (EDT)


 * Or call em pigeons (as in carrier p...) or Marys (as in typhoid M....) anything that deflates teh ego! 19:34, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

My new thoughts based on "priority" and "lists." Make it so any sysops can make a message but that they can loose the right. "All site" messages should not be abused and abuse will result in loss of privilege to post. The "opt in" lists can be more lenient with the "total bullshit" list being open to random harassment or whatever. 20:04, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

What should the button text read? "Remove message" has been called too bland.
"Go away already!" "Fuck off, I want to read WIGO CP!" "Close" "BTDTGTMTS"  ħ uman  02:30, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

I say "KILL!" --<font color="#00FFFF">λινυσ (☮) 10:22, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * vapourise! 19:41, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * "Yeah, whatever" Totnesmartin 02:43, 18 August 2008 (EDT)
 * "Sudo Kill" 13:34, 18 August 2008 (EDT)
 * "Goatspeed" [[Image:jollyfish.gif|25px]]<font color=Blue>Genghis   13:44, 18 August 2008 (EDT)
 * "Shoo", or "Go away", or "I don't care", or "Affirmative", or "Dismissed", or... 04:45, 21 August 2008 (EDT)

Any improvements on the layout or presentation of the message?
No, it's purrrrrffect. I approve this message! <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:32, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Make the box skull shaped! Whaddya mean, you can't? Have you tried? Really tried? 19:45, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

Anything else anyone thinks of.
Auto-shutdown drop down choices. So stale messages expire. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:32, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

Susan's idea of targeted users. I like it a lot. Things that are fairly easy to technically achieve are people in specific user groups, and people that could opt into special lists on given topics. Also an "opt out of all future messages" might be nice? 02:35, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Archives of messages. All of them. Perhaps a way to see the last 4 or 5 messages right from it with a selection. -- 02:36, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * STS, it does that already. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:37, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * So add a permanent link in the table ahead of the "go away" button to the message page? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:38, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I also agree with the "opt out" option. One more table cell? ("Don't bother me again"?) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:39, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * As for opt out of future messages, if there's a REALLY important message, it needs to get out. Could you (techwise) make it where certain messages got higher priority than others? So you could block out one type but not the other? Huw, I mean like a drop down feature so we don't have to leave the page we're on to see old ones. Not all just a few. -- 02:39, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Makes sense to me - two priority levels? One is "everyone no matter what", the other is "meh, don't bore me"? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:46, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yeah, we don't want anything too complicated I can for see some amazing policy wonk arguments about whether it is level 3 or level 4 message. 02:47, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ok, that last sentence made no sense to me, sorry. -- 02:52, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * If we implement the priority rating scale on the intercom messages we want to limit the choices, if we have 3,4, or 5 levels of priority much time could be lost debating whether a given message is a level 4 priority or level 5 priority. 02:55, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ah. Two would be best. Just OMG! and Eh. Like boycotts should go on OMG! and if perhaps Susan finds religion. Important things like that. -- 02:57, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Susan finds religion would be level zero, total priority override, blank the site with the announcement! But, yeah, yeah would be "I wrote a new essay" versus "we are going to change the main page" (DP, eh?) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  03:04, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Exactly. Ooh. And what about when it's "that time of the month". The bill collecting time. Also, my idea about drop down message archives just to look at the last five on the actual extension and stay on the same page. -- 03:07, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Wow. Just trying to parse your comment.... and failing. The intercom saves old messages, so maybe it should always have a link to itself? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman 
 * In tecky, I'm not sure how to say it. Like in the address bar. It drops down when you click the little arrow. And it drops down. But on the actual thing. Just so I could see an old one from here. You know? -- 03:19, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * It would be "possible" to do something like that, a drop down menu with previous messages. But I am not sure it is desirable. Seems kinda cluttered. Wouldn't a link back to the Intercom page be just as effective? In this day in age of tab browsing opening up a new page for review when you are done with the current one is second nature. 03:23, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Good point. *bows to mobocracy* -- 03:25, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

<-- Would it be possible to do the drop down from nothing more visible than a simple arrow? Or just some "small" text that says "previous messages"? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  16:57, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I have actually been thinking, if we are going to be doing multiple "lists" for messages we can not have messages overwriting each other freely. It is going to have to be adjusted so that people can move through the list of messages they have received. I was thinking a "previous", "next", "clear all" sort of deal. 20:02, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Another: could the message's originator/creator be able to wipe /archive it even if it's not been seen - things get out of date pretty fast & there'd be no point telling people about something that was closed days ago. 20:11, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I brought that up "somewhere" - many messages should have an expiration date, or be deletable, so a user who was away for a while does not get bombarded by stale messages. So, yes, I agree. One, that on setting up a message, there should be a drop-down of how long it lasts, and two, that if the choice was "infinite", it could later be modified to "yesterday". <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  01:47, 18 August 2008 (EDT)

Aside
If SusanG gets religion there will be no need for intercom messages on RatWiki. There will have already been a rending of the sky and descent of hosts of angels praising the Lord God. This will have been all over the world (not just in North Notts) so fellow RatWikians should be aware of it. In the event of this not convincing her, a ruddy character with horns, tail and pitchfork will appear at ground level to usher her into Hades. So forget the level zero message - it'll be superfluous. 03:55, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ah OK. Sadly, if you did get religion (have you studied this weirdness?), you would not say that... Hey, we are just having a fun on you! <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  04:13, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I too was having fun! Seriously, if it ever seems that I am getting religion then pleae seek me out & shoot me 'cause it'll be a definitive symptom of encroaching Alzheimers' Disease.  04:26, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Eh, you know, if you had a change of heart, who among us would criticize you? (apart from your girlfriend) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  05:10, 17 August 2008 (EDT)

What kind of messages are appropriate?
When RA writes a new essay, do we save him the trouble of spamming everyone's talk page? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  02:37, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I both appreciate and resent that, Human.  20:25, 17 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Thank you, I try :) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  01:43, 18 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Images are out - I just tried. Totnesmartin 05:22, 29 August 2008 (EDT)

Committees
I suggest that the various "intercom" groups be set up as committees (or some better less-commie word) that anyone can join. Anyone in a "committee" can send messages to anyone else in it (like a mailing list, basically). Allow the uber-level of sitewide messages no one can opt out of, but those would be far and few between. Suggested committees: "tell me about new essays" "tell me about new debates" "main page alterations" (etc.) - does this make sense? Also, if we do this at this level of complexity/sophistication, we might need to add a link to "intercom" in the side bar. And perhaps a link to an explanation of what the messages are and where they come from in every message box? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  01:43, 18 August 2008 (EDT)

Black hole
Forgive me for being dense, but what does this thing actually do? Send out messages to all users or something? -- 04:53, 21 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yes. 05:02, 21 August 2008 (EDT)
 * That's the idea, yes. Ideally, groups of users who want to receive messages about various things, and an uber-level of "site wide" announcements, when they matter. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  05:15, 21 August 2008 (EDT)

Discussion for Intercom 2.0
Any feedback over the system please let me know. 17:14, 22 August 2008 (EDT)

button color etc.

 * Buttons look silly. 17:24, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I "improovd" them. Any better? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  22:14, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yes, a lot better. But green clashes with pink a little bit, don't you think? Maybe a different colour? I vote for blue. 10:31, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * That's not pink, it's purple! (ffccff). How about black?  Blue is so bland... although, it would look like a link, to click on... <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  17:58, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Let's try black to see what it looks like. Could you alter the images? I'm not sure how. 18:01, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Could you send me a message so I can check? I saw the new images, but it's hard to tell how well they fit without seeing them on the box itself... 09:20, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Use the "sandbox" group to send a message to only yourself. I can make a black version and upload them; I have also saved all the versions along the way. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  18:09, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * The text is still green. 18:22, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Try again? Maybe you had the images cached, or just didn't wait for me to upload the new versions? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  19:58, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yeah, it was the cache thing. I'm going to go hide now... 20:08, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ad yourself to the sandbox group and send a sandbox message and see if anything comes up would be my guess. $\approx$$\pi$ 09:28, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * And how can I add myself to the sandbox group? 09:34, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * There is a link on the project page. $\approx$$\pi$ 10:23, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Ah. Sorry. Should have checked... 10:31, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I guess you have to 'refresh' now, to make the quote go away?--Waiting for Godot 17:28, 22 August 2008 (EDT) (by the way, i've not commented before but this is pretty cool! ;-)
 * The buttons are actually accessed via uploaded files here at RW. I am open to any improved design. You shouldn't have to "refresh" for the message to go away not sure why it glitched there. It was working in sandbox, I will see. 17:30, 22 August 2008 (EDT)

Bugzilla

 * Thanks for the tip Godot, new WIGO code was conflicting with intercom code. All fixed now. 17:35, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Umm..... the message won't go away, despite my hitting delete. 21:19, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * What browser are you using? 21:20, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * The latest version of Firefox (3.whatever). 21:23, 22 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Hmm, okay, I will make it go away for you and will test a theory for the glitch. 21:25, 22 August 2008 (EDT)

Some thoughts
Feedback:


 * I think my idea of hiding messages from the submitter is not a good one, it will lead to perpetual confusion (people won't think their message got posted).
 * Can the group dropdown be set to default to "sandbox" to minimize accidents?
 * Can you add the text (you are the only one who can see this message) be inserted into sandbox messages? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  17:54, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * When deleting the "last" message, why do we get "message deleted" instead of "nothing"? How about msg del. for about 10 seconds then it goes away?  Possible? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  17:56, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yea, I think bringing back seeing messages that you sent out is a good idea, as for deleting the message, once it is deleted if you do anything, move next, previous, go to a new page, or refresh the existing one it goes away. 17:59, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Re: delete, I know, but it makes it so you don't know if there are more messages, so you end up clicking anyway when you don't need to. How about instead of "message deleted", it just goes to the next one?  And when there isn't one, it goes away? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  18:12, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Okay. 18:45, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I have done it all except for making sandbox say "only you will see this message" because the text in the box is really important to the functionality of the system and not just "toppings." I think the instructions need to be moved away from prose, and more towards short bulleted sentences. Emphasis placed on those things people need to know. 19:01, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Thanks, the sandbox thing was fairly minor. I love the vanishing box, very nice.  I'll see if I can bulletify the instructions more.  Condense the information to less words so people are 3% more likely to read it ;) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  19:47, 23 August 2008 (EDT)

No point in having people opt in/out of sandbox, just like "urgent". <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  19:59, 23 August 2008 (EDT)


 * Empty messages can be posted.
 * Perhaps the sig should include a "talk page" link as well? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  21:13, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * All but the talk page taken care of. How should it be formatted? Etaroced 22:23, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Hmmm, "(Sandbox group, from Human at 08/23/08 : 21:11:34)" should read
 * like this "(Sandbox group, from Human (talk) at 08/23/08 : 21:11:34)" ? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  22:56, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * God damn, have to add the sup tag then to the parser. Etaroced 22:59, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Well, you don't have to, but it is such a common convention I thought it looked prettier... <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  23:08, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Just complaining. Actually having a mediawiki parser that is not attached to the mediawiki software will be very useful. Rather than burn out trying to do it "all" I opted to start small and add functions as they are needed. Has the benefit to prioritizing what is actually used and building in small doses keeps me sane. Etaroced 23:11, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * You might want to add bold and italics, then? The main one I abused at v 1.3 was "image", of course. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  23:18, 23 August 2008 (EDT)
 * D'oh, we've got italics already, and the message is bolded anyway, so... nevermind :) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  23:19, 23 August 2008 (EDT)

Permission
Seems to be a small problem: When I try to post a message, it just says something along the lines of "Sorry you don't have permission to do that", even if I try the Sandbox group. Technical issue? Or is it just because TMT hates me personally? If so, that's okay. -- 08:43, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * You need to be a member of the "Town crier" user group. But since I, in my limitless wisdom and foresight, made you a Bureaucrat, you can add yourself! Any chance you could add me as well? 09:36, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Nobody ever tells me these things. :-( -- 11:17, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * No the town crier is not used, all you have to do is have joined the group you want a send a message to. Sandbox shouldn't be sending an error. I saw some messages had gotten posted earlier. Who all is having this problem? 13:58, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * It seems to be browser related. I can post messages in Firefox, but not in IE. -- 14:10, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yep, good observations, thanks. I try and remember to cross check between browsers, anyway I will work on it. 14:15, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Should be fixed now, IE has so many strange, strange, quirks. 14:38, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yes, it works fine now. -- 15:02, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Hmmmm.  I can't use the INtercom at all, get the same message AK mentioned above.   I'm a member of all the groups?   Not using IE - Safari.   What's up?   <font color="#00F0A20">DogP  13:25, 31 January 2009 (EST)
 * I didn't get that exactly, are you saying you are using Safari? tmtoulouse 13:28, 31 January 2009 (EST)
 * Si.  Oui.   Ja.   <font color="#00F0A20">DogP  13:31, 31 January 2009 (EST)
 * Then don't. Try IE or FF if you want to use the intercom. <font color=Blue>Генгис    13:37, 31 January 2009 (EST)
 * Oui.  Ça suffit.   Safari doesn't work, FF does.   Je m'excuse ma français.   <font color="#00F0A20">DogP  13:40, 31 January 2009 (EST)

I have added some output to the permission error that will hopefully aid me in figuring out what is going on. tmtoulouse 13:44, 31 January 2009 (EST)

Interruption?
What happens if you're editing a page (or talk) when an intercom is sent? I'm pretty sure it just made me lose the comment I'd written. Can this be tested, as it's going to be a problem if the intercom causes edit conflicts. <font color="maroon" face="Hurry Up"> w easeLOId ~ 08:50, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Me too. 09:00, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Sending myself a sandbox message as I type this... <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  13:59, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I had no trouble. Not proof there isn't a glitch, of course. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  14:00, 26 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Keep an eye out on it and let me know if this seems to be a pattern, any details you can provide would help figure it out too. 14:01, 26 August 2008 (EDT)

"archive" order
Shouldn't the list of past messages sort of echo what matters? (ie, "urgent" should be first, random last) <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  23:25, 26 August 2008 (EDT)

Blankity blank
Why is it I keep getting an empty intercom bar at the top of my screen? It seems to be happening periodically over the past couple of days, like an intercom message with no actual text. The usual buttons are still there (I liked the older format better), so I can delete them and they go away, but are these someone sending empty messages as a test, or is it a glitch? --Kels 12:32, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Me too. In fact, I was just going to start a thread about this. 12:32, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * If a message is sent in a group you're not a member of - it still sends the bar? Am I right Trent? (I just sent one in "Random")  12:34, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * No the box only appears when a message is delivered, something appears to be wrong with inserting the field separation characters which determine which messages you have received. I am trying to figure out where that glitch is, did this just start happening today? Or has it been happening all along? Etaroced 13:55, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Yesterday and today, for sure. Can't recall if it was happening the day before, but I don't think it was. --Kels 13:58, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * Sorry, I'm not sure. I've noticed it though today. 14:02, 27 August 2008 (EDT)
 * And now "Delete" doesn't - it just goeth to "Previous" until they've all gone & then deletes. 08:43, 29 August 2008 (EDT)
 * I don't mind that so much, but I wonder if there's some way to reverse the order. When I have a number piled up, then I see the most recent first, and I end up following conversations in reverse, which doesn't work so well.  Any way of having new messages pile up behind each other instead of ahead? --Kels 09:01, 29 August 2008 (EDT)

"Restricted" groups
Is every group now open to everyone or do Our Highly Esteemed Honorable Lords Bureacrats get a secret channel? At least there is no Sysop-only channel, is there? Liar at RP(Ed at CP) 09:16, 29 August 2008 (EDT)
 * SSSSSSSSHHHHHHH! Perhaps you should do some substantive edits instead of all this endless talk, talk, talk. Exasperate me!<font color="#649CD6">Sheesh! Not the most impressive contributor here 09:34, 29 August 2008 (EDT)

Question
Should the Intercom be adding an underscore to the name of the user to broadcast? In an announcement, the links are to user:Human_ and user_talk:Human_ for example. I was just wondering if that was a necessary thing for the Intercom to function, or just something that went unnoticed.--Zelandoni 21:10, 14 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Hmm, looks fine to me in FF and IE both. That is rather bizarre. If it keeps up, can you email trent (user:tmtoulouse) and let him know? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  21:35, 14 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Huh. Are you using FF3? I am, and I suppose it could be that. Yes, if it continues I'll email him. --Zelandoni 21:39, 14 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Yes, I am (and it rules). Can you grab a screenshot and upload it or email it to me (crop out any personal info), it might help? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  23:12, 14 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Interestin - those trailing underscores don't affect the link destination. I guess MW treats them as spaces, which it then ignores. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  19:48, 16 September 2008 (EDT)
 * Right, That's what I was assuming. It was just odd. Sorry about not grabbing the screenshot. Senior year is a bit crazier than I was expecting, and I'm pretty busy.--Zelandoni 19:53, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

telly
Marganita Laski posted an intercom message about something on TV tonight. This is a good idea if we keep it in check. perhaps there should be different ticky boxen for people who want TV notifications (and sorting by country would have to be in). Totnesmartin 12:57, 16 September 2008 (EDT)
 * All combined into a separate "what's on" group. For interesting TV, radio and/or internet broadcasts. WIGO pages tend to get updated after the fact, but an intercom group would make decent advertising for things that will happen that are interesting. Armondikov 15:09, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

Sequence of unread messages
When accessing Rationalwiki, I see any intercom messages that have been sent since I was last here, but they appear in reverse order - the most recent first & I have to click through this to see earlier messages. It often means I'm seeing someone's reply to someone else's message before I see the message they are replying to. Is it possible to change this so that messages a user hasn't read yet appear to them in the order they were sent - I.E. earliest first? <font color="maroon" face="Hurry Up"> w easeLOId ~ 08:03, 26 September 2008 (EDT)
 * I think multiple message should stack up. And be colour-coded to urgency and classification.
 * Seriously. 08:09, 26 September 2008 (EDT)
 * I agree with the Weasel re:reversing the order the "stack" is presented in, I also agree that we should adopt Homeland Security Color Coding so people know when to grab their pitchforks and torches to storm the castle, and when to just grab some popcorn and sit back and watch. When the barbarians are at the gates, every second counts! <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  13:08, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

TOC
Is there a way to get the intercom page to display a TOC for ease in finding "deleted" messages? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  20:17, 26 November 2008 (EST)

(
Intercom messages seem to put one parenthesis at the end of the text, then the user's name & close parenthesis on the next line. It looks a bit odd. Is there a way of fixing this so that the open parenthesis appears on the same line as the user name & not at the end of the message text? 14:42, 13 January 2009 (EST)
 * One solution would be to slap an &nb sp; before the open paren, so the sig is always on a new line, less chance of it wrapping between the ( and the sig that way. <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  15:26, 17 April 2009 (EDT)

Special page
Have we explored the possibility of having this become a special page and having groups set from a user's preferences? The names and subjects of groups could be set from a MediaWiki page.--Ipatrol 22:38, 16 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Yes, that's how my new version works. --  Nx / talk 02:44, 17 April 2009 (EDT)

New version?--Ipatrol 16:39, 17 April 2009 (EDT)
 * He rewrote the intercom and vandal brake to make them integrate better with MediaWiki, leaving logs and showing up on Recent Changes. I've seen it; it's brilliant. 16:41, 17 April 2009 (EDT)
 * http://rationalbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Intercom --  Nx / talk 17:45, 17 April 2009 (EDT)