How quiet should FC chat be before you quit?

[Galgarion]

Is there anything eerier than twenty people being online at once, with no one saying anything? Is there anything more annoying than getting recruited into an FC with the promise of socialization and help, only to be immediately shunted into a dead chat where no one ever says anything to you again beyond your initial welcome? What's the point of being in a social group where no one speaks? How long should you stay in a quiet FC?

Edit* Just for a little clarity, I like the Free Company my main is in, and I'm not complaining about them and wondering if I should quit. This topic is just water cooler conversation about other FC's where playing with them is no different than playing solo because it's so quiet.

[Quri]

You can quit at any point, whether they are active or not. Though Joining a social group doesn't mean they will spend forever on chat.

[Krotoan]

If you've mentioned to the FC that you were there for social interaction... and there is none? Just leave. There are many out there looking for people and unless you've got some sort of.. weird.. obligation. I can understand maybe it's finals week or golden week and it being quiet for a few days, but if it's just DEAD when you're on all the time? Doesn't seem like they've got going on what you wanted. It's not going to hurt anyone.

[Vidu]

That really depends on what you want from an FC, doesnt it?
If you're looking for an active chat and the FC doesnt provide one (and you cant "compensate" with LS or anything like that): Leave and find an FC that does provide you the things you're looking for. Whats the point in staying in an FC that doesnt fit your needs? Wether those are just chatting, doing content, helping or even just having the right FC-buffs up?

Its basically pretty much: Stay as long as you want. And honestly, if you're coming to the forums to make a thread about it... you should probably leave your FC right now.

Our chat is normally pretty quiet, with randoms outbursts, but everyone is cool and happy with that - so there isnt a general answer about when an FC is to quiet. The only question is: when is it to quiet for you?

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

Can you hear a pin drop? Might be time to jet.

[Khalithar]

Did you consider actively socializing and starting discussions in the FC chat yourself? Maybe be the change you want to see? Being proactive?

[Welsper59]

As someone who normally would not engage in social discussion all the time of any online game I play(ed), I can tell you that sometimes people like to play games for the purpose of the game itself, rather than the actual social interaction. I realize that's unusual for some people, particularly those of a younger generation, but people of all ages do get attached to games primarily for the reason of the game. The socializing is often not going to be ahead of that. I would think most people would be sensible enough to use other social mediums for such interaction, if that were their priority.

That lecture moment said, dead chat is inevitable at times, even for a social group of 20+ people. Do what you think you gotta do.

[Anzaman]

Are you trying to start any conversations? Somebody needs to do it.

Also, if you take a look at the FC I'm in - it's advertised as chatty, but sometimes we've plenty of stuff going in-game, and sometimes it's more dead than desert. Some fault comes to it that we've few restricted linkshells going (officers for example), along with Discord, so people can be active there instead by either posting stuff or talking via voice-chat.

Just seen couple recruits joining in, never saying a word, not even "hi" upon logging in and then leaving through door silently while grumbling about lack of noise in FC.

[Galgarion]

Did you consider actively socializing and starting discussions in the FC chat yourself? Maybe be the change you want to see? Being proactive?

Oh, I'm a chatty Kathy, no worries there. I hang out with like-minded people, but I have alts on different servers who're in some pretty quiet guilds. Just curious how others deal with the sound of silence.

[Galgarion]

--I realize that's unusual for some people, particularly those of a younger generation--

Now, I find it interesting that you'd phrase it that way, because I'm actually an older player who started in Everquest back in '99, and from my perspective "dead chats" are a recent phenomenon that started within the last three years or so in MMO gaming. Definitely more so with younger players, who've got tons more things to get distracted by.