MSN Closing Chatrooms - Let Others Deal With Bad Elements Online

from the punting dept

Tue, Sep 23rd 2003 5:59pm — Mike Masnick

People have always said that, despite their wholesome image, it was AOL's chatrooms and virtual sex that really helped the company catch on. It seems that MSN has decided they don't want any of that element in their chatrooms any more. They have announced that they'll be shutting down all of their MSN UK chat rooms and will be cutting back on others chat rooms around the world as well - and putting in place severe restrictions on who can enter. It's a bit amusing that they're doing this just a few months after their big ad campaign talking about how MSN had "parental controls" that would make sure kids were safe online. Apparently, they weren't safe enough. While some child protection charities applauded the move - I think they'll regret it. It's not like people are going to stop chatting. Now, however, they'll move to other places that are even less monitored and that aren't as clear in trying to make sure children don't give out their information online. MSN has every right to punt on the issue and let others deal with it - but simply closing down those chat rooms isn't going to solve the real issue, and may make it even harder to protect children.

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80 Comments

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dorpus, 23 Sep 2003 @ 9:18pm

Not in their name
Still, if MSN takes the lead and all the better-known chat services follow suit, then only obscure no-name chat services will not monitor, and children will not bother finding them. Why would children want to go out of their way to meet pedophiles anyway?
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Mike (profile), 23 Sep 2003 @ 9:48pm

Re: Not in their name
Um... the kids aren't going out of their way to meet pedophiles. They're going to chat with other kids... And, they're going to go in search of a place that lets them do that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dorpus, 23 Sep 2003 @ 9:52pm

Re: Not in their name
Then such sites will become conspicuous and monitored more closely, its motives questioned.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mike (profile), 23 Sep 2003 @ 9:54pm

Re: Not in their name
You're not making any sense again. Which sites? Chat rooms? Why will all chat rooms have their "motives questioned"?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dorpus, 23 Sep 2003 @ 10:04pm

Re: Not in their name
"Which sites?"

In your own words, "they're going to go in search of a place that lets them do that."

"Why will all chat rooms have their "motives questioned"?"

I did not say all, I said such sites.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dorpus, 23 Sep 2003 @ 10:13pm

Re: Not in their name
"Which sites?"

In your own words, "they're going to go in search of a place that lets them do that."

"Why will all chat rooms have their 'motives questioned'?"

I said such sites, not all.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
westpac, 24 Sep 2003 @ 5:21am

Re: Not in their name
If AOL drops their chat rooms they're going to find themselves in a big empty place. MSN may soon discover the same thing. If they remove the unique features that their service provides people will abandon the large ISPs for local services or cheaper ones like NetZero.

Oh, and kids will always find places to chat. It's adults who are clueless about such things.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Sep 2003 @ 8:51am

Re: Not in their name
Aol chatrooms are a whores palace of hook ups.
One scroll through the private chatrooms and its easy to see that Aol quietly endorses these chats because without them, no one would subscribe to their service other than senile grandparents without a clue how to turn on the computer to begin with.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cedarhurst, 24 Sep 2003 @ 11:36pm

Re: Not in their name
People that have teens and would like to have these teens have a relatively comfortable place to chat might try Paltalk.com. The parental controls within the program are very extensive. The teen rooms are monitored to limit prediatory behavior and provide as safe a place as possible for teen chatters. The program is also free.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dave., 25 Sep 2003 @ 12:10am

MSN
I think msn have been very stupid to close their chat rooms, People who abuse chat rooms will always find somewhere else to go, this move to "protect" children wont do anything in the long one, just means kids will have to search for another chat service.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Matt, 25 Sep 2003 @ 1:41am

For children or for profit
of course slashdot have a more cynical view on this (as always when M$ are mentioned)
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/09/24/062218&mode=nested&tid=109&tid=126&tid=187 &tid=95
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sue, 25 Sep 2003 @ 2:38am

Re: Not in their name
They will go to www.ukchat.com who's owner used to work for msn.
So perhaps this site should be investigated.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sophie, 25 Sep 2003 @ 10:21am

Re: Not in their name
I'm a kid, and i can tell you i wouldn't even bother going out of my way to find another chat site, and anyway there's no point, chat rooms bore kids after like a week but i do think the dollzmania chat needs to be checked out, it's a small site but yeah, you know, it's still a bit. dodgy.
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hornet323, 25 Sep 2003 @ 11:15am

yup!
couldnt agree more!!!!!!!!
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Mike, 25 Sep 2003 @ 12:03pm

Re: Closure of Chatrooms!
I hate hearing everyday about these ****** Peadaphiles... Sorry about the stars... felt like typing it... though Closing of chat rooms ain't the answer... More a lick than a promise eh! I reckon now closure of chatrooms, then afterwards e penfriend channel via email, then email penfriends, then it will move to free date sites, Java online chats (unless chatline closure dealt with these) Then message boards and forums.. The thing is the services ain't the darn problem, it's how those who run them govern them and restrict the users..(done really ineffectively) basically i wouldn't put those concerned with running chatrooms in charge of my rice pudding... I'd much rather eat it first than trust them to look after it... I can see that the next move up the line will be to stop residential Internet and cyber cafe usage and ask business's to use a specialist equivelent for use for strictly business purposes. Internet for the normal public joe will be dead! think I'm wrong... well I don't think so.... Nothings impossible... this would start in this country or USA then go Global too... The governing of the Internet should have been sorted out at the start, it's no good shutting services now! It's time to start figuring out strategys to govern all this software in a far more effective way... ask. Why don't the conmpanies who run chatrooms ask users to suggest ways to govern the chatrooms as obviously the ones in charge ain't intellegent enough to sort out this problem by themselves... What's you views Mike
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mosherman, 25 Sep 2003 @ 12:07pm

habbo hotel
this internet chat thingy called habbo hotel on it they rnt going to close because they say its more of a game but in the end its main function is chatroom they say its moderated but thats not enogh if they are going to close chat rooms then they should go to all lenths
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Katie, 25 Sep 2003 @ 3:43pm

what about msn messanger?
hey umm i just wanted to know what about msn messenger is that gonna be closed doown too?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sophie, 26 Sep 2003 @ 10:06am

Re: what about msn messanger?
i doubt it, they say not one thing about closing messenger but they do say that we'll still be able to talk to "buddies" or people we know so i'm guessing their referrring to msn messenger so PHEW!
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Neoduraflame, 30 Sep 2003 @ 10:49pm

Re: what about msn messanger?
I know for a Fact that Msn Messanger will not be shut down And the www.groups.msn.com will still have there Group chat rooms as lomng as your a member of that gruop or become a member

All MSN Is Doing is Chargen Us for protection when its not gonna do ne good because i bet the first day this goes over Its gonna be 500 plus call to the msn Help desk ASAP with in 4 hours time

MSN is just robben us of our freedom of speech some what not all the way but perrty Damn close

And We Owe it All To The 46 billion Dollar man Bill "The Road Side Robber" Gates
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stiltzkin, 14 Oct 2003 @ 7:04pm

Re: what about msn messanger?
no its not gonna be closed down.Its just the chat rooms.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
kafleen, 3 Nov 2003 @ 2:47am

Re: what about msn messanger?
NO WAY
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kris, 10 Nov 2003 @ 10:02am

Re: what about msn messanger?
Yeah there now gonna close MSN messenger! Because of secrity issues! but n00bs ur saved saved coz there releasing it under a different name
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HEATHER, 21 Apr 2004 @ 5:22am

Re: Not in their name
UKCHAT SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.

It is NOT safe for any teenagers in there there is rarely an admin in their teenage rooms and to be honest their admins are not checked out properly.

I hope this site is investigated and closed not to mention the racism in there.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 May 2004 @ 6:59am

Re: Not in their name
y shuld it ya fat slag go fuck ya mum
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Chik, 28 Jul 2004 @ 4:32am

come on
Hey,

The schools have blocked chat, hotmail and even sending emails to hotmail address. If that is what they call 'secure' I call it prison. Can someone make up some chat rooms that the schools havent blocked. Come on n let us have some freedom!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Jan 2005 @ 9:37am

Re: Not in their name
i love you
[ link to this | view in thread ]
vu luvs poo n i am a dork, 5 Feb 2005 @ 7:13pm

hi peeeplz
i am blak n i lyk 2 ...
eat kaka!
i hav diarria rite now and i am queer actually a dork
[ link to this | view in thread ]
playa, 8 Feb 2005 @ 12:40am

Re: come on
hey babygirl so which school do you go to?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
David, 10 Feb 2005 @ 12:50pm

Re: Not in their name
does any1 wear tights
[ link to this | view in thread ]
http://www.vesta.dti.ne.jp/~feticco/img/smp/hina_h, 10 Feb 2005 @ 12:51pm

Re: Not in their name
http://www.vesta.dti.ne.jp/~feticco/img/smp/hina_h_smp1.jpg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
brian, 14 Feb 2005 @ 1:43pm

Re: Not in their name
Can you come to saginaw to have sex with me.I am 15 years old and my address is 640storker.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ashlie brausey, 22 Feb 2005 @ 3:56pm

Re: Not in their name
i really like dollzmania chat and i wanted to thank you because you were right its a great site and i chat everyday at least twice.i hope that someboidy sees my message that way they just dont think were using themand giving them these messages just so theyll check it oout but no because its a real great site and i love it
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amanda, 22 Feb 2005 @ 4:05pm

Re: Not in their name
i think that you heather are a little over ridiculous i mean come on this website is the bomb diggity its great for little kids and no ones disgusting or obnoxious so why not tell them its a good one?
think about that!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
benn, 16 Aug 2005 @ 5:06pm

hi
sent me a picture of ur muff box
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AJAH, 7 Sep 2005 @ 10:03pm

Re: Not in their name
This is the reality. Parents dont watch their children like they should. It is easier to blame a company for their childs actions then to say,"I should have watched over them better and kept them busy enough and/or taught them better". It is much easier for a parent to put something in front of a child just to keep them busy so they then can walk off and do their own thing instead of doing what they should. Seems to me that they should not have had children in the first place if they themselves cannot be responsible enough and take responsibily over their own actions which should be to " WATCH YOUR FLIPPEN CHILDREN". The second problem is with the majority of americans. We care not that a pedofile can do this over and over again with little to no real punishment. Just the other day i was listening to 3 court cases where the perpatrators admited guilt and what did they get? One got 15 months but only has to do actually serve 4 years if he is good. Ha Ha. Bear in mind he has raped and molested children before this particular case. The second got intense probation. Intense probation is where they have to check in once a month and the probation officer comes by his home when he gets a chance...which could mean once a month if he gets unlucky. Less often if he is lucky...by the way the first child he raped was his own daughter the second child was his girlfriends sisters daughter who was 9 years old. Bear in mind these are the only ones he was "CAUGHT" in the act doing. No telling how many countless other in all cases. The third got a total of 18 months but that doesnt include time off for good behavior. Im guessing he will do 3 months. So if we want to hold ourselves guilty of doing nothing about these things we might as well let someone do something. Since we are so apathetic to what goes on in the world and we are not willing to REALLY do anything other than complain..hey..its our own faults that people make choices for us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AJAH, 7 Sep 2005 @ 10:04pm

Re: Not in their name
This is the reality. Parents dont watch their children like they should. It is easier to blame a company for their childs actions then to say,"I should have watched over them better and kept them busy enough and/or taught them better". It is much easier for a parent to put something in front of a child just to keep them busy so they then can walk off and do their own thing instead of doing what they should. Seems to me that they should not have had children in the first place if they themselves cannot be responsible enough and take responsibily over their own actions which should be to " WATCH YOUR FLIPPEN CHILDREN". The second problem is with the majority of americans. We care not that a pedofile can do this over and over again with little to no real punishment. Just the other day i was listening to 3 court cases where the perpatrators admited guilt and what did they get? One got 15 years but only has to do actually serve 4 years if he is good. Ha Ha. Bear in mind he has raped and molested children before this particular case. The second got intense probation. Intense probation is where they have to check in once a month and the probation officer comes by his home when he gets a chance...which could mean once a month if he gets unlucky. Less often if he is lucky...by the way the first child he raped was his own daughter the second child was his girlfriends sisters daughter who was 9 years old. Bear in mind these are the only ones he was "CAUGHT" in the act doing. No telling how many countless other in all cases. The third got a total of 18 months but that doesnt include time off for good behavior. Im guessing he will do 3 months. So if we want to hold ourselves guilty of doing nothing about these things we might as well let someone do something. Since we are so apathetic to what goes on in the world and we are not willing to REALLY do anything other than complain..hey..its our own faults that people make choices for us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sendana, 19 Oct 2005 @ 2:26pm

Re: Not in their name
thats not true some kids are good
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kayla, 28 Dec 2005 @ 12:10pm

maths
if chat press 123
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Feb 2006 @ 1:11am

Re: maths
this probably has nothing to do with what you were saying but because you were posting on the topic of msn i was just wonderin, is msn messenger closing down or is it just the chatrooms?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
anita, 16 Mar 2006 @ 9:18am

messig
hi ya whats up from anita
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sarah, 8 May 2006 @ 11:34am

Re: Re: Not in their name
whatever children dont search for pedophiles but pedophiles search for children and somtimes kids dont even know who they talkin to they just wanna be grown
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sarah, 8 May 2006 @ 11:35am

ANITA YOUR SO LAME AND DUMB
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ashley..., 23 May 2006 @ 4:25pm

whyy..
im a young teenager so i understand alot. like first of all, why are the kids talking to them , if they dont kno who it is, they shudent add them to there messenger list! i love msn messenger and dont want to get it takin away from some kids that arent acting responsiblie on the internet ! so why arent there parents watching them more?
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RebeccaMartinez, 2 Jun 2006 @ 6:35pm

Re: Re: Not in their name
i dont know how to get to the kid chatrooms
[ link to this | view in thread ]
haley, 13 Jul 2006 @ 3:59am

i do not have a clur=e wat ur on avbout
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i am haley and i am 10 and i do not have a CLUE WAT U ARE ON ABOUT so will u make it more clear next time thanks laterz haley ps do not forget to make it more cleaer or else wqtch your back
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Robert Pat, 17 Aug 2006 @ 1:02am

About Msn Messenger and chat rooms.
All Msn should do is with there chat rooms have age group means should like this.
16-18
18-25
25-30
30-38
38-45
45-60
soon as you log on a chat room you have buy it owed for a month if you want you have pay for it
and they should no who are in a chat room. Or Msn send a E-mail to all msn people used there service for free that they onley allowed have 2 E-mails with names if get third E-mail you buy it. That way you crack spammers down.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mona, 27 Aug 2006 @ 6:29pm

chat
i need to chat safe because some people i heard got killed from this fuckin chat
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mona, 27 Aug 2006 @ 6:31pm

stinkin site fuk this u know what im one of them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mona, 27 Aug 2006 @ 6:34pm

Re: hi peeeplz
ur an asshole im and im sorry to say but ur not mature/asshole u stink bitch
[ link to this | view in thread ]
meg, 11 Sep 2006 @ 5:12am

help
i need to get on me hotmail n check me email do but me shools blocked it can any1 giv me a site that isnt
[ link to this | view in thread ]
fyi_bco, 14 Sep 2006 @ 4:33pm

Re: Re: what about msn messanger?
Your answer is incorrect. All chat in msn will be shutting down. Here's info from their tech people:

"As customers continue to evolve and change the way they communicate, the number of people using chat has significantly declined and chat has become a less popular method of communication with customers. Microsoft looked at the MSN Chat user numbers and the chat room industry on the whole and determined that discontinuing this service would allow us to focus on providing an even better online experience to the broadest set of Microsoft communication services customers. With this, MSN Chat will no longer be offered as of October 2006.
In line with this, the chat feature within MSN Groups will also be affected. However, please note that MSN Groups will continue to be a free service and will not be closing down."

I for one am very glad to see MSN step up and shut down something that did start out to be something fun to something being very dangerous for not only young but old.

People have missused, abused, obsessed and done things that they would have never dreamed of doing before the internet and chatrooms appeared. How many men or women do you know that used 900#'s, visited actuall hookers, or frequently used their cell phones to contact strangers...........yet with a few clicks you can jump into a fantasy world that truely isn't fantasy, because before you know it you're not just talking in the chatrooms, you're making secret phone calls and meeting up with these people.

I applaud MSN even tho their intention is to only protect children.............there are older children that just can't seem to keep out of trouble in those chat rooms too.
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unknown, 28 Sep 2006 @ 5:34pm

Re: Re: Not in their name
yea i know they shouldn't let kids get on anything that they want to that is just wrong.Because some kids do stuff that they are not supose to and it is not good. "I" think that kids should have audult super vision at all times when on the internet.Because kids are doin the same thing at school's to because teatchers are not watchin them very good...soo"ATTITION" to all teatchers i mean no harm to you and your teatching. SINCERLY, Destiny poole
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Sep 2006 @ 5:37pm

Re: what about msn messanger?
i hope not.cuz i have MSN
[ link to this | view in thread ]
David, 29 Sep 2006 @ 2:03am

New Chat
Where will we go now MSN is closing?
RedFox is a new network of chat rooms, which includes replacements for some of MSN's most popular rooms, such as Grapevine Edge (RF Edge).
What about security?
If any perverts actually do enter our chat rooms, their IP is recorded, and that user can be banned and reported (a screen shot should be sent of the chatter in action, details how to do this are on the website).
Will there be a messenger if MSN deides to close that too?
Yes, we are currently in the proces of launching FoxBuddy, a messenger similar to MSN messenger. It will be free, and always will be free.
Will we ever start charging?
We will NEVER charge to use our FoxBuddy messenger or chat rooms, we don't believe in playing on people's fears to make money (unlike MSN).
But I liked MSN groups
No problem, we are also in the process of launching RF groups, and unlike MSN, if you join one group, you don't need to register with another, you will have the same username and password for every group. The groups will also be free.
Won't chat load slow?
No, unimportant parameters have been taken out of the chat room code. As soon as you click on the chat room, you can enter your nickname and start chatting straight away!
I want to register my nickname.
No problem, it only takes 2 seconds. Details are at the bottom of every chat room page. It is also free to register. Is this just an illegal copy of MSN?
No. It is not a copy at all. We do not use ANY of MSN's chat room code, we have no desire for our chat rooms to close when MSN's does. In fact, our rooms are a different style. When MSN chat closes, we will still be around.
http://redfox.co.nr
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Scot, 29 Sep 2006 @ 2:43am

Re: New Chat
I reccomend this chat site, especially the RF Edge room, it had 50 users in the other day, and more wanted to get in, so the admin (RedSquirrel) changed the room to allow 100 users in. It then built up to 89 users, and finally at one point even had 100 users in. It's really popular to say it's only just been launched!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Joel, 29 Sep 2006 @ 7:23am

Re: New Chat
I use RedFox too, can't wait for the messenger. Apparently it will be launched on Monday or Tuesday! Cool site, great chat rooms. Great host you have there too, really friendly not stuck up.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dave, 30 Sep 2006 @ 11:39am

Re: Re: New Chat
Yeah, I use RedFox too. Sometimes it's not too busy but always someone in, others it's packed to the rafters!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Noel, 1 Oct 2006 @ 12:10pm

Re: New Chat
Can't say I have ever had any problems with RedFox, it's a great little site with hundreds of users (the counter is reset regularly). I reccomend it.

www.redfox.co.nr
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jaqui, 4 Oct 2006 @ 9:15am

ReL New Chat
yeah, RedFox is a good site to chat, very popular.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jack Frances, 10 Oct 2006 @ 2:46am

RE: redfox.co.nr
highly reccomended!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VIKKI, 18 Oct 2006 @ 2:36am

Re: RE: redfox.co.nr
HIYA ENY FIT BOY'S THERE
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VIKKI, 18 Oct 2006 @ 2:41am

RE redfox.co
hello there I hear this is some where you cam toke because there is some peaple that come on hear but never speek I think that is shit dont you well can peaple come on so wee can talk 2 hot sister's hear wanting to talk to hot boy's plaice
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VIKKI, 18 Oct 2006 @ 2:43am

RE redfox.co
hello there I hear this is some where you cam toke because there is some peaple that come on hear but never speek I think that is shit dont you well can peaple come on so wee can talk 2 hot sister's hear wanting to talk to hot boy's plaice
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marion McBride, 20 Oct 2006 @ 11:54am

Re: MSN
Hi, I just saw your comment about MSN chat rooms, I have a group on MSN and we HAD a chat room which only members could enter. I'm so annoyed with MSN as I pay for my group room and now we can't have live quiz nights anymore. Trying to find a new chat room is so difficult as the ones I found so far let anyone in. I have payed for a chat room on Buzzen but anyone can enter and I'm fed up with throwing people out that are not my members.
regards Marion
[ link to this | view in thread ]
David, 24 Oct 2006 @ 5:19am

Re: MSN
Marion, have a search in Google for free chat room providers.

If I were you, I would be demanding my money back from MSN, as they are not providing what you paid for and I believe they may have a duty by law to do that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RedFox, 24 Oct 2006 @ 7:52am

New Chat
Note: RF Groups has been replaced by RedFox Community Forums. Where will we go now MSN is closing? RedFox is a new network of chat rooms, which includes replacements for some of MSN's most popular rooms, such as Grapevine Edge (RF Edge). Can I create my own chat room? Yes. And it's free. Your room will be hosted on our site. Plus there is the option of a bot for your chat room, which is also free. What about security? If any unsavoury users do actually enter our chat rooms, their IP is recorded, and that user can be banned and reported (a screen shot should be sent of the chatter in action, details how to do this are on the website). Will there be a messenger if MSN deides to close that too? Yes, we are currently in the process of launching FoxBuddy, a messenger similar to MSN messenger. It will be free, and always will be free. This is nearly ready to be launched. Will we ever start charging? We will NEVER charge to use our FoxBuddy messenger or chat rooms, we don't believe in playing on people's fears to make money (unlike MSN). However, at one point, in the future, we MAY have banner or text ads on our pages. But I liked MSN groups MSN Groups are still around, just without the chat rooms. However, we at RedFox have launched RedFox Community Forums. If you register for one group, you can post on any. I want to register my nickname. No problem, it only takes 2 seconds. Details are at the bottom of every chat room page. It is also free to register. Is this just an illegal copy of MSN? No. It is not a copy at all. We do not use ANY of MSN's chat room code, we have no desire for our chat rooms to close when MSN's does. In fact, our rooms are a different style. When MSN chat closes, we will still be around. Please note: The MSN chat clones are NOT permitted to use MSN's controls, despite what any clone admin tells you. Certain sites are being investigated by MSN, as they are using the MSN code and chat interface without permission, which IS illegal - though certain clone admins will falsely tell you otherwise. What about support? All support at RedFox is free. Queries are answered ASAP, though at weekends and certian times it may take longer than usual - up to around 72 hours.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RedFox, 24 Oct 2006 @ 7:54am

New Chat
Note: RF Groups has been replaced by RedFox Community Forums. Where will we go now MSN is closing?
RedFox is a new network of chat rooms, which includes replacements for some of MSN's most popular rooms, such as Grapevine Edge (RF Edge). Can I create my own chat room?
Yes. And it's free. Your room will be hosted on our site. Plus there is the option of a bot for your chat room, which is also free.
What about security?
If any unsavoury users do actually enter our chat rooms, their IP is recorded, and that user can be banned and reported (a screen shot should be sent of the chatter in action, details how to do this are on the website).
Will there be a messenger if MSN deides to close that too?
Yes, we are currently in the process of launching FoxBuddy, a messenger similar to MSN messenger. It will be free, and always will be free. This is nearly ready to be launched.
Will we ever start charging?
We will NEVER charge to use our FoxBuddy messenger or chat rooms, we don't believe in playing on people's fears to make money (unlike MSN). However, at one point, in the future, we MAY have banner or text ads on our pages.
But I liked MSN groups
MSN Groups are still around, just without the chat rooms. However, we at RedFox have launched RedFox Community Forums. If you register for one group, you can post on any.
I want to register my nickname.
No problem, it only takes 2 seconds. Details are at the bottom of every chat room page. It is also free to register.
Is this just an illegal copy of MSN?
No. It is not a copy at all. We do not use ANY of MSN's chat room code, we have no desire for our chat rooms to close when MSN's does. In fact, our rooms are a different style. When MSN chat closes, we will still be around.

Please note: The MSN chat clones are NOT permitted to use MSN's controls, despite what any clone admin tells you. Certain sites are being investigated by MSN, as they are using the MSN code and chat interface without permission, which IS illegal - though certain clone admins will falsely tell you otherwise.
What about support?
All support at RedFox is free. Queries are answered ASAP, though at weekends and certian times it may take longer than usual - up to around 72 hours.
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ELLIE, 28 Oct 2006 @ 1:01am

Re: Re: Not in their name
I watch my daughter while on the net as there are really nasty eliment even there own age you dont need any other risks to our children
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dallies, 7 Nov 2006 @ 9:05am

dogs
does any1 have a dog.i have 2
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Emma, 29 Dec 2006 @ 2:43pm

RedFox
Hi I' can't get into redfox, keep getting an error, any ideas thanks :)
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hemendradagur, 15 Jun 2008 @ 2:46am

mydear
gvvxstyvdvbyhhjsdhbsx
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Leon, 20 Sep 2008 @ 1:15pm

science
hey everyone why do kids wanta really come online well i will tell u why because they wanna chat when they get bored or because they just wanna have fun....well i always wanted to chat online when i was little too yes i did but i figured out that it was BAD i know alot about childrens and aldult aldults come on here to meet new people or to talk or to have a lover if there bored but many other people are lonley and lots get kidnapped thats not good............
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leon, 20 Sep 2008 @ 1:23pm

I LOVE CHATTING HERE
WELLL THERE U ALL GO BYE

SEE YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ALLLLL LOL HEHEHHEHE BAHAHAHAA
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tara, 12 Oct 2008 @ 8:35am

oh seems redfox is a copycat cos there is only ONE official Grapevine Edge and thats the former official MSN UK Grapevine Edge run by Mello Millie BlushingBabe and Pinky that has its chatroom on OASIZ.NET It still also has its official msn uk group

18 & over only tho

It's chatroom did move to that buzzen place when msn closed chat but then they (Mello Blush & co ) moved it to join Oasiz
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tara, 12 Oct 2008 @ 8:47am

18 & over and want to chat? www.oasiz.net join me & the good peeps of Grapevine Edge it's not always the busiest room there but it's the best!!!!! :) :) :)

oh and join the group to

http://groups.msn.com/GrapevineEdge

tara
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nicole, 31 Oct 2008 @ 5:36am

Msn
omg ii can not believe they have even considered shutting msn down,, what the hell are we supose to do,, theres nothiing else o n the internet please reconsider
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Judy, 17 Feb 2010 @ 6:24am

Aol Chat rooms
Thay are usless and horrible, and should be shut down
Everytime a person trys to start a decnt conversation
someone shows up it insult, be abusive, stalk, and be
nasty.. Then also there are children exposed to all
of the pediphiles..Seems only low life people use
aol chat rooms..Ignoring doesn't work.. They come back
PLEASE SHUT DOWN AOL CHAT ROOMS.. SO THESE PEOPLE
WILL STOP...WIDOWS ROOM IS THE WORST..SAVAGELY
CRUEL AND HORRIBLE COMMENTS ABOUT MY DEAD HUSBAND
I REPORTED IT AND AOL DID ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING.
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samuelsinn, 8 Jul 2012 @ 4:29pm

long and gone
so i use to chat on MSN when i was a kid with in a few weeks of MSN shuting down all its chat servers every chater that was on msn migrated to other servers and so on. over time the chat service is dieing out. thay are becomeing less and less as the world see that there is no reason for them anymore. why chat in a chat room when you can text ? why bother with a computer when you have your phone ? its been almost id say 9-10 years since msn closed down. and we still from time to time look back on the old and out dated times. and say. why did it go south like this. i look back and go. damn where do i go from here, the shats that where around when i was a kid yes soime where dirty and filled with content not suted for a child but you know what. its still around today. insted of meting perverts nad pedofiles and other things like that in chat rooms now there meting them on blogs. and on twiter and placese like that socel networking has become the new chat room. and still we as a hole will migrate onwords to the next thing and the next thing. in time maybe all socel networking will go the way of the chat room. dieing at the hands of big bisnus that wants to hide some dirty secrit about there sites. just wait youll see
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Matt, 8 May 2014 @ 5:45pm

Chat
Well I still miss the MSN chat rooms I meet some great people there, including my now partner of 10 years. So I thought I'd share these chat rooms in Australia as an alternative, they seem to be getting plenty of attention from what I'm hearing.
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Linda (profile), 18 Feb 2021 @ 11:35pm

You can chatting with someone here: http://datingreviews.com.au/
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