| We use ICQ, MSN and Yahoo Chat services. These notes will hopefully answer some FAQ's |
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| IF WE DON'T REPLY FOR HOURS We try to respond as quickly as possible but sometimes it can take a long time and we're sorry if this happens. There's several reasons, usually it's a combination of the following... >> There are too many people to chat to. >> We use the computers for work and this sometimes has to take priority. >> The computers are always on even when we're out. >> We're really busy and often work12 hours or more a day, when this happens there's very little time for anything else. >> We don't see messages arriving, usually because there's too many things happening on the screen. IF WE DON'T REPLY FOR DAYS It could be that we're REALLY busy and just haven't got time or it might be that we're away. The computers are nearley always turned on even whilst we're away. IF WE DON'T REPLY AT ALL Sometimes messages aren't received, this seems to happen more with ICQ. It doesn't always help that we run ICQ pretty close to it's limit and sometimes it overloads, when this happens no new messages are received. If we receive a message we will reply, we think it's rude not to. The exception is when something obscene or offensive is sent. NAMES, NUMBERS ETC The general ICQ number is 16468069. There are several others, if you have a different number please use it. Chatroom number is 269444947. MSN user name is [email protected] or [email protected]. Yahoo user name is monika_and_shells. You can contact us using ICQ or Yahoo or join the chatroom from the Contact Us Page WHY ARE WE ALWAYS IN DO NOT DISTURB/BUSY MODES? It halves the number of chat requests we get which means there's twice the chance we'll be able to respond to messages. Any other mode and we get inundated. ARE WE EVER OFF-LINE? Very rarely. The computers are on 24/7 and unless we're away for several days or the things are broken then they'll be switched on. Messages are received in connection with work which is why the chat services are always on. WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO SEND MESSAGES? Based on UK time. There's not really a best time. We both work long hours and can return any time between 6pm (@750) and 10pm (@917), often we're out in the evening and sometimes away at weekends. There's some nights when we're up very late but on other mohjts we're early to bed. If there was such a thing as a 'best time' it would probably be later on in weekday evenings, perhaps from 8pm (@833) to midnight (@000) and the 'worst time' would be during the night and the working day (times are based on GMT). ANNOYING MESSAGE APPEARS WHEN YOU MESSAGE US ON ICQ That's because we're in Do Not Disturb mode. It's not practical to come out of DND mode, the only way round it is to change the alert/accpet settings. If you're on our contact list we'll do this, if you're not on our contact list then it's something that we can't do anything about - sorry. (see also the notes about adding to contact lists). WHAT WILL WE CHAT ABOUT? Almost anything as long as it's not too personal or offensive. Check the Contact Notes Page for more details. WHAT WON'T WE CHAT ABOUT? Anything which is crude, pornographic or offensive. We don't do cyber sex and we don't discuss our private lives - please don't ask. If we don't like the way the conversation is going we'll request the subject is changed. WHO WILL WE CHAT TO? Anyone at all. We're not ageist, racist, sexist or anything like that so we're not bothered who you are, where you're from etc. The only 'rule' as such is that there are certain things we won't chat about if you're underage. IF YOU RECEIVE STRANGE MESSAGES We can usually manage up to 6 chats at the same time, any more than that and we get confused and start sending the wrong messages to people. Ignore us if we start doing this. IF WE'RE SLOW TO REPLY Probably cos we're trying to chat to too many people at once or, as often happens, because we're working at the same time. If you get peed off we'll understand if you stop chatting. IF WE SUDDENLY STOP REPLYING Could be different reasons - we may have died on the spot or if there's only one of us here it's probably a phone that's ringing, we're also on-line in connection with work so it may be to do with that. If anyone starts getting offensive or crude we'll stop replying. SENDING PICTURES, FILES ETC VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE TELL US BEFORE YOU SEND ANYTHING We need to know when you're about to send a file or the computer might reject it. If we're using ICQ we need to take steps to prevent ICQ from crashing. Files can only be sent or received if you're on our contact list - see the notes about adding to contact lists. STARTING CHATS It's likely that when you send a message it will take us a while to respond - in some cases it could be many hours or even days. We might be away or really busy and don't notice when new messages come in, please don't think we're ignoring you. PERSONAL DETAILS We NEVER EVER give out personal details, please don't be offended if you ask and we refuse to give them. We never have and we never will. If it's genuinely vital to post something we have a PO Box forwarding address, if it's genuinely vital to speak on the phone then we will arrange for a third party to ring you. MASKING OF PERSONAL DETAILS Because anyone can access chat services, this web-site etc we sometimes mask personally identifiable information. Please do not attempt to trace us using the information you think you know about us - it will not work and you'll waste your time. Please also note that there are other people called Monika Steiner and Michelle Rimaldi - do not contact them - it won't be us. MEETING UP We NEVER EVER meet up with people no matter how nice they are, please don't be offended if you ask and we decline. If it's genuinely vital to meet up we will arrange for a third party to meet you, KIND OFFERS Thankyou so much for the kind offers people have made in the past - these really are appreciated. However, for the same reasons mentioned above it is probable that we will decline them, and again, no offence is meant by this. E-MAIL ADDRESSES, CHATROOMS ETC You can contact us from the Contact Us page, for more details please see the notes on the Contact Notes page. ADDING TO CONTACT LISTS Fine with us, don't need to ask. With ICQ there is a limit to the number of people you can have on the contact list and on all but 2 ICQ accounts we've reached the limit. It means it's unlikely we'll be able to add you which in turn means not being able to send or receive files, not being able to use web-cams, not being able to over-ride the annoying messages that pop up cos we're in DND, not being able to open an ICQ chat window and not being able to use other services as well. Unfortunately we're not aware of any practical solution - if you know of one please let us know. ANYTHING ELSE You can contact us from the Contact Us page and there's general info about contacting us on the Contact Notes page. Anything else - please ask. THE HEAVY STUFF 99% of the people we chat with are fine, there's the odd idiot so for the benefit of them we have a few 'standards. We've stuck them on another page out of the way cos we don't really like them, If you're one of the 1% who's thinking of being rude, offensive, obscene or illegal then click here. |
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