Disagree. I used to participate in chat on a regular nightly basis & many friendships were made via chat - including visiting an FTer in New Zealand 10 years ago when I was there & whom I only knew from chat. He & his family were quite kind to me & showed me around. I've also met many other FTers on chat - and had many good conversations on a nightly basis (granted, easier to do when I lived on the west coast so it was earlier my time).

I'm still irritated that a corporation of IB's size that deals w/ nothing but internet bulletin boards can't figure out multiple years later how to have a decent chat Quite frankly I think less of IB because of that. But then again, given how many other things IB can't get their act together on - including a decent mobile app - perhaps I shouldn't be surprised they can't get their act together on chat.

But chat is definitely not passe.

Cheers. Sharon