waves anyone up here?

@xCare Sure, what do you need?

hi Mokubai, if you're still there pehaps you can tell me if therre's a way to get in touch with some of the tech experts here?

@xCare Our main chat room is root access or you can ask a question on the site. This room is specifically for when you need moderator attention on something.

ok, is that the best way to reach out for expert help?

Generally yes, though it can be quite be quite sporadic as to if/when people can help. Patience is key, especially at the weekend...

I understand. Am I allowed to create a private chat room to discuss a specific question? I saw some rooms about 2 user discussions in the menu..

@xCare Yes, you can create a dedicated chat room for discussing a particular question, but not privately (everyone can see the content).

In fact, this is what we advise for extended discussions on questions, which are not well suited for comments.

@xCare Yes, after a number of chat comments on your question you should get a link that says "let's continue this in chat" which will create a chat room for you and copy all the comments so far into it.

In certain cases mods can force comments into a chat room too.

Okay, how many comments are needed (approx) to activate the chat feature?

@xCare But yes, there's nothing stopping you from creating a chat room specifically for your question.

@xCare something like 6 or 7, I think.

And how do I create a standalone chat room for a discussion or topic?

Go to the main Stack Exchange Chat page and click on create a new room at the bottom of the page.

@xCare You need 100 rep on a site to create a room yourself: superuser.com/help/privileges/chat-rooms

Okay, long way perhaps from that yet. I can always ask someone else who has the ability to start the room, can't I?

You can, gimme a moment, need to hunt down the Button of Doom

lol, sounds ominous

(Be advised that we have three independent chat servers that serve three different parts of the Stack Exchange network.)

@DragonLord The other Button of Doom.

@DragonLo, does that affect who users like me can contact or see?

Not familiar with this.

ok, nvm not important.

Thank you for the answers @Mokubai, @DragonLo, appreciate it. Don't mind me if I drop by to ask questions if I need, I find being inquisitive helps avoid surprises of the bad kind.

@Mokubai Six comments between the OP and one other user.

@xCare You should have access to your own chat room now.

Ignore the comment, it's auto-generated

okay

But yeah, mods or the "let's take this to chat" link can create a room for your question for you. The benefit doing it that way is that you can do it even when your rep is too low to enter chat normally as you are given direct explicit access to the room. Typically you need 20 rep to chat or 100 to create a room.

@Mokubai alright. I have bit over 20 rep, chat should be enough for now; if the topic needs a room, I'll ask.

@xCare Already done I'm afraid... ;) chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/29827/…

If it's distracting or you want it gone then let me know.

Oh thanks! appreciate it @Mokubai

I will.

If you leave it for a month or so it'll just vanish, so no need to let us know if it just fizzles out.

I see, if no one comments for a month you mean, it will go on its own?

or that it will go in a month?

Edit: or is that like an expiration date for such rooms, that they auto-close after a month?

@xCare chat.stackexchange.com/faq#retention

ok, that's cool. :)