Sort members on 'Online' next to 'Random, Recently added and 'Alphabetical'

[Zohra]

I wonder why we don't have the option to 'sort members on online-status' next to 'Random, Recently Added and Alphabetical'. It's strange that we still cant see who is or who is not online in our social networks?

I wish we could have the following option:

'Sort men online'
'Sort women online'

The 'online indicators 'are gone for quite some time now, will we get them back?

Thanks,
Zohra

[Evan]

Hey Zohra!

I think online indicators have been gone just since yesterday, and we're aiming to bring them back today. As for being able to sort members by who's online, that's something we'd like to add in the coming months, but it will likely be sorting purely from members who are online in your Ning Network's chat feature.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Zohra]

Hey Evan,

Thanks for the answer...

It's a pity to see that ning is planning to show online who is online in the chatfeature..

Fromt other networks i have noticed that an online indicator drives members back to the social network. When members are seen on the online page, other members can send them email or an instantmessage for a chatrequest, this is something i would realy like!

The chatfeature by the way, works only when people are really inside the chatroom, it doesn't really work when i appear online in the chatroom but when i am surfing another page inside the network i cant see when someone is talking to me.

Maybe a similar chat system like we can find on facebook would be cool for ning networks, like a blinking message indicator or something, so we can see when someone is trying to talk to us. Right now we really have to be in the chat to see that!

Mabe a suggestion would be, with an online memberpage, with a small link that says: 'Send instant message' so we can start a privatchat with this particular person. Lots of my members have been asking for such a thing!

I really hope this will be able in te future....

Anyway, thanks for your reply :)

Cheers,
Zohra

[Evan]

Thanks for your feedback Zohra. Keep in mind that if a Ning Network has chat, you are "online in chat" unless you explicitly turn it off. So most members who are on the Ning Network at the time should appear in the list.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Zohra]

The chat just doesn't work for me and for my members also... because of the reasons mentioned above Evan...

Members keep asking for an 'online page', I told them that it's not in my power but in NING's.

Anyway, thanks, but i am afraid NING just doesn't see the importance of an 'online-page' just as we and the members do :(

Cheers,
Zohra

[Evan]

Hey Zohra,

You've got me somewhat confused I'm afraid. I said above that we plan on having a place where you view members, "sorting purely from members who are online in your Ning Network's chat feature." That sounds like exactly what you're asking for, so could you explain what you see as the problem here?


/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Zohra]

Hi Evan,

What i mean is a page where we can see all members that are currently online inside the network. From the memberspage we should be able to sort not only on Recently added, or Most popular but also on 'online status' and FROM that page be able to start a privatechat with that particular person :-)

The current chatfeature only shows who is online in the CHAT, but no one ever looks in the chat to see who is online there. This is not what they first think of when they want to browse online members.

Sometimes i see a lot of members online in the chat and when i try to start a chatconversation with someone inside the chat, no one ever answers, because they ARE online yes but on another page inside the network.

Showing online in the chat, doesnt nevessarily mean you can have a chat with that person, because they are not on the chatpage, there fore we need a separate online page and a linkt that allows us to send an IM to that particular person for a chat request, or an 'online friends page'. Something similar to the facebook IM service!

I hope i made things more clear now :)

Cheers!
Zohra

[Evan]

Hey Zohra,

At the same time, you've also pointed something out. Just because you're "Online" in chat doesn't mean you're actively chatting. So it would essentially be a list of everyone on your Ning Network who has not turned off/signed out from Chat.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Jen]

Hi Evan,
On the same topic - - just an observation: I've been amazed at how many members "turn off" their Chat status indefinitely. And, I don't necessarily think it's because they don't want to be seen as "online". They just don't care to chat. So, with that said, I don't feel that the online chat status gives a close enough status, of who's really online.
Best,
Jen

[Zohra]

I am also not realy fond of chatting in the ning chatroom... always i see lots of people online there, but no one ever answers when i try to talk to them, so the chat feature is pointless, just you can see who is online there!

I wonder wh it's SO HARD to separte the online people on a separate page, based on 'an architectural point of view'. When you can show who is online in chat, i think you can also show who is online on a page, right?

Thanks!
Zohra

[celina[D]]

I totally agree with every word

[Dana]

Ive added a custom "Online Now" icon to members who are online on my boyfriend's network.

As far as the NING chat, we took it off and added a Cbox which we pay $2 a month for and we had it integrated so members didnt have to sign up for it seperately.

I like the idea of having members being sorted by those that are online!

[Holly Dilatush]

I was just searching on Creators Ning to see if I could find out info on adding a sort for Members of "Online now."

I would love to have this option. 

I know some of the members of our site would love it too.

I also know some members would NOT (these are members who visit daily, give a lot to the community, but purposely choose to "go invisible" (disconnect) from the chat when they log on, precisely because too many other members 'bother'/interrupt/distract them.

Any updates on adding this sort feature?

Thanks,

Holly