Some Ideas for Helionet.org

[Trippin]

I personally wouldn't mind the IRC chat.

[CriBaby]

I would greatly enjoy an IRC chat with a web interface for people to join if they don't understand IRC. Bots would work (and I enjoy writing them, so that'd be fun).

 

Shoutboxes actually slow the activity of the forum but they do get people to return more readily. A site I frequent has one and people are always in it talking, even when the boards are slow.