Xat may be introducing a new power that will give chat owners some added power to help combat problem users.

Code named 42 (the name “mute” is being tossed around), this power will allow an owner (we’re not clear on if it’s owner or main owner only) to turn off a users ability to interact with the chat. The key here, and what makes this power so unique, is that the user won’t know when it happens.

Confused? This example should help clear things up a bit:

What ProblemUser sees:

ProblemUser: “You all suck!”
Owner: “Please stop or we will ban you”
ProblemUser: “I will just unban myself, buahahaha!
Owner: ProblemUser BANNED forever
ProblemUser: “I’m back and I will just keep unbanning myself!”
ProblemUser: “I rule this chat. You can’t do a thing about it”
Owner: “How are you Lisa?”
ProblemUser: “Lisa sucks! Hahaha… I’m the coolest and this chat sucks!”
Lisa: Hi Owner, I’m good thank you.
Owner: Glad to hear it Lisa

What everyone else in the chat sees:

ProblemUser: “You all suck!”
Owner: “Please stop or we will ban you”
ProblemUser: “I will just unban myself, buahahaha!
Owner: ProblemUser BANNED forever
ProblemUser: “I’m back and I will just keep unbanning myself!”
Owner: **MUTE ProblemUser for 2 hours**
Owner: “How are you Lisa?”
Lisa: Hi Owner, I’m good thank you.
Owner: Glad to hear it Lisa

Still confused? So is ProblemUser. He’ll continue his insults right in the chat; what he won’t know, at least for sometime, is that apart from just getting pwned, no one will be able to see what he’s typing. Eventually, ProblemUser will catch on, unban, and the process will repeat itself. Will ProblemUser get frustrated and give up? We think so.

Xat is currently testing a Gag power (see image above) that will appear alongside the normal ban button and allow the gagging of a bothersome user up to a maximum of one hour.

Think of the gag power as a kinder, more gentler, banned option. Instead of the familiar and more severe “you’re banished I don’t want to see you”, you’re simply saying “please be quiet for a minute”.