They logged in to chat rooms for some real-time discussions about the faith with those in need of Christ. While productive to an extent, the effort eventually ran out of steam. People lost interest or got busy with their studies and other pursuits, and Hogue tired of trying to keep the effort going. But he never lost his vision. While Hogue reports no conversions from that effort, several chatters responded positively.
Web sites are too passive, requiring surfers to seek out information.
Chat, however, is both interactive and immediate. The use of nicknames and the absence of non-verbal cues removes barriers to expression of thoughts. Of course, the chat environment also fosters negative characteristics. Most famous is the example of cybersex chat rooms, where the language and role-playing can get pretty raw. But let's look at the positive side of anonymity.