Years ago there was LOTS of chat on poker sites. And a lot of it was good! You'd meet players from all over the world while playing from your own livingroom.
It was great!
Players liked it!
Most people were respectful.
You would meet other players on the tables and often invite them to join the forum you played with.
AND the forum games had LOTS of chat! Almost all of it was friendly! Players got to know each other and some even became friends!
There were also special events held online where forums would play off against each other in tournaments (with some great prizes added... & bragging rights of course). You'd meet other players in the chat there too and 99% of the chat was FRIENDLY!
So... what happened?