I tried it once. Everyone was saying hello and by the time you replied they had gone. No one seemed to specify what they wanted to chat about, so I suppose that I was just supposed to guess. I ended feeling that I was talking to myself, so I gave up and never bothered again. The really funny part was the box at the bottom of the screen, which mostly read, "1 person in the chat room". At least one HF member enjoyed talking to themselves
Absolutely. I can read thread or one of the replies, then make cup of tea and reply at leisure. Both the OP and the member I replied to is notified, so the thread can develop.