Camfrog

Infobox Website
name = Camfrog Video Chat
url = http://www.camfrog.com
type = online chat
language = All
owner = Camshare LLC
Created by = Camshare LLC
launch date = 2003
Version = 5.1.127
current status = active

Camfrog is a video chat software program and community. It is owned by Camshare LLC. A limited version of the program is available as freeware on the company website with an option to upgrade to a full version.

Features

Users can browse both user-hosted and Camfrog-hosted video chat rooms, as well as engage in private instant messaging. Video chat rooms include language oriented rooms (including many sign language rooms), rooms for singles, rooms aimed at users from specific countries, trivia oriented rooms, and adult only video chat. Like other similar chat and instant message programs it requires registration and a unique username to log on. The website features a user directory with user profiles. Camfrog has deaf rooms, audio rooms, 18 plus (adult) rooms, general rooms & Camfrog owned rooms.

Users are distinguished by the colour of their names:
*Owners are red
*Operators are green
*Friends are blues
*General users are black
*Bold name means they are a pro user (using the commercial version of the software)
*Regular font weight means they are using the free version (using the free version makes all user names the regular font weight)

The latest version was released July 2008, Version 5.1.127. [ [http://download.camfrog.com/changecfc.phtml Camfrog Video Chat Changes] ]

Punishment

Camfrog owners and operators in camfrog owned rooms will punish and ban users who they deem disruptive, offensive, and generally don't like. Typical punishments range from 1 hour, to 3 days, whilst a ban typically lasts for 30 days. In extreme circumstances a user might be banned from logging into the program all together, around camfrog this is known as a 'mac ban' but it does not actually ban the mac address of your computer. Users who persistently disrupt camfrog owned rooms, and get around 'mac bans' have their 'pro code', the key used to unlock the commercial version, banned.

The Camfrog Rooms

Below is a list of the rooms available in the camfrog hosted section:
*Camfrog
*CamfrogAsia
*CamfrogScotland
*CamfrogWorld
*SuperCamfrog
*HablaEspanol
*Italiano
*Deutsch
*Single
*Francophone
*LatinoAmerica
*SpeakEnglish
*SignLanguage
*Vlaams
*CamfrogHelp

The User Helia is an owner in all Camfrog owned rooms, she has the power to create Co-owners, operators, and friends of the room.

peakEnglish

SpeakEnglish (one word) or commonly referred to as SE is one of the mid sized Camfrog owned rooms. The rooms main co-owner is Babsie (formally babs2002ukus), with Covertops also manning a red seat. Babsie has not been online moderating the room much as of late, but will pop in to make a brief showing every so often.

The rules in force in SpeakEnglish are as follows:
*SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY in this room.
*No nudity or requesting that others get nude.
*No disrupting the room with repeated text, or spamming.
*Do not directly insult Users,Operators and Owners.
*No graphic sexual content.
*Do not violate the Camfrog TOS.
*No profanity.
*No Music allowed in this room.

Although in the rules state you must not violate the camfrog TOS (Terms of service), users between 13 and 18 years of age can be found in the room without adult supervision, despite rule 1 of the terms of service stating:'The Camfrog site related services may not be used by any user under the age of thirteen (13). The Camfrog site related services may not be used by users between the ages of thirteen (13) and eighteen (18) without adult supervision.' [ [http://camfrog.com/terms.phtml Camfrog Video Chat Terms of service] ]

SpeakEnglish Operators vary vastly in age, ability, interaction with users, and many other areas. SpeakEnglish has in the past had operators that are disabled in some way. Some have been deaf, others have suffered from conditions such as Asperger syndrome.

SpeakEnglish has started introducing 'friends' which is a topic for debate. Previously the Co-owner babsie stated that SpeakEnglish will have no blue users (friends), as every users is a friend of the room. Friends were supposed to be operators in other Camfrog owned rooms, but as of late, Friend status is being bestowed on other 'preferred' users.

SpeakEnglish has much 'Drama', where users go out of their way to disrupt the room. The term 'drama' has a broard meaning in the room, and can include:
*Over use of a word, for instance saying 'hiya' but extending the 'ya' sound can lead to a user being punished/banned.
*Debating with other users
*Arguing with other users
*Referring to products derived from a pig to of Muslim persons (strangely not Jewish too)

Favouritism.... Some users are clearly preferred by certain operators, despite the fact that everyone should be treated equal. The reverse also happens where an operator will dislike a certain user, and they will be punished for something rather minor, but a favourite user would be let of with a warning at worst.

References

ee also

*Webcam
*Videoconferencing
*Instant messaging
*Online chat

External links

* [http://www.camfrog.com/ Official Camfrog website]