We are seeing ever increasing numbers of "want to chat" type posts in the forums. The moderators and admins agree that these are inappropriate, so in future all such posts will be deleted. You are able to give your Instant Messenger details in your profile, and the site has a chatroom for chatting in. It is likely that anyone who wants to chat will be in the chatroom already. Also, EC is NOT a dating site. Posts along these lines will be deleted, and anyone found to be persistently sending dating/hook-up type PMs or messages in the chatroom is likely to be banned. A code of conduct for the site (including forum and chatroom) is being prepared and will be online by the end of the weekend. This will include the above points.
I think you misinterpreted what he was saying. He doesn't want people specifically using EC as a dating site, by making posts on the forum saying things like, "Hey, any 15 year olds want to chat?" or, "Anyone looking for a boyfriend?" The chat room is still here for casual chatting just like always.
Yes, exactly as 24601 says. If you are already dating someone then having a private chat in the chatroom is fine (though you may want to use MSN, AIM or Yahoo instead, as private chats in the chatroom here can still be seen by the mods).
What if you came to EC with no intention of finding someone and then found someone you really liked and decided to get together?
Well that's ok - as long as you "got together" by what Paul has expressed as being appropriate for Empty Closets =] Ie - if you got to know each other through PMs and the forum then this would be acceptable.
