Originally Posted by Kaefer

Laura,

Phester is not leaving the minute you come in. IF a user in the chatroom leaves without click the red "X," (by clicking the "Forums" item in the site, for example, or by simply going to another site), that person's "echo" remains in the chatroom. S/he has left, but the system THINKS s/he's still there. The minute the next person logs in, the system refreshes, and dumps the echo; hence the appearance that the second you come in, another user is leaving. Phester was probably the last one there before you came in, but he had probably left several minutes before you came. Hope that makes sense...

Juan