[euclidz]

Where is the 'Lobby'? After logging in and selecting a group the 'chat' defaults to Lobby. Where is the Lobby - where does that text go?
Why does the Lobby exist?

[Rfulrabbit]

i think the old bbo we logged on and saw a screen of multiple logged on players. that was the lobby.
and you post broadcast chats there.
it isactually noisy
my cat once slept on the keyboard, stuck a key and produced a manifesto.

[euclidz]

Why does the Lobby exist?
I switched on 'show lobby chat' and every 2 seconds a message came up from someone who clearly did not know that they were talking to the Lobby and thought they were talking to their table. The posters of those message would not know that they were not read by their intended target as they appear on his/her screen and the intended targets would not read them as their 'show Lobby chat' would be off.
Why does the Lobby exist?
There is NO reason for its existence AND it is counter productive causing unnecessary confusion but small glitches in the free software is acceptable . . . oops it's not free!

[jillybean]

The Lobby exists to provide entertainment for lurkers wanting a giggle over messages that were inadvertently sent to the wrong place. It was considerably more entertaining before BBO applied the profanity filter!

In the good old days, when BBO was in its infancy, you could actually find a partner or opponents just by chatting in the lobby, or chat globally.
Now, the Lobby is just a software fix in the queue.