RFE: Don't open public chat until user requests it to open

Currently, the "Public Chat" box appears, starts flashing, and makes a noise as soon as anyone posts something in public chat. Even if the logged-in user acknowledges the public chat by opening the window and then closing it, it will again appear when anyone in public chat posts something.

I don't quite understand why this is the default behavior -- I would think that if the user hasn't opened the chat list and actually requested to talk in the chat room, it shouldn't notify them of new posts.

This is, of course, different than a direct IM -- for that, it makes sense that a new box should appear, since the user is being singled out. I just don't understand why public chat is a push versus pull interaction model.