5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the chat amount detected within the time window.
1. A method comprising: determining a chat amount within a time window in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determining a chat distance associated with the environmental chat based, at least in part, on the chat amount, wherein the chat distance comprises a radius defining a chat area around the avatar within which the avatar receives conversations between avatars in the area of the virtual universe; and modifying the chat distance in response to a change in the chat amount in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the modified chat distance is based, at least in part, on the changed chat amount.