My opinion would be that SignalR would be the better choice, if not only because if you use SignalR. WebSockets it will automatically upgrade the connection to web sockets if the user's browser supports it. This way, over time, as users begin to upgrade the browsers and away from the long-polling scheme, the scalability of your chat application will actually get better.
Though your marked the answer, I am tempted to give this answer as I'd been through this and for long time as well.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.