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What it Is - Getting In - Maneuvering In - Operator Status

IRC is realtime discussion with other people, everywhere, on distinct "channels". IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat (aka, incorrectly, Internet Realtime Conversation, e.g.). Some of the best uses of IRC (and other chat arenas) are pre-arranged meetings or events, at predetermined times, advertised in advance, including 12-step support groups and meet-the-author events. But there's much to be said for the free flow of meeting random folks at random times, and a community has emerged from folks doing just that.

Getting to IRC: You will need an Internet account with either dialup (e.g. slip or ppp) or shell (e.g. Unix, telnet, or Ethernet) access.

• Software
  • From Unix shell account: At the prompt (e.g. "$"), type "help irc" to see if your system has it. You may need to type either "log on irc" or just "irc" to get in; check with your sys op or consult/acc office.
  • In Windows (Ethernet or slip/dialup): There are several freeware and shareware programs available. One favorite is MIRC); version 5.11 is 800K.
  • On a Macintosh: Popular software includes IRCle; see excellent step-by-step info.
• Server
  • Network: There are various networks of IRC channels, including EFNet and Undernet. If you know people who already use IRC, you may want to ask where/how they connect to IRC so that you will be able to find them.
  • Host: Each network of channels has various entry points; you can pick any server (or you may be assigned/forced one automatically, particularly via a Unix shell account) and find anyone else on that network, e.g. EFNet or Undernet. Here's a sample list of EFNet servers:
    

    	  irc2-1.netcom.com (Netcom)
    	  irc2-2.netcom.com (Netcom)
    	  irc2-3.netcom.com (Netcom)
    	  irc.io.org (Canada)
    	  irc.magic.mb.ca (Canada)
    	  irc.primenet.com (AZ)
    	  irc.blackened.com (AZ)
    	  irc-2.kern.com (CA)
    	  irc.cerf.net (CA)
    	  eff.org (CA)
    	  irc.cris.com (CA)
    	  irc.colorado.edu (CO)
    	  opus.bridge.net (FL)
    	  irc.law.emory.edu (GA)
    	  irc.mcs.net (IL)
    	  irc.mcs.net (IL)
    	  irc-2.mit.edu (MA)
    	  irc.mo.net (MO)
    	  taos.arc.unm.edu (NM)
    	  irc.liii.com (NY)
    	  irc.limited.net (OH)
    	  irc.ionet.net (OK)
    	  irc.epix.net (PA)
    	  irc.voicenet.com (PA)
    	  irc.pitt.edu (PA)
    	  irc.neosoft.com (TX)
    	  irc.phoenix.net (TX)
    	  irc.texas.net (TX)
    	  irc.psinet.com (VA)
    	  serine.cowly.uwlax.edu (WI)

    Unclear whether UUNET, EFNET, or Undernet is more popular, but here are some suggested hosts:

    	  irc.law.emory.edu
    	  eff.org
    	  irc.io.org
    	  irc.voicenet.com
    	  irc.gate.net
    	  irc.mo.net
    	  irc.neosoft.com
    	  irc.stanford.edu (for stanford only)
    	  irc.calpoly.edu

Also, MP3s are traded, such as on #mp3phish via irc.efnet.net

Maneuvering in IRC: Once in, you need a backslash before any command; anything else will be broadcast on the channel you're using. Once on, these commands (with requisite backslash shown) will be useful:

• "/join #phish" ... puts you on the Phish channel
• "/nick smitty" ... changes your nickname (id) to smitty
• "/part #phish" ... takes you off the Phish channel
• "/me bounces." ... sends "****Action: Smitty bounces."
• "/who #phish" ... tells you everyone on the channel
• "/whois smitty" ... tells you who smitty is
• "/whowas smitty" ... tells you who smitty was, if he was on while you were but has left
• "/msg smitty" ... sends a private message to smitty
• "/list" ... lists all channels (BUNCHES! & the list CANNOT be slowed down AFAIK
• "/query smitty" ... establishes a link of realtime talk w/o having to use msg & name repeatedly
• "/set novice off" ... allows you to be on >1 channel
• "/away getting coffee".. responds to /msg's with "Smitty away getting coffee"
• "/signoff" ... gets you out
• "/help" ... lists all commands
• "/help leapfrog" ... gives help on "leapfrog" command. (Note: leapfrog is not a command; just an example; works for any command.) Follow cross-references if confused!!

Operator stats (DIMP!): As the local UVA guru told me, "give people a great toy & they shit on it!" There are a number of hasslers, buttheads, and knackers, in IRC as everywhere. Some of them put in bugs, some fill or freeze screens, etc. (But, careful: There are also what are called "netsplits", which occur when the connection along the internet web disconnects -- these are usually temporary, so just wait them out.) To avoid the knacker crew, and to survive netsplits happily, you need to maintain an operator. The alias (or "nick") of each operator is listed with an "@" in front of it. Usually, at least one person in each channel is designated as an "operator"; anytime someone enters a channel that didn't previously exist, or which was otherwise empty, that person is designated an operator. This person has special powers, to kick off or ban annoying IRCers, change the topic (i like to put something with DUCK in it.. :-]), make the channel invite only or private, and give other people the powers (i.e. make them ops, too). Use these additional commands:

/mode #phish +o smitty      to make nick smitty an op on channel #phish
/mode #phish +i             to make channel invite only
/invite smitty              to invite smitty
/topic MIDNIGHT MADNESS, EVERY SUNDAY! BRING A DUCK
                            makes the topic  "MIDNIGHT MADNESS, EVERY SUNDAY! BRING A DUCK" ...

If you are the only operator and are leaving the channel (or signing off from IRC), try to make someone else an operator (aka "giving them ops" so they "have ops" too). Frequently, friends give friends ops to preserve sanctity and prevent any problems.

BTW, the topic appears 1) in the right column of the list of channels when someone uses the list command to see all the channels 2) on the screen with "*****TOPIC" in front of it when you join that channel, and 3) with "current topic is" in front of it, when you use the topic command "/topic" with no operators.

For information on other (EFNet) #phish users, see the #phish homepage. [old]

"We have moved from a society and economy in which technology was primarily an extension of human muscle, giving us strength to manipulate inert material -- a manufacturing and processing society -- to one in which technology functions to create information. ... The 'information age' signifies a new relationship between us and he world in which we live.""
-- Report of the Commission on the University of the 21st Century, 1989"