Intro What is a client? How do I connect to your server? What is a nickname, how do I get one? Why is my nickname owned by someone else? What is a message of the day? I'm connected, now what? What are the basic commands? What are ChanServ and NickServ? What is a channel? What do I do in a channel? What are the people with @ and + next to their nicknames? I can't type in the channel, why? What does :) and AFK mean? Introduction to IRC Welcome to the Susan's Place Chat. Our chat is based off of Internet Relay Chat, or IRC, which is a Client/Server based application used to "talk" via typing text to many people in real time, in forums called channels, or one to one using query windows. Return to the top of the page 1: What is a client? To begin using the Chat you will need to do one of the following: A: Download one of these popular clients and install it: MIRC - www.mirc.co.uk B: Use our Web/Java Based IRC Client found here (no installation required): http://www.susans.org/chat Return to the top of the page 2: How do I connect to a server? MIRC or PIRCH will have an area to create an entry to connect to a server. The following information is needed for that entry: Name: Susan's Place Port: 6667 Server(s): irc.susans.org Return to the top of the page 3: What is a nickname, how do I get one? Your nickname in IRC is your identity. Please select a nickname to log in with. 3a: Why is my nickname owned by someone else? If you get this message and you have not registered your nickname: -NickServ- This nick is owned by someone else. Please choose another. -NickServ- (If this is your nick, type /msg NickServ IDENTIFY password.) -NickServ- If you do not change within one minute, I will change your nick. Please type /nick new_nickname_here and change your nickname. Return to the top of the page 4: What is a message of the day? Upon Connection, you will see the Message Of The Day (MOTD). You can always reference this via typing /MOTD. Please read this message thoroughly. This message contains information about the chat and general rules about our network. Return to the top of the page 5: I'm connected, now what do I do? There are a variety of commands at your disposal, below are the main ones you'll need to navigate through: 5a: Basic Commands: /nick newnick -- Changes your nickname to newnick - replace "newnick" with your desired nickname. /list -- shows a list of public channels /join #channel -- joins #channel, replace "#channel" with the desired channel. 5b: ChanServ and NickServ: NickServ allows you to register your nickname to yourself. /nickserv help -- this will list all basic nickserv commands /nickserv register passwordhere -- this will register the current nickname you are using with the password "passwordhere" /nickserv identify passwordhere -- you will need to type this most likely each time you login using that nickname which you have registered ChanServ cooridinates various functions for registered channels. /chanserv help -- this will list chanserv's basic commands /chanserv invite #channel -- will invite you into a channel if you are on the invite list (most channels are not set for invite) Return to the top of the page 6: What are channels? A channel is a forum where people gather to speak about a topic. To join a channel type /list, you will receive a list of channels. To join a channel type /join #channel where #channel equals the channel you wish to join. 6a: What do I do once I am in a channel? You chat, of course! 6b: What are the people with @ and + ? @Nickname -- means the person is a channel operator. Channel operator are moderators for the particular channel. They enforce rules and keep the channels on topic. +Nickname -- means the person can speak in the channel when the channel is in +m or moderated mode. Most of the time, a + (or voice) is assigned to users who participate in chat often, and follow the rules. 6d: I can't type in the channel, why? The channel may be in moderated mode, or +m. In the title bar of your window for the channel you will see the channel name followed by "[+m]" it could also look like [+mnrst]. If there is an "m" after the + in that "[]" are that means the channel is moderated and only people with @ or + in front of thier name may speak. Return to the top of the page 7: What does :) and AFK mean? :-) is a smiley face, tilt your head to the left to see it. :-( is a frown. ;-) is a wink. :~~( is crying. :-P is someone sticking their tongue out :-P ~~ is drooling. (-: is a lefty's smile There are hundreds of these faces. Here are some common acronyms used in IRC: afk = away from keyboard brb = be right back bbiaf = be back in a flash/few bbl = be back later imho = in my humble/honest opinion j/k = just kidding lol = laughing out loud np = no problem re = hi again, as in 're hi' rofl = rolling on floor laughing ttfn = ta ta for now ttyl = Talk to you later wb = welcome back Return to the top of the page