FAQ
Nearly one
million served!
| This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What is IRC and how do I use it What it Is - Getting In - Maneuvering In - Operator StatusIRC 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.
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:
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]
This page last updated January 24, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved. |