IRC FAQ
Contents
Basic Info
The chat channel is here:
irc.slashnet.org #metachat
or if your browser is configured to use irc links you can click here:
irc://irc.slashnet.org/metachat
Very quick start guide
- Open this in another window.
- Type "yourusername" in the top left corner
- Type "/join #metachat" in the long white box at the bottom
- You'll now be in the channel. Type whatever you want to say in that same long white box
- That's it
Quick start guide
This quick guide assumes you don't want to install any new software and that you don't want to do anything fancy, just get chatting as quickly as possible. So, here goes...
First click this link but don't forget to come back to this page for further instructions:
http://www.slashnet.org/java.php
Assuming you have Java installed you should now see a chat client with a whole bunch of intimidating blue text in it. Don't panic!
The first thing you need to do is set your nickname. You can do this by entering it in the nickname box top left and pressing enter. The last line of blue text will confirm you've changed your name. It's probably best to use the same name you use on the site or at least something similar so people know who you are.
The next thing is to connect to the chat room. There is a white bar at the bottom (just above where it says Private ->). Click in there and type /join #metachat and then press enter.
You are now in the channel. Anything you want to say to your fellow chatters can be said by typing into that white bar you just used. It's a good idea when you've just joined a room to alert everyone to your presence by saying hello. Just type in your greeting and press enter.
Once here you'll find that people are pretty helpful so if you have any questions, just ask.
It's a good idea to read about registering your name which will prevent others from using it and imitating you. Again, if you feel unsure how to do this then just ask in the channel.
It's worth noting when using this java client that when you run nickserv commands (as set out below) the reponses will appear in a Nickserv window that you'll only see when you click on the Nickserv button that appears at the bottom of the screen.
This Java client is OK for occasional use but you may find that if you're going to chat a lot then you'll want a better client. More on that later.
How do I register my name?
If you don't register your nickname then anyone can enter the channel under your username.
Type the following into the input box:
/nickserv register yourpassword youremailaddress
You must use a valid e-mail address as you will be mailed to confirm your details. It's also advisable not to use a password you would use on any other site, just something that's very simple and memorable. If you do forget the password then all you need to do is type the following into the input box:
/nickserv sendpass nickname
And the password will be sent to the email address you registered earlier
Everytime you start your chat session with your registered nickname you'll be asked to confirm your identity. To do this just type:
/nickserv identify mypassword
If the above commands don't work in your client then preface them with msg like so:
/msg nickserv identify mypassword
What Client Should I Use?
This depends on what OS you use and possibly what browser you use.
If you use Firefox or Mozilla on any OS then you can use Chatzilla which you can install from here. It's easy to use, quite well integrated with the browser and completely free. Go to this link, click Install Now, restart your browser and then click on the #metachat link. If you use Opera then you already have a built in client.
On Windows a lot of people favour mIRC (Shareware, small nag screen at start up), Trillian (freeware) or Gaim (freeware). [opinions on these please?] [OK fine I'll give you my opinion] WARNING! POV! mIRC is by far the easiest and most versatile IRC client to use of these options. It is much more customizable, easily configurable, and has options like logging which are always fun to use.
On Macs you might want to use Conversation, Colloquy or Snak.
What are the basics?
The first useful thing to know is that if you type the first few letters of a user's nickname and then press tab it will autocomplete. That should save you some typing.
A useful command to know is /whois which will tell you more about a user. Simply type /whois nickname and you'll be provided with information on the user.
To change your nickname type
/nick newnickname
To join a channel type
/join newchannel
To connect to a server type
/server serveraddress
If you want to perform an action such as falling off your stool then type
/me falls off stool
To show up in the #metachat IRC currently chatting list in the righthand column of MetaChat, type
/mode nickname -i
Who are the operators?
The following users are operators and can give operator privileges to anyone else if they are on the channel:
- dodgygeezer
- loquacious
- matildaben
- mudpuppie
- quonsar
- taz
Who is Robobunny?
Robobunny is a bot that monitors the channel and takes care of nuisances like flooding and spamming. Robobunny is like Robocop, except fuzzier, and with bigger teeth. Robobunny is your pal.
What are the Guidelines/Etiquette
Atmosphere: Our channel is light, fun and friendly, and often very, very silly. If you're looking for something more edgy, you should probably try somewhere else. A number of mefites hang out at #tapes.
Behaviour: Users who become abusive will probably be kicked or banned. No spam, no porn, no offensive behavior toward other chatters.
Safety: Do not ask for or give out personal information (address, phone, etc). Don't forget that IRC is not private; anyone can keep transcripts of the chats. Be careful about downloading or following links from other users; you want to be sure of who or what you are dealing with. If someone tells you to type a command, and you don't understand what it does, look it up.
Identity: It's best to stick with your Metachat (or MeFi, or MoFi) handle, or something close to it. You should register your nickname. To check if another user is using his/her registered nickname, you can right click on the name and select "whois"; if the nickname is registered, it will say "thisname is a registered nick" (where "thisname" is the user name) . This means that it's more likely that the user is who they say they are.
Lurking: It's fine to be quiet and check things out a bit, but if you are inactive for more than an hour, the robobunny will kick you. Generally, it's not considered very polite to lurk on our channel without announcing or introducing yourself. If you explain to the other chatters that you just want to get a feeling for the place and see what it's like, they will understand.
