Greetings, Humble Traveller of the Internet. By entering this page, you've probably asked the question, "What Exactly is IRC?" or, if you know the answer to that question, maybe you asked, "How do I connect and use IRC?" Well, you're in luck. This page answers those two nagging questions, and maybe a few others along the way. In the list below, you'll find QuickJumps to specific topics explained in this text.
As obvious as it seems, many people have asked this question, and recieved different answers. This is because of, well, people's opinions of what's said through the media, or a vetran IRC users's opinion. As you could probably guess, these ideas can range from, "IRC is a horrible place full of malicious hackers/pedophiles etc. etc. etc." to "IRC is a fun place to be! It's full of new and intresting people waiting to meet and chat with you! etc. etc. etc." Well, surprisingly, both of these opinions hold water. Now, before you gasp in shock about the fact that there is pornography and hacker channels, and leave this page agast, let me ask you a question, "If you were outraged/scared with those topics or others, why did you get the Internet?" As with the Internet, these things can be blocked. But, likewise with the Internet, they can be blocked to a certain extent, but after that, it starts to fall apart. So, back to the question, What is IRC? Well, as you could have guessed from the title picture, IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. Here's a formal description I picked up from the web:
Internet Relay Chat is multi-user communication software, where discussions are organized into channels. Users can join or leave these discussion channels or create new ones. Channel participants contribute to the ongoing discussion a line or two at a time, and several concurrent threads may occupy the channel. Users can also send private message to particular users, and most software allows users to exchange data or files with other IRC users.
I think that the description is farily accurate, but it reads like a Science Textbook description from when you were in High School, you know what I mean? Here's a description that another provider in the US used:
Internet Relay Chat was created in the late '80s as an improvement over the old UNIX talk. While talk allowed two people to communicate with each other in real-time, IRC enables many people to communicate with each other in real-time. IRC is a network of servers relaying the conversations of users connected to those servers. The IRC network extends over the whole world. Anybody, anywhere, with an Internet connection can participate on IRC. IRC did not gain much popularity until Desert Storm, when people flocked there to get instant news from those experiencing the attacks. Again, IRC got publicity during the coup that occured in Russia, and during the California earthquake. Today, there are often upwards of 6000 people on IRC at any one time in as many as 2500 different channels.
Those two explinations combined, form the basis of the story of IRC.
What are the major providers of IRC?
Let me start off by stating this: There are three, and only three, major IRC networks. The others are smaller and less known, and thereby, less used, and do not constitute a majority. I know that I'll get mail that says: Well what about WizardNet? Or Austnet? or even What are you talking about? All those servers have at least the same amount as the smallest major IRC network. Well, I feel that the three most used servers are the majority. These networks are:(In order from Oldest to Youngest, and as a side note to that, they're also order from biggest to smallest.) EFnet, Undernet, and finally, DALnet. EFnet is the oldest and largest of the three. Started in the mid-late 80's, Eris Freenet has grown to the largest, and most well known IRC network on the planet. Undernet, the middle sized network, was started in the late 80's, and is the expanding of the three. And, DALnet, my favorite of the group, is the baby. Started in the early 90's, DALnet has grown from fewer than 5 linked servers, to upwards of 35 today. (Again, with those statements, I'll get hate mail. I can just feel it.)
What is the IRC software called, and where can I get it?
The software that is used depends on the user's, you, preferences. (And of course, the user's OS) The three most used applications are as follows:
Now, if you're an eagle.ca subscriber, and a windows user, and have recent eagle software, you're in luck. The Win 3.x and Win 95/NT versions of the software come pre-bundled with mIRC. If you don't have mIRC, you can use TELNET. If you're a Mac user, you don't have much choice on the client you use, and that is Homer. If you need to get software, try here to get mIRC, and here for Homer.
Coming Soon... but for now, try here for information on setting up mIRC, and here for information on Homer.
If a screen of text flew down your screen while you were connecting, you're succesfully connected. That text is called the Message Of The Day, or MOTD, and dictates IRC server policy. If you didn't get a screen full of text, but got instead: Unable to resolve Server or the infamous This server is full, try connecting again. Sometimes you might get connected, but you'll get a message like: -NickServ- This nickname belongs to someone else. You have 60 seconds to change it. In this case, type: /nick <newnick>, where <newnick> is your new handle. If you're connected, type: /join #newbies, and this will make you jump the gap into the learning centre of ALL of IRC. The channel full of people like you. You might notice that in the user list of the channel, there are people with @'s by their names. Those are called the channel operators or ops. In #newbies, #help etc, these are the people that will help you.
Do you speak English? Parlez-vous Anglais? ¿Qué hace hoy?
You might've noticed when you joined #newbies that some people seem not to speak English. Well, your assumptions are right, IRC is multilingual. But what's that you say? Some of those words you saw don't exist in any language? Well, you're partially right. Words like: kewl, infobahn, sk8, cyal8r, rotlf, 3l33t etc. are part of a language: IRC LANGUAGE! Eventually you'll be able to decode the meaning of those words and symbols, but here's a few to help you on your way:
| Word | General Meaning |
| Kewl | Cool, neat etc. Netspeak for intresting things. |
| Infobahn | If you took a trip to Germany, you might know what bahn means. (Highway) Stick info on the front of that, and you've got the meaning. |
| Cyal8r | See ya Later. 'Nuff said. |
Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?
Oft times while on IRC, you will notice people using strange words, like the ones above. Some convey emotion, private jokes, or just plain abbreviations. Rotfl is a example of this. It simply means: Rolling on the floor laughing. There are many variations on this, and some are lewd, so I won't print them here. Basically, IRC with this motto: If I don't know what it means, I should ask. This applies to real life too, but hey, you're on the internet now, and soon you'll be on IRC, so ask yourself this question: Will I have a life after IRC? And some little voice in your head may whisper NO! and it might just come true, as you'll soon find out, IRC is addicting.
Smiley? You mean like the Joe Boxer Guy?
:) :oÞ :-) :c) -- These are smileys. Learn them. You'll need 'em to convey emotion that's not readily available in the text based world of IRC. There are many, many, many more types of smileys, basically too many to list. Just make up your own, or collect the whole set.
<Quoted from the beginning of the document>"IRC is a horrible place full of malicious hackers/pedophiles etc. etc. etc." to "IRC is a fun place to be! It's full of new and intresting people waiting to meet and chat with you! etc. etc. etc." Well, surprisingly, both of these opinions hold water. Now, before you gasp in shock about the fact that there is pornography and hacker channels, and leave this page agast, let me ask you a question, "If you were outraged/scared with those topics or others, why did you get the Internet?" As with the Internet, these things can be blocked. But, likewise with the Internet, they can be blocked to a certain extent, but after that, it starts to fall apart.</Quoted from the beginning of the document> Yup, it's true. The Internet is corrupt. IRC being a part of the World Wide Web/Internet/Infobahn is a easy target of corruption. But the big three are taking measures to stop this corruption. For example: DALnet has taken steps to rid its network of Warez (Pirated software), and follows the U.S. Sexual Decency Act to the letter of the law. Hopefully soon, most of this corruptedness will be gone, but it may perhaps destroy the Freedom Of Speech of the Net.
What are you gonna do, bleed on me?
Sometimes a situation like this may happen:
<JoeUser> This $@$! network sucks #%@$#@!Now, you may be thinking to yourself, what just happened here? Well, JoeUser decided that he was going to spout vulgarities, and nothing was going to happen to him. Well, he was wrong. IRCopJon is an IRCop, an IRC Operator. He regulates the IRC network he resides on, so trouble users don't cause too much trouble. IRCops can help you when you've got a problem, or someone that's causing a problem. Just tell the IRCop the problem, and he will take the appropriate action. I, the author, am an IRCop on DALnet. You can find me by typing: /whois Pyros in your status window. If I'm there, I'll respond accordingly.
As the topic of this section says, these are my final notes. Simply, enjoy IRC. It will teach you about new cultures, and refresh your memory about old ones, and give you some good times to remember. I hope that this document helps you to understand the workings of IRC, and that you will have fun with that knoweledge. I am available for more info at: richn@eagle.ca or pyros@dal.net. DALnet information is available at info@dal.net, which is an auto-responder.
The information contained herein is ©1996 Richard Nicholas and Northumbria Associates. This page may not be the basis for other pages, unless explicit permission is given by the author.