IRC Chat Room

[OrphanPip]

Ok so some people had expressed an interest in having a chat box on the forum, but the mods understandably do not want to have to undertake a new place to moderate and control.

So, I'm proposing an alternative which is the handy old IRC channel that doesn't require exchanging emails like msn, so you don't have to feel like there is an obligation to talk to people afterward. It also works through channels instead of one on one chats, and more cumbersome group chats like msn or aim.

I described how they work over in the chat box thread:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=882190#post882190

I'm going to repeat it anyway though.

Step 1:

Download an IRC client, I recommend mIRC,
http://www.mirc.com/

This program will ask you to register after you download, and call itself a trial version, but you can use it even after the trial date ends and you don't actually have to pay for it.

Step 2:

Installation and setup.

The program will ask you your email and name, you can give fake ones if you like.

Then choose a nickname, your forum name will be the easiest to recognize you by.

Step 3:

Join the server by typing in the white box /server irc.freenode.net

Step 4:

Join the channel by typing /join #lit-net

Step 5:

Chat with whoever is in the channel.

Since there is no way ahead of time to know if someone is in an IRC channel, this thread might serve to be a way to tell people you're online and in the channel. That or the live chat thread if people are interested in using the client.

Edit: Well I'm off to bed for tonight :p

[DanielBenoit]

K, me and Orphan are online, anyone else? :D

[Niamh]

Although i think this is a great idea, its used on another forum i go to with smaller a member no but only when certain events are on, i've a voice inside my head saying that there will be less people posting on the forum and chatting that way because they'll all be there.

[Nikhar]

Nice idea OrphanPip. Though I do agree with Niamh...we certainly don't want more people on that chat and less on litnet. That's why I was advocating chatbox on litnet itself.

[OrphanPip]

Although i think this is a great idea, its used on another forum i go to with smaller a member no but only when certain events are on, i've a voice inside my head saying that there will be less people posting on the forum and chatting that way because they'll all be there.

Well events are what it is most useful for, but I don't think people will use it instead of posting on the forum because it tends to be used for small talk rather than discussing anything substantial.

[ktm5124]

I'm on, but no one else is :(

[cgrillo]

I've been online all day; I see that someone joined, then left, then joined again, then left again, all while I was away.

Perhaps it'll become more popular over time? :D

[teashi]

I'm not used to this IRC client stuff, but I tried. Looks empty.

Update: Finally got it to work. There's a few people there now...

[ktm5124]

Nope! I'm in there right now and I see you :P

[teashi]

Somehow I got out, and can't get back in. It keeps saying 'erroneous nickname'.

[papayahed]

Is anybody there?

[OrphanPip]

Somehow I got out, and can't get back in. It keeps saying 'erroneous nickname'.

You probably got disconnected, if it happens again try typing /nick *newnicknamehere* and retry.

[sprinks]

I've joined :) I know a few people who use IRC, and its come up a few times in my units at uni, so I was curious, and this is a great way for me to learn more about it :D

[thelastmelon]

I'm a frequent IRC user. I just didn't know we had our own channel.
As of now, I am logged in. (:

[Volya]

I've joined.

Might be helpful for some people to point out that you don't need to download an irc client to join. You can use a browser based one - webchat.freenode.net

[thelastmelon]

I've joined :) I know a few people who use IRC, and its come up a few times in my units at uni, so I was curious, and this is a great way for me to learn more about it :D

My IRC-nick is klonk though, in case of confusion.