1 NEW USER INFORMATION ABOUT IRC 2 3++ This file is for users new to irc. Its intention is to briefly ++ 4++ describe what irc is all about. It is not a command summary. ++ 5++ Please refer to /help 7 introduction to get started with the ++ 6++ various BitchX/EPIC commands. ++ 7 8Irc stands for Internet Relay Chat. It is a networked, real-time, online 9chat system. Its popularity has grown enormously since its invention 10more than 7 years ago, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. 11There are currently upwards of 30 irc "networks" scattered around the 12Internet, serving every corner of the globe; do not expect everyone to 13speak your own native language. At any given time, there are usually 14upwards of 60,000 people using the various established irc networks. 15 16The primary means of identification on irc is currently the nickname. 17All users have a nickname. Your nickname can be changed with the /nick 18command. No two users on the same irc network may use the same nickname 19at the same time. For all intents and purposes, nicknames are NOT owned. 20Anyone can use any nickname they like, including your favorite if you 21aren't already using it on irc, and irc operators are under no obligation 22whatsoever to "get it back" for you. For this reason, it is recommended 23that you use the /whois command if you are unsure if a nickname is someone 24you know or not. 25 26It is important to recognize the nature of irc. Not everyone you meet 27will be friendly and good-natured. Just like in real life, you will meet 28jerks, and other types you may not care to associate with. You may meet 29people who will try to deceive you. In particular, you may run across 30someone who will ask you to issue some commands. USE CAUTION in these 31situations. If you don't know what the command does, don't do it. If 32the command involves the /on or /exec commands, don't do it unless you 33are sure you know what you are doing. If all else fails, ask an irc 34operator or a help channel (such as #irchelp) for help. 35 36One final note on commands. The various BitchX commands can be 37abbreviated (to the shortest possible unambiguous string). For example, 38 /na would run the /names command. This is mentioned because, 39occasionally, you will run across pranksters trying to get new users to 40type /sign or something similar ( /sign is an abbreviation of /signoff ). 41As previously mentioned, use caution whenever anyone asks you to use a 42command you are unfamiliar with or uncertain about. 43 44Lastly, if you have not already done so, please read /help 7 etiquette 45and /help 7 introduction . The former describes the basic accepted 46behavior on irc, while the latter is a beginning command rundown. 47 48