Basics of using quizbowl IRC: You can either use the java-based jIRC client at http://www.faqt.org/chat1.html, or you can download an IRC standalone client. I prefer the latter because it uses less memory. All three use roughly the same layout. jIRC: Nickname: This is an up-to-9-character name, similar to a screen name, that will identify you online. A few networks support 15- character names. Select one that's distinctive, but know that you can change it as much as you want. Once you have a name you like, and to prevent other people from masquerading as you, see REGISTERING YOUR NICKNAME. Channel: If using jIRC, enter quizbowl into this field. If using a standalone client, enter #quizbowl instead; the pound sign is important, though I'm not sure why. Server name: This selects which IRC server you'll be connecting to. For people in the eastern US, your first choice is irc.wewt.net. People in north-central US and Canada should use hybnet.unixnetwork.ca. People on the west coast use irc.fruitopia.net. People in the United Kingdom use irc.saqnet.org.uk. If your first choice of server doesn't work, select another until you find one that does. Server port: This should almost always be 6667. If an exception for #quizbowl ever comes up, I'll note it. Display URL and Enable Identd: Leave these checked. If you're behind a firewall and have trouble connecting, try unchecking Enable Identd. A similar Java client is available at http://jamarket.com/hybnet.html mIRC: To get mIRC, which is for Windows, go to mirc.co.uk. The program is shareware. When you start up the program, you get fields for Network, Server, Name, E-mail address, Nickname, and Alternative. Only Network, Server,and Nickname are mandatory. Note that mIRC's default server for HybNet doesn't work. To set it up so it does, scroll to Hybnet in the IRC Network box and click Add. You'll get a box with the fields Description, IRC Server, Port, Group, Password. Fill in the fields in the following ways: Description: Hybnet east coast IRC server: irc.wewt.net Port(s): 6667 Group: Hybnet Password: <leave blank> Description: Hybnet Canada IRC server: hybnet.unixnetwork.ca Port(s): 6667 Group: Hybnet Password: <leave blank> Description: Hybnet west coast IRC server: irc.fruitopia.net Port(s): 6667 Group: Hybnet Password: <leave blank> Description: Hybnet Britain IRC server: irc.saqnet.org.uk Port(s): 6667 Group: Hybnet Password: <leave blank> Click Connect to IRC Server, or the button on the top left with a broken lightning bolt on it. In the popup box that appears, enter #quizbowl in the field or, from the Server window, enter the command /join #quizbowl (the slash tells the program that the line is a command). On joining, simply enter text into the bottom row of the screen and hit enter. Special effects can be used with the commands ctrl-b (bold text), ctrl-u (underlined text), ctrl-k (brings up a list of colors). Actions (represented in the Yahoo! chatroom by :<action>) are on IRC represented by the command /me (for example: "/me thinks about pie" displays "* St-Lemur thinks about pie"). To leave #quizbowl, use the command /part. To disconnect from the server, use the command /quit. To send a private message to someone, use the command /msg <screenname> <message> or double-click on their name in the list of users on the right side of the screen; this will open a new window, a private channel with just yourself and the recipient. To ignore a user, use the command /ignore <screenname>. Other clients: Clients for Mac and *nix are available at www.ircle.com and www.xchat.org. I don't know how either client works, so I won't comment on them. Registering your nickname: If you've settled on a nickname and want to keep it, use the command: /msg nickerserv register <password> where <password> is a case-sensitive alphanumeric password. If you connect from a different IP address than your normal one, the nickserv, which manages nicknames, will prompt you to log in. To do this, use the command /msg nickserv identify <password> What are IRC ops?: Ops, indicated with a _at_ next to their nickname in the chatroom, are people who maintain order in the channel. Ops have the power to change the TOPIC line in the channel (which by no means has anything to do with the discussion); kick or ban unruly users from the channel; and protect users from abuse. To comment on behavior by the ops, contact ers_at_... or davidlevinson_at_.... Basic netiquette: - Don't post the contents of private messages into public places. - Don't repeat one message over and over (a.k.a. scrolling). - If you're going to post a large chunk of text into the chatroom, do so in a courteous fashion. Warn other users that a large block is coming, and don't be surprised if the server's automatic flood protection kicks you off if you try to paste in, say, the entire Bible. - Going PACKET PACKET PACKET makes you look like a moron - Be civil to other users, even if they get on your nerves a little. - Don't hit on people except in a suave and demure fashion. Just because this isn't face-to-face doesn't mean you're any more attractive. - We are quiz bowlers. We are neither suave nor demure. - If multiple topics of conversation are going on at once, direct your replies in the room to their target individuals by prepending the target's screen name. Example: <St-Lemur> Matt: I don't know, how many QU authors DOES it take to screw in a light bulb? - If you really want to be an op, contact the channel founders. Don't beg in channel; it's undignified. - Calm down. It's only a game. Appendix: complete server list (from http://hybnet.gujukrew.com/servers.php): USA: irc.thugz.com Admin: mvio ( ircd_at_... ) Location: New York, USA irc.wewt.net Admin: nester ( nester_at_... ) Location: Louisville, KY USA irc.fazed.org Admin: jilt ( jilt_at_... ) Location: St. Louis, MO, USA irc.denon.cx Admin: denon <denon_at_...> Location: Minnesota USA irc.padylee.com Admin: Remorse <remorse_at_...> Location: Long Island City, NY GATE.RES.CMU.EDU Admin: smike smike_at_... Admin: nebula chirayu_at_... Location: USA irc.labi.edu Admin: Peterson ( petersen_at_... ) Location: Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA irc.fruitopia.net Admin: lemon ( eastsandwichma_at_... ) Location: USA ircd.ltnx.com Admin: Tigger (avercout_at_...) Location: USA irc.mattw.net Admin: scolfax <scolfax_at_...> Location: USA Servers in Canada hybnet.unixnetwork.ca Admin: tysonian Location: Canada hybnet.Qeast.net Admin: Hardy ( hardy_at_... ) Location: Quebec, Canada Servers in Europe hybnet.underworld.no Admin: Hardy ( hardy_at_... ) Location: Trondheim, Norway, Europe irc.fixers.org Admin: akai ( akai_at_... ) Location: Oslo, Norway, Europe irc.uten.net Admin: Quai ( kaysb_at_... ) Location: Oslo, Norway, Europe irc.niterocket.com Admin: Sn0p ( snop_at_... ) Location: Oslo, Norway, Europe irc.dutchnet.org Admin: jappe ( jappe_at_... ) Location: The Hague, Nederland, Europe irc.xs4para.nl Admin: erect <bolle_at_...> Location: Hoofddorp, Nederland, Europe irc.theflux.no Admin: dogg ( dogg_at_... ) Location: Norway, Europe irc1.kicks-ass.net Admin: cerb ( Tometzki_at_... ) Location: Germany, Europe irc.saqnet.org.uk Admin: stu ( stu_at_... ) Location: London, England, Europe ircd.jamarket.com: Admin: Tigger (avercout_at_...) Location: Australia
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