If you are an IRC afficinado, here's all you need to know to join us: we're on the
Slashenet IRC network, in channel #mlw.
For the rest of you luddites, follow one of these two pathways into the chatroom.
Door #1: Web-based chat
Use this method if you just want to try out this whole chat thing, but aren't sure you want to commit. It's kind of slow, its features are limited, and it;s a little buggy. But it's a quick and dirty way to join the fun.
- Open the chat window - this link opens in a new window, so you can refer back to this screen (and continue to browse MLW while you chat).
- Click yes to accept the certificate (that guy Alexander is the original programmer, I'm told).
- Wait a few moments for the client to load - on my computer, everything freezes up while it loads, so don't freak out.
- Click "Press Me to Connect" (duh).
- You will see a screen that looks like this:
The nondescript rectangle toward the bottom of the screen is your command line. Type there to chat, or use other common IRC commands (prefixed by a "/").
- To change your nickname, type:
/nick name
where "name" is your chosen handle (preferably your MLW ID).
- You're set - start chatting.
Alternate Chat Link (in case you have issues with the instructions above)
Wait for a few minutes for this thing to load - on my computer it freezes everything for a few seconds. You'll eventually get a chat window. Type "/join MLW" in the command line to join the channel.
Door #2: IRC Client
Use this method if you know you'll be coming to the chatroom often. It takes a few minutes to set up a chat application, but once you do, you'll save yourself a bunch of headaches.
You can use many, many different programs to get in this way. The easiest one I've found is the Firefox extension Chatzilla:
- Download & Install the Firefox web browser
- Download & Install the Chatzilla Extension
- Restart Firefox.
- Type or paste this link in the address bar: irc://irc.slashnet.org:6667/#mlw
- Chatzilla will open up a new window. In the bottom left, you'll see a little place that you can change your name. Choose your nickname here.
*Note: The following alternate method will also launch Chatzilla, but give you a chance to change your nickname before you join our channel:
a. In Firefox, go to the Tools dropdown menu.
b. Click on Chatzilla to launch it.
c. Change your nickname in the lozenge.
d. Type "/join mlw"
- You should be in. Start typing
Other IRC client options you might want to try include:
- mIRC (for Windows users) is the most popular client out there. It's free for 30 days, then you need to pay $20.
- Trillian 3.1 Basic is a free client for windows that got decent CNet reviews, but it would be nice if a PC-user tried it out and confirmed this for us.
- Snak (for Macs) The most popular IRC client for Macs. Free for 30 days, then pay $25.
- Conversation (for Macs) It bills itself as an "Easy IRC Client for Mac OSX." It's donationware. I am experimenting with this and will let you know.
In the future
We will try to announce the chat when it's scheduled to occur, but if you don't see an announcement, Join us at 7:00 p.m. PST.
I'll monitor this thread, so if anyone has questions/problems, please post a comment here. I'll also (eventually) post instructions on registering your nickname, common commands, and other topics as requested.
A note about chatroom privacy
I have no illusions about the sanctity of chatroom discussions, since this is the fucking Internet and anybody can trace anything back to anyone if it matters enough to them. That said, I would like to request, loosely, that folks do not record (i.e., copy and paste) chatroom conversations for future posting, unless all chatters are fully aware of your intent to publish their words.
This is not to say that recording a chat discussion is a bad thing. If handled properly, we could get a LOT of mileage out of some really good transcripts. Just, you know, don't be a dick - let us know so we can regulate any personal disclosures we'd rather not see published in the blogoshere for all eternity.
(in that vein: I'm learning how to post automatic reminders ("bots") that will appear during a discussion, so ostensibly all users will get the message that, no, we don't want to be recorded, or yes, this conversation will be cross-posted.)
Feel free to contradict this point in the comments - I am open to change.
Registering Your Nickname
[Update 4/9/06] With MLW's exponential growth and MSOC's Fox News appearances, the potential for trollerly is vast. Okay, maybe only in my (paranoid) mind. But if only to comfort me, the Chat Nag, please register your nickname. This will make sure that nobody else uses it, and it will give some added comfort to the other users in the room that you are who you say you are.
Note: any line prefaced by a "/" is known as a command, which will not show up to others in the chatroom.
- Type in this command:
/msg nickserv register password email
- Password is a password you choose (it's case sensitive)
- Email is your email address
- Check your email. You will receive an email with an authorization code, and a command showing how to use it.
- Once you successfully complete your authorization, you can log in by typing the following command:
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY password
- Password is the password you chose earlier
- Caps don't matter, except in your password
- (Optional) This command will hide your email address, which becomes visible after you register your nickname:
/msg nickserv set hide email on
- this time, email is actually just the word email, not your email address
There are a bunch of other things you can do with nickserv commands. To see them, type /msg nickserv command help.
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