You probably heard of this "internet" thing. Atleast, I'd hope you have, since you're using it now. The internet is really this big up jumbled mess of all sorts of things, the world wide web is just a small part. Now that we've got that settled, onto the point.
Part of the internet is this other thing, called Internet Relay Chat (IRC). You may have come across web chats, where you use a web site to chat, and it has to reload the page every time somebody types something. That is not IRC, so don't worry.
To use IRC, you need to download a client program. Ircle or MacIRC for the Macintosh, or mIRC for Windows machines. Once you have your software, click here.
If you already have software of your own, make sure you have the server set to an Undernet server (baltimore.md.us.undernet.org or stlouis.mo.us.undernet.org for example) and /join #koti Also read these rules
Ircle is the main IRC program for Macintosh, you can download it at http://www.xs4all.nl/~ircle/ I recommend the current beta, like 3.0b9r2, for Macintosh or Power Macintosh. After downloading it, double click it and stuffit expander (if you don't have it, get it at http://www.aladdinsys.com/ ) will unstuff it. You will have a folder with the name "ircle 3.0". Open the folder, double click the Ircle application. There should be a little window to the right of the screen titled "Connections". Double click on the first item in that window, and you should get a screen that looks like this. Fill in the information as you want. Then click on "Select..." at the top where it says us.undernet.org, when you get a new dialog box click "Add" and fill in the information as shown here. Then click Save, and Save again, and then select your new setting and click "Connect". The console window should flood with a lot of blue text, this basically is the IRC server telling you it is letting you connect. If the nickname you chose is in use, it will ask your for a new one, and if the server is full the console will say something to the order that "host refused connection." Now, you're on IRC. First thing to do is to type
/join #koti
in the little box at the bottom of the screen. This should bring up a window,
this is the Kids On The Internet "channel" (like a room). Feel
free to talk, as long as you keep the conversation appropriate. If you'd
like to see who is in the room, click on "Users" under the Window
menu. Those in red are the channel operators, people who "keep the
peace" in the channel. Respect them. My nickname online is MacTek,
so if you see someone with that nickname, it's me.
If you'd like to send someone a private message that only they can see, type
/msg <nick>
in the input box. If someone is bothering you, you can type
/ignore <nickname>
and you will not see what they are saying and they can't bother you.
MacIRC
MacIRC is a smaller client than Ircle, and has less features. But it is ideal for older computers or PowerBook machines. Download MacIRC at http://www.macirc.com/ and make sure to get the correct version for your computer, Macintosh or Power Macintosh. After you download it, unstuff it by double clicking on it (if you get an error, download stuffit expander at http://www.aladdinsys.com/ ) and you will get a MacIRC folder. Open the folder and double click on the program icon. Then select "New Connection" under the File menu, and you'll get a dialog box that looks similar to this. Set it up however you like, as long as you leave the server information as it is in this picture. Then click "Save", and it will appear in the connections window to your right. There will be a little ball icon next to the setting, click that to connect (it will go from grey, to red and green when you are connected). Then type
/join #koti
in the input box, and that will bring up a window. This is the KOTI chat
channel (like a room) where you can talk with other kids. The people in
red are operators, the people who keep the peace in the channel, so respect
them. My online nickname is MacTek, so if you see someone with that nickname,
it's me.
To send a private message to someone that only they can see, type
/msg <nick>
in the input box. If someone is bothering you type
/ignore <nick>
and you will no longer see what they type.
mIRC
I admit since I do not use a Windows machine, I know little about mIRC. I borrowed most of this from the official site. You should probably read the official site, just make sure you use an undernet server (stlouis.mo.us.undernet.org or baltimore.md.us.undernet.org are good ones)
Click on "New Connection" under File. Fill in the dialog box however you wish as long as you use the server stlouis.mo.us.undernet.org or baltimore.md.us.undernet.org on ports 6667 (if this is an option)
Next, select the Local Info tab. Normally you dont have to fill in anything here. Just make sure the boxes under 'On Connect, Always get :' IP Address and Local Host are checked (selected). For various Internet Providers and PC setups you might need other settings here. Dont worry too much for now, if you get problems later just read the help provided on this topic in the mIRC Help file (mirc.hlp).
Now select the Identd tab and Enable the Identd Server. Your User ID should already be filled-in there. Eventually fill in your Account Name in this field. (Your account name is the part before the @ in your email address, like t.r.vonck in my case) The system should allways be set to UNIX and Listening on port 113. Once this is all set, click on the OK button to close the mIRC Setup Dialog.
mIRC is now set up and totally ready to use. Click on the File menu and select Connect. (Or select the lightning button in the Toolbar)
Once you connect, type
/join #koti
to join the KOTI IRC channel. The people in red are the channel operators, who keep the peace. To send someone a private message, type
/msg <nick>
