Cmonkey's guide to chatting on #spongebob: Part 2

All you need to become an IRC guru.

Channels can be set to certain modes. The channel modes that you might end up seeing: ( youll see a message like:
*** mode/#SpongeBob [+s] by cmonkey
where +s is the mode added or -s is subtracted ) The ops (like me!) can change channel modes:

+t or -t : If the channel is set to -t, anyone, even a regular user, can change the topic of the channel. Don't count on this happening. Its on +t 99.9% of the time, so only ops can change the topic.
+n or -n : This one isnt important, don't expect to ever see it change.
+i or -n : If the channel is +i, only people that are invited can get into the channel. This mode will never be on.
+m or -m : +m means the channel is moderated. When the channel is moderated, only people with op or voice can talk. Regular users can see what is being said but cant say anything. This mode could be on if the channel gets out of hand for a few moments. Of course, me or one of the other ops will probably kick or ban the person who is causing the problem instead of setting +m.
+k password or -k password : It password protects the channel. This will never be on.
+l number or -l number : It restricts the number of people in the channel. It'll be on once in a green moon (which is never i hope)
+p or -p : Nothing important.
+s or -s : Nothing important... again.

Another importat lesson is about kicks and bans. Hopefully, you never actually have to experience one (unless you're a naughy little boy or girl) Only ops can ban or kick.

*** SZVisit98 was kicked from #spongebob by cmonkey [testing] SZVisit98 got kicked. Painful isn't it
*** mode/#SpongeBob [+b *!*@206.194.126.4] Nobody that has an IP of 206.194.126.4 is allowed in the channel. We probably wont be banning anyone.

Underneath the user list on the right side of the page is a box with a dropdown arrow. The three choices in the box are query, whois, and kick. Choose query and double-click on someones nick in the userlist. It will open up a query, or private message, with that person. You can then talk to someone without having anyone else see it. The second choice in the box is whois. When you choose that and then double-click on someone, it will whois them. Click on the status button on the top of the page, and you will see a whois entry for the person. The entry lists some info about them, like thier server and what channels they are on.

What if you accidently signed on as SZVisit38 instead of your usual PoOpDoG03? Instead of closing the chat and starting it again, you can use /nick name . In this case it would be /nick PoOpDoG03 .

You've pretty much become a master of CGI:IRC (the chat program that's used on my website), Congrats! But wait just a second, theres still whole lot to be learned about IRC. The only way to go futher is to use an external, non-web-based, IRC program. My personal favorite is mIRC, which can be downloaded from mirc.com . The next part of the guide will be on how to use mIRC.