IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat.
You can download an IRC chat client like mIRC, pIRCh (for Windows) or IRCle (for Macs).
An IRC chat client is a program that is separate from your internet browser which connects to the IRC network via a "server". Servers pass messages from user to user over the IRC network. There are many different servers to choose from.

Using an IRC chat client enables you to hear and play sounds, receive and transfer files, and chat with people from all over the world. There are a lot of other things you can do with your IRC client, each has it's own little "toys" - to many to list here ;)

There are many different servers to connect to. Each one has it's own rules and different chat rooms in them. My favorite is starchat (milkyway.starchat.net - Port 6667) in #parentskitchen. Starchat has a lot of IRC cops who "keep the peace" so to speak, and they do not tolerate pornography and will ban people from getting onto the server if they cause problems with other chatters.

Anyone who can read and understand the instructions can open their own chat room on most servers. Read the MOTD (message of the day) on the status screen when you first log in, it will usually tell you the procedures of that server.

There has been a lot of bad publicity about chat on the Internet. If you are careful and apply the rules of "real life" to chatting you will find yourself having a lot of fun.

1. Never tell anyone your real name, address, or phone number.
2. Do not accept files from people you do not know.
3. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, LEAVE!

If your having problems with someone, ask the person with the @ in front of their nickname, they are the operators or "ops" of the room and will be able to help.

Whichever server and chat room you end up in, you will generally find decent people. A lot of people are regulars to certain rooms and all know each other which might make you feel like an outsider at first.
Just say "Hi!" when you go into a room, most people will respond. Here's a few tips to help you with chatting:

Don't type whole sentences in Cap's, it is considered yelling and very rude.

Don't do a lot of pop-ups when the room is full of people, it breaks up the conversations.

Shut off any auto response that keep popping up...they get annoying. If you like to use them, use /notice so it only goes to the person that it's responding too.

Don't lurk in a chat room! If your overwhelmed by the words scrolling by and want to watch for a while, just say something like:
"I'm new to chat, I'm just going to watch for a while".
(Most chatters feel that when someone comes in and never says anything, they are up to no good.)

Nobody ever tries to exclude anyone from chat, usually someone will ask where your from or if your a male or female. They are not trying to hit on you, just trying to start a conversation.

In "real life" you would never walk up to a group of people who are having a conversation and just jump right in, but in chat that's the only way to do it! If you don't talk, nobody can talk to you.

If you don't understand something just ask, everyone was new to chat at one time and in the same situation as you are now. Usually people are happy to help!

Chatting is a lot of fun, but very addictive! When you first start chatting you will want to be online all the time, I wish I could say that feeling goes away, but it never really does ;)

The F.U.N. place has it's own chat room. Most of the people who chat there are parents looking for someone over 4ft tall to talk to, being with the kids all day you start yearning for some adult conversation! I can tell you that all the regulars in there are the nicest people you'll every meet in a chat room and new people are coming in every day.

You can find out more about how to get to the FUNplace's chat room here.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a chat client and start chatting!

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