#boingboing IRC channel open for Happy Mutating

If you'd like to join other Happy Mutants on an ancient, non-web-based protocol, we have registered a new channel on Freenode in which to discuss, you know, stuff. Standard rules apply: If you're unruly or rude, don't stop by! Otherwise, I look forward to wasting far too much time chatting to you all in one big yappy forum. We may do lots more fun things with the channel in the near future, but let's start with the basics. (Update: Like giving away the gift certificates we were just provided from '80s Tees, for instance! Still not bots, though.)

If you've never used IRC before, you'll need a client. On Windows I've used mIRC, on OS X or Linux I prefer X-Chat Aqua (although many like Colloquy on OS X). Connect to any of the Freenode servers and join the channel #boingboing for maximum chat.

[#1 posted by mikesum32 , March 27, 2008 10:48 AM]

So Joel, can I be rude to gypsies ? ;-)

[#2 posted by Joel Johnson , March 27, 2008 11:50 AM]

All gypsy slurs must be replaced as anti-Pigasus screeds.

[#3 posted by Niteowl , March 27, 2008 11:54 AM]

Are you going to implement the XKCD "unique messages only" bot? That would be cool.

MirandaIM is also a pretty nice Open Source alternative for you all-in-one IM client lovers.

[#4 posted by Joel Johnson , March 27, 2008 12:15 PM]

I thought about that, Niteowl :) Not yet, but it might be fun at some point.

Up to 100 users now. And the only obnoxious person is me!

[#5 posted by Peter Swimm , March 27, 2008 12:42 PM]

http://www.mibbit.com/ works well in browser..

[#6 posted by Reverend T , March 27, 2008 2:34 PM]

As if boing boing wasn't effective enough in siphoning away our supposedly-productive daytime work hours already... *g*

[#7 posted by Rodney , March 27, 2008 2:57 PM]

This is a really helpful link, including a howto for automatically logging into freenode with your ID with Pidgin. Just pretend it says "boingboing" instead of "freeculture." (and "Pidgin" instead of "Gaim")

[#8 posted by merfy , March 27, 2008 3:04 PM]

LimeChat is quite nice too on OS X and its written on RubyCocoa!

[#9 posted by kowala , March 27, 2008 6:59 PM]

i remember my dad being on IRC back when modems were pay buy the minute and we had all these creepy IRC penpals come to stay at our house, and they taught me witchcraft and C++

[#10 posted by Xeni Jardin , March 27, 2008 7:07 PM]

this is so cool!

[#11 posted by noen , March 27, 2008 7:57 PM]

So the moderator bot will be named Teresa right?

/ducks

[#12 posted by Merlinhoot , March 27, 2008 11:25 PM]

Firefox has an IRC chat client add-on called Chatzilla.

[#13 posted by Nicole , March 28, 2008 2:21 AM]

Aaah, how I miss the IRC of the mid-90's. I've always used IRCLE as a client. Must fire it up again soon. http://www.ircle.com/

[#14 posted by ConstantineXVI , March 28, 2008 5:34 AM]

Minor mistake in the post, but X-Chat Aqua is an OSX-only fork of the (original) *nix X-Chat, you might want to make that distinction