HOL Chatrooms
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Introduction to IRC
What is IRC?
Rather than send out a batch of owls and have flock return at the same time, the muggles invented IRC. IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a virtual meeting place where people from all over the world can meet and talk; you'll find the whole diversity of human interests, ideas, and issues here, and you'll be able to participate in group discussions on one of the many thousands of IRC channels, or just talk in private to family or friends, wherever they are in the world.
IRC to some is a black art (hmmm... must be a Slytherin invention), but seriously, it may not work the first time you try. Keep trying! There are plenty of people who would be happy to help you.
Getting on IRC
There are four different ways to get in the HOL channels on IRC:
- IRC Client: Download a stand-alone IRC program like mIRC for the PC or X-Chat Aqua for the Mac. This is the most recommended way to get on IRC, as it is the fastest, most reliable, and most customizable. If you would like to play quidditch, this option is the most advisable because all others are too slow.
- Main HOL Page: Use the 'HOL Chatrooms LOGIN' form on the right sidebar. Enter your nickname and change the channel if needed, then click on 'Login'.
- Blitzed CGI:IRC: Recommended for logging on from a library or internet café. Enter your nickname in the first field, and change the Channel to '#hpgalleries' or any other channel you want to join.
- Java Chat: Many people prefer the Java chat applet to CGI:IRC. Andy (Fraggle) made this spiffy portal for HOL, where you can access the major HOL channels with a simple mouse click.
Official HOL Channels
HOL has 'official channels' that are monitored by professors, head students, and certain students designated as channel operators. In all these channels, the HOL Channel Rules apply. All channels are on the irc.blitzed.org network.
- #hol (main HOL channel for everyone)
- #gryffindor (Gryffindor house channel)
- #hufflepuff (Hufflepuff house channel)
- #ravenclaw (Ravenclaw house channel)
- #slytherin (Slytherin house channel)
- #quidditch (main Quidditch channel, Quaffle play)
- #snitch (main Quidditch channel, Snitch play) (Only for the snitchplayers, snitchref and Quidditch-boardmembers)
- #grandstand (main Quidditch audience channel)
- #refchan (used during Quidditch games for referees and team captains)
- #staffmeeting (used for monthly HOL faculty meetings)
These are the official channels, but there are more that are created and used temporarily - e.g. for classes, the Summer Quidditch League, and student committee meetings - where the IRC guidelines apply as well.
The four house channels are managed solely by the house administration, and meant for students of that house, though guests are usually welcome.
HOL is not responsible for any conversation outside these channels (such as temporary or permanent private chatrooms). However, serious misbehaviour in unofficial channels or private conversations that violate the essential rules for an all-ages site, such as pornography, sexual harassment, explicit violence, privacy intrusion, or threatening will have serious consequences no matter where this happens on the network.
HOL IRC Guidelines
- Use your a variant of your HOL name as your only nickname when you first begin chatting. Offer it freely when asked by the channel operators.
- English is the official language of the HOL chats.
- Netspeak is not tolerated.
- Spam is not tolerated.
- Do not share any personal information--your name, phone number, address, school or town. Countries and states are fine.
- The HOL chatrooms also include members in the 9-12 age group--keep your content tasteful and appropriate.
- Links must be approved by a channel operator before they are shared. Do not advertise private channels in public chats.
- Spoilers should be kept out of the chatrooms--we will let you know when the ban on spoilers is lifted.
Expanded Guidelines
Your HOL-Name
When you first join the HOL Chatrooms, you will often be prompted for your HOL name usually by a person with an @ next to their name (this is a channel operator, or simply an "op"). Offer it freely and without hassle--it is an ordinary step in a procedure to get to know you better.
For the first few weeks on IRC, please use a variant of your HOL name as your ONLY nickname. If you do not, you'll constantly have to supply us with your HOL name, and this is rather bothersome for all parties.
English
Although HOL is an international community and we celebrate our cultural diversity, the official language of the HOL channels is ENGLISH. You may have conversations in other languages in a private chatroom or in person-to-person chat. There are two reasons for this rule:
a) You alienate other chatroom members.
b) The channel operators do not comprehend the content of the discussion, which could steer into inappropriate territory.
Netspeak
Netspeak is the shortening of words and replacing of letters to (supposedly) make the typing process shorter. For instance, "u hav 2 go c it!" is interpreted as "you have to go see it!"
Netspeak is NOT tolerated in the official channels. As aforementioned, a large percentage of HOL'ers do not speak English as their first language, and netspeak would make it difficult for them to follow. Even for native English speakers, netspeak is also unsightly, inane and annoying. You will also be notified for constant misspellings of words, which are not mere typos after three or four times (l-i-e-k for like, for instance).
Netspeak should not be confused with ACRONYMS, which are common abbreviations, such as: brb (be right back), gtg (got to go), lol (laughing out loud), bbs/bbl (be back soon, be back later), afk (away from keyboard)
Spam
Spam is the consistent use of meaningless characters, letters and words, strung together with no real purpose. Some examples are, but are not limited to: a string of random characters (AERWK@#:l!), excessive exclamation points (!!!!!!!!!!!!!), repeating the same word or line over and over again (badger badger badger badger badger badger), and pasting a large amount of irrelevant text (example omitted for obvious reasons).
Privacy and Security
The HOL chatrooms also follows the general HOL guidelines in regards to personal information. You may not share your full name, address, telephone number, school or town. This is for your OWN SAFETY, and people are particularly vulnerable on IRC since it can easily slip out. States and countries are fair game.
Appropriate Content
The main HOL website, according to the ICRA, is labelled:
- No nudity
- No sexual material
- No violence
- Mild expletives
- No potentially harmful activities
- User-generated content such as chat rooms and message boards (moderated)
- This material appears in an educational context
The 6th point, user-generated content--such as what you say in a chatroom--will be monitored (which it is), but the chatrooms should conform with the spirit and the appropriateness of the main HOL website. What this means: no explicit talk of sex, gambling, drug use, alcohol, violence, or any other harmful activities. We are also tolerant of all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations, so any bashing of minorities is DISALLOWED.
As mentioned, profanity is not appropriate in public HOL channels, but as HOL adopts a cosmopolitan view, it is impossible to name a list of words that are considered "profane." For similar reasons, informal language (slang) is also discouraged. Keep in mind that HOL also includes younger children as well as non-native English speakers and use suitable judgement.
We also request that highly controversial topics (in politics and religion) be discussed outside of HOL channels.
URLs and Private Channels
URLs may not be shared in public HOL channels until they are approved by an operator for content. You may p2p an operator with the request for approval.
Private channels should not be advertised in public chat--you may ask members to p2p you and vice versa for the channel name. This is because channel operators are not responsible for the conversation in a private chat.
Other notes
- The channel operators exist to maintain a safe, friendly environment in the chatrooms, adhering to the guidelines above (no netspeak, spam, languages other than English, inappropriate content, etc). Please keep this in mind and remain cordial when they speak to you.
- The channel would cease to be a "friendly" environment if everyone were constantly reminding newcomers of the rules. Leave that to the operators--if you see something go unnoticed, or if something makes you uncomfortable, feel free to contact the ops in a p2p chat.
- If you do not agree with an action an operator has taken, p2p them. It is poor taste to strike an argument in the public channel. If the operator does not respond and explain his or her reasoning, contact another operator. If you still fail to receive a response, contact your house authorities.
If you do not follow these guidelines:
- First infraction, you are issued a warning
- Second infraction, you are kicked from the room and lose 5 points
- Third infraction, you are banned from the room and lose a further 10 points
IRC Definitions for Very Beginners
Basic IRC Commands
Important Note: All IRC commands start with a '/' (slash)
- /HELP shows general help or help on the given command.
- /IGNORE removes output from specific people (note, use with caution. To remove all ignores, type /ignore -r)
- /JOIN to join a channel. Example: /JOIN #hpgalleries
- /LIST lists all current channels.
- /ME sends anything about you to a channel. Example: /ME slaps HarryPotter with a large trout. Displays: * Ayesha_Nitehawk slaps HarryPotter with a large trout.
- /MSG sends a private message. Example: /MSG Nick Sends a private (only seen by that nick) to someone.
- /NICK changes your nickname. /NICK {New Nickname} Changes your nickname to whatever you like. If your intended nickname clashes with someone else's as you enter IRC, you will not be able to enter until you change it to something else. Duplicate nicknames are not allowed; this is enforced by the IRC servers. Example: /NICK RonWeasley. Displays: *** Ayesha_Nitehawk is now known as RonWeasley. Please note -- don't leave any spaces. Use a "-" or "_" to connect names like Ayesha_Nitehawk.
- /PART to leave a channel (same as LEAVE)
- /QUIT exits your IRC session and you leave the server, (same as BYE and EXIT)
- /WHOIS displays information about someone Example: /WHOIS Ayesha_Nitehawk
How to Register Your Nickname
When you first come onto #hpgalleries, you want to register your nick. Make sure you are using the nick you want to register. If not, use the /nick command to change it (see above). Now that you have the correct nick, register it with this command:
/msg nickserv register YourPassword YourEmail
An authorization code will be emailed to you at the email you provided above. In the email, it will give you the command to authorize your nickname:
/nickserv auth (authcode given)
After that, nickserv will now recognize you when you log onto IRC. It will be necessary to identify yourself every time you log on with the following command:
/msg Nickserv identify YourPassword
Most IRC clients have an option to automatically run commands for you. For example in mIRC, under Files/Options/IRC/Perform (make sure that "On connect, perform these commands" box is checked).
All students and Professors are STRONGLY encouraged to register their nick and use the identify command every time they log on. This prevents others to use your nick, or even to impersonate you - to pretend to be you and act in your name. Impersonation, especially of Prefects, Head Students and Professors, is considered serious misbehaviour in all HOL channels and will lead to a loss of house points; in severe cases, to expulsion.
What are Channel and IRC Operators?
A channel operator (ChanOp or Op) is someone with a "@" by their nickname in a channel's names list. Channel operators are the moderators of a particular channel. In a private, non-HOL channel, this means they can kick you out of their channel for any reason, in HOL channels they will kick you in accordance with the HOL IRC Guidelines.
An IRC operator (IRCop) is someone who maintains a server or part of the IRC network. They cannot fix channel problems. They cannot kick someone out of a channel for you. They also cannot /kill (disconnect a user from their IRC server temporarily) someone just because you gave the offender channel operator privileges and said offender kicked you off. IRCops have better things to do than interfere in channel affairs.
Common IRC Acronyms
Use these Acronyms sparingly! There's nothing worse than reading line after line of acronyms you may or may not know.
- AFAIK - as far as I know
- AFK - Away from Keyboard
- ASAP - As Soon As Possible
- ASL - age, sex, location (don't use this, it's impolite)
- ATM - At The Moment
- BBL - Be Back Later
- BRB - Be Right Back
- BTW - By The Way
- FWIW - For What It's Worth
- FYI - For Your Information
- G - Grin (BG - Big Grin; VBG - Very Big Grin; BEG - Big Evil Grin)
- GTG - Gotta Go (WTG - Way To Go)
- GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike
- IIRC - If I Recall Correctly
- ISP - Internet Service Provider
- IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
- LOL - Laughing Out Loud
- LTNS - Long Time No See
- NM - Never Mind
- NP - No Problem
- OP - Channel Operator
- OTOH - On The Other Hand
- P2P - Person-to-Person Chat
- PM - Private Message
- RL - Real Life
- ROFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing
- TMI - Too Much Information!
- TTYL - Talk To You Later
- TY - Thank You (THX - Thanks)
- WB - Welcome Back
