Peak Oil Chat

Internet Relay Chat, more commonly referred to abbreviated as IRC, is a communication protocal that was developed in 1988 in Finland. IRC enables instant global communication with people from many countries and cultures, 24 hours a day.

IRC was around long before such programs as ICQ, Messenger, etc. IRC is different than such programs because discussions take place in public, known as channels. Anyone can join the channel to take part in the conversation, from any computer with an internet connection. Now days, you can even connect to IRC with a cell phone, provided you have downloaded client-software, or use a web interface such as PeakOilChat.com.

To access IRC, one normally would use dedicated software, called the "client". This is much like how you use Mozilla or Internet explorer to access the "HTTP" protocol. (Namely, the internet, as most non-technical people call it.) That is a lesson for another day though.

The client software connects you to the IRC server, which is a centralized point that handles all connections. Multiple servers "link" together, to form what is known as a chat network. Many networks exist, in many languages.

IRC communication has a line-based structure, messages are sent and received in a single line format. When you connect to a server and join a room, individual greetings are not necessary. A single "hello!" will suffice, and don't expect everyone to greet you back, either, because a channel with 50 people would mean quite a screen full of hellos.

Although you may see a screen full of nicknames, at times no discussion will be taking place. People simply "idle", waiting for someone or something they come across online to spark a conversation. Feel free to do the same, ask anything you wish, but sometimes patients are needed when waiting for a reply. When people are actively chatting, you can expect to receive replies almost instantaneously.

People are known on IRC by their chosen "nickname". These are not owned or registered, anyone can use any name, so long as it is not in use by someone else at that time.

Some common acronyms that are used in IRC, but are also common to forums, emails, etc:

brb = be right back bbiaf = be back in a flash
bbl = be back later ttfn = ta ta for now
np = no problem ty = thank you
lol = laughing out loud j/k = just kidding
re = hi again, as in 're hi' wb = welcome back
wtf = what the f--k rtfm = read the f--king manual
rotfl = rolling on the floor laughing imho = in my humble opinion

Historically, IRC has been used to report and communicate in times of crisis, such as during media blackouts by the Soviets, also during the Gulf War.