IRC is a world-wide chat network, and unless you're in a keyword-controlled or invite-only channel, anyone who feels like it can join in and communicate with you.  As your words also pass through many servers on their way across the globe, it is also possible for anyone along the way to intercept your message and read it - so imagine you're writing on a postcard and think about what you would or wouldn't like the postman to read!

The most important thing to remember is that people can only see the words you type.  You are giving them no other clues about yourself - they can't see the expression on your face or hear the tone of your voice, for example.  Some people don't care what they look like on IRC, because they think it's a game. Others take it more seriously than they take their real life. If you explore IRC for long enough, you're bound to meet both types of people.

Don't forget that humor (and especially sarcasm) are sometimes easily misunderstood on IRC, just as they can be on email, so if you are joking, make sure everyone knows that, by adding a :) smiley face or a <grin>.

You can also emphasize words in different ways - like *this* or _this_ for example. Remember that THIS means you're shouting - so keep your use of words in capitals to a minimum.

English is the most widely used language on Internet Relay Chat, but it is not the only language. There are some channels that specify the language to be used, for example #france, #germany and #espana. They are great places if you want to practice a foreign language, or speak your native language.

When you join a channel you don't have to greet every single person already on there. Some channels don't mind it as much as others, but it gets pretty boring if you arrive on a channel and all you see are hi this person, hi that person, hi the other person. On the other hand, being friendly is a part of IRC, so if you're with friends, and the channel accepts it, you can go right ahead and do it.

Some general other things that are discouraged on IRC, and could result in you being banned from a server or even harsher penalties if you do something really bad, include:

• Harassing another user -- Harassment is defined as behavior towards another user with the purpose of annoying them.

   

• Annoying a channel with constant beeping -- Action sometimes is taken if a person does this consistently, mostly because it can start to bog down the server if it persists.

   

• Any behavior that stops the server working properly -- For example, sending large files of information down the line, or huge animated .gifs, or whatever, is not a great idea as it slows everything down and stops the system from working effectively.

Keeping these guidelines in mind, you shouldn't have too many problems on IRC. It's a real buzz to be communicating instantly with someone on the other side of the world, especially when you've already had some contact with them, as we have on Hardcore. I think the best way to communicate on IRC (as with everything else) is to be yourself and have fun! The spirit of Internet Relay Chat is ....to Chat :) - so get connected and go for it!!