A -- :autogreet: /ah'toh-greet/ /n./ An application of the `/on' command to greet users as they join the channel. This is incredibly annoying, rude, and insincere; doubly so if it is not your channel on which you are running an autogreet. Generally, the purpose of the autogreet is served by the channel's topic. B -- :BBIAB: // /abbrev./ Be Back In A Bit. :BBL: // /abbrev./ Be Back Later. Note that 'later' is not quantified. In general, refers to some significant amount of time. :ban: /n./ A mode that can be set on a channel, such that the user(s) who is/are targeted by the ban cannot join that channel. This is usually a last resort, and is almost always matched with a kick. Note that a ban can lock out more than just one user; bans which lock out all of the users from a particular ISP, company or school are called sitebans. /v./ To place a ban on a user or users. :bot: /bawt/ /n./ [from `robot'] An IRC or MUD user who is actually a program. Typically the bot provides some "useful" service. Examples are NickServ, which tries to prevent random users from adopting nicks already claimed by others, and ChanServ, which protects channels from takeovers. On busier servers and networks, bots are generally frowned upon as they take up a connection that could be used by a user. Generally, bots that do nothing but hold open an empty channel are a waste of resources. StarOwl@uiuc.edu (Michael Adams) defined bots very well: "A bot is a vile creation of lusers to make up for lack of penis length." :BRB: // /abbrev./ Be Right Back. C -- :channel: /n./ [CB radio jargon] The basic unit of discussion on IRC. Once one joins a channel, everything one types is read by others on that channel. Channels are named with strings that (usually) begin with a `#' sign and can have topic descriptions (which are generally irrelevant to the actual subject of discussion). Channels beginning with `&' are local to a server. Some networks support channels beginning with `+'; originally, these were the only channels that could have names (the rest were numbers), but now they signify modeless channels or some other unrelated feature. Note that there are exactly zero rooms on IRC. Nevertheless, many users find that they refer to the zero channel (the state of not being in any channel) as `the hall'. :Chanop: /chan'op/ See op(1). :client: /cli:'ent/ [networking techspeak] The program that connects to the server; thus, the server serves the client. The original IRC client was 'irc', followed by 'ircii', both for Unix; the original MS-Windows IRC client was WS-IRC, later replaced by mIRC. Client wars, generally as extensions of OS wars, are often argued out in more technical channels. The variety of different scripting languages and interfaces, however, make client selection a personal matter, a notion emphasized by the fact that the client is the user's only window in to the IRC world. :CTCP: /C-T-C-P/ /abbrev./ Client-To-Client Protocol. By sending a standard CTCP command to another user's client, a user can cause that user's client to return certain information depending on what command. See also ping. D -- :DCC: /D-C-C/ /n./ Direct Client-to-Client (also Direct Client Connection, although the latter is, to be blunt, completely wrong). By connecting two clients directly to each other, it is possible to circumvent the IRC network entirely (and the lag and netsplits that go with it). DCC is used primarily to send and receive files (especially pics and warez), as well as to chat. E -- :EBOAI: /E-B-O-A-I/ /abbrev./ [Usenet] Elite Bastards Of Alt.IRC (newsgroup.) :emoticon: /ee-moh'ti-kon/ /n./ [JF] An ASCII glyph used to indicate an emotional state on IRC. Although originally intended mostly as jokes, emoticons (or some other explicit humor indication) are virtually required under certain circumstances in high-volume text-only communication forums such as IRC; the lack of verbal and visual cues can otherwise cause what were intended to be humorous, sarcastic, ironic, or otherwise non-100%-serious comments to be badly misinterpreted (not always even by newbies). Examples include: :) smiling :( frowning ;) winking :P sticking out one's tongue (etc.) Overuse of smilies, and emphasizing them thusly :)))), is a sure sign of luserhood. F -- :finn: /v./ [Rare] To pull rank on somebody based on the amount of time one has spent on IRC. The term derives from the fact that IRC was originally written in Finland in 1987. There may be some influence from the `Finn' character in William Gibson's seminal cyberpunk novel "Count Zero", who at one point says to another (much younger) character "I have a pair of shoes older than you are, so shut up!" :flood: /v./ 1. To dump large amounts of text onto an IRC channel. This is especially rude when the text is uninteresting and the other users are trying to carry on a serious conversation. 2. To send so much text to a user that their server defensively disconnects them. /n./ The text that is dumped when someone floods. :fserve: /n./ /eff'-s*rv/ [From mIRC /fserve command, cf. File SERVEr.] A client "feature" that simulates an FTP server, allowing users to upload and download files over DCC with no intervention on the part of the user running the fserve. G -- H -- I -- :IMHO: // /abbrev./ In My Humble Opinion. :IRC: /I-R-C/ /n./ [Internet Relay Chat] A worldwide "party line" network that allows one to converse with others in real time. IRC is structured as a network of Internet servers, each of which accepts connections from client programs, one per user. The IRC community and the Usenet and MUD communities overlap to some extent, including both hackers and regular folks who have discovered the wonders of computer networks. Some Usenet jargon has been adopted on IRC, as have some conventions such as emoticons. :ircd: /I-R-C-D/ /abbrev./ [Unix] IRC Daemon. The name of the Unix irc server program. :IRC Op: /n./ IRC Operator. One who has been put in charge of making sure a particular server runs smoothly. In general, this is extended only in spirit to the running of the network; an IRC Op on one server can seldom do anything about a user on another server. Newbies should note that this does not contain the word `cop'; IRC is generally an anarchy, and IRC operators are not there to fix your channel or stop other lusers from bothering you, although some may. J -- :j/k: // /abbrev./ Just Kidding. :jupe: /j[y]oop/ /vt./ To kill an IRC robot or user and then take its place by adopting its nick so that it cannot reconnect. Named after a particular IRC user who did this to NickServ, the robot in charge of preventing people from inadvertently using a nick claimed by another user. K -- :kick: /v./ To cause somebody to be removed from a IRC channel, an option only available to channel ops. This is an extreme measure, often used to combat extreme lameness or flooding, but sometimes used at the channel op's whim. L -- :lag: /n./ A condition that occurs when delays in the network become severe enough that a time delay is present between a user sending a message and other users receiving it. One suffering severe lag is said to be `lagged'; the use of `lagging' is somewhat less common. :LOL: // /abbrev./ Laughing Out Loud. :lurk: /v./ [Usenet] To join a channel and not speak; to watch the conversation rather than partake in it. Often used to refer to an excess of this behaviour. :lurker: /lur'k*r/ /n./ A user that lurks. :luser: /loo'zr/ /n./ A user, especially one that acts as a loser. Ostensibly from the `/lusers' (List USERS) command, which does not list users, but rather displays some network statistics. The use of the term `luser' goes back to about 1975 at MIT, where a prank to replace the word `users' in a network-status report with `losers' was fixed with the compromise `lusers'. It has been suggested that, if laser printers lase, then lusers should luse; this is generally considered silly and uncommon. M -- :message: /mess'ij/ /v./ to send text to another user with the `/msg' command; although CTCP requests and channel and private chat all technically use a `/msg', casual use refers only to private (one-to-one) chat. /n./ 1. Text sent between users with the `/msg' command. Also `in message', the state of holding a private conversation. :motd: // /abbrev./ [Unix] Message Of The Day. The message presented to the user upon connection to an IRC server; despite the expansion of the acronym, these are more often changed annually at the very least. :msg: see message. N -- :netsplit: /n./ A condition that occurs when a link between two servers breaks, effectively breaking the network into two halves, neither of which can communicate with the other. Netsplits are usually temporary, caused by a routing change or a server glitch, although a few, usually just termed `Splits', have occured; these are usually politically motivated, such as the US/Europe split of EFnet in Summer 1996. :network: /net'w*rk/ /n./ A group of interconnected servers. In general, users find one network to call `home', and swear by it. :newbie: /n[y]oo'bee/ /n./ [orig. from British public-school and military slang variant of `new boy'] An IRC neophyte. This term surfaced in the newsgroup talk.bizarre but is now in wide use. Criteria for being considered a newbie vary wildly. A person can be called a newbie in one newsgroup while remaining a respected regular in another. The label `newbie' is sometimes applied as a serious insult to a person who has been around for a long time but who carefully hides all evidence of having a clue. :nick: /n./ Short for nickname. On IRC, every user must pick a nick, which is sometimes the same as the user's real name or login name, but is often more fanciful. The concept of `owning' a nick, or having an unqualified right to use a particular nick, differs from network to network. Some nicks have a historical sense, and using them is often sign of a newbie (or the original); these include (in no particular order) Jupiter (see jupe), Wumpus, Phone, BigCheese, Troy, Mendel, Trillian, Wiz, Nap, Gnarfer, ai-, aack. :np: // /abbrev./ No Problem. O -- :op: /op/ /n./ 1. Someone who is endowed with privileges on IRC, limited to a particular channel; chanop. A chanop controls the modes and (often) topic of a channel, and can kick and ban users for any reason, or lack thereof. 2. IRC Op, or server operator. :oper: /op'r/ 1. /n./ IRC op. 2. /v./ To use the `/oper' command to gain IRC Op privileges. 3. /v./ To perform the duties of an IRC Op. :operlist: /n./ An infamous and now nearly abandoned listserv for IRC operators, and general flame-fest. Also commonly referred to as `Oprah-lust' and `Oprah's-lips', giving a brief if pointed look into the warped mind of the IRC operator. P -- :penix: /pee'n*x/ /n./ [derogatory] Vassago's infamous `Phoenix' script for the ircii client, based on the fact that running this script is basically a penis extension for lusers either too lazy to write their own, or too clueless to find a better one; it is bloated, impossible to read through, poorly written, full of misfeatures, and is an extreme resource hog. :ping: [Unix] /n./ 1. A message sent on a round-trip between one client and a second client, and back again. By timing this, the client can tell the user how much lag there is between the two. 2. A message sent from a server to a client to ascertain whether or not the client is still connected. If the client is still connected, it replies automatically; if not, the server decides it is not there, and closes the connection with the message `ping timeout'. /v./ To send a ping (sense 1). Q -- R -- :ROTFL: // /abbrev./ Rolling On The Floor Laughing. :RTFM: // /abbrev./ Read The Flipping Manual, or a less-publishable version of same. Note that this IS what it stands for, and this is NOT an instruction to go elsewhere to find out. S -- :script: /n./ A set of commands that are executed by an IRC client the moment a script is loaded. By properly manipulating commands, it is possible to program the client to react on its own to certain events, or to new `commands' issued by the user; despite this, it is important to remember that every line of a script is executed immediately. Scripts from unknown third parties often contain backdoors that allow unscrupulous users to take control of your IRC session or even your computer or account; running a script in which you don't understand every single line is basically asking for this to happen. Besides, it's not that difficult to learn. :server: /n./ A host computer connected to an IRC network which relays data from client to client, and to other servers; [techspeak] the program which runs on the host computer. A server keeps track of all of the channels which the users connected to that server are on; from the perspective of the user, every server on a particular network can access every channel on that network. :squit: /skwit/ /v./ To disconnect a server from its uplink. From the IRC op command of the same name. T -- :takeover: /tak'oh-v*r/ /n./ The act of taking control of a channel (usually by gaining channel op status and taking it away from those who would usually have it) much to the annoyance of those that frequent the channel and those to whom the former complain. Generally, to be a full-fledged takeover, a channel must be made unusable; since many networks do not believe in channel `ownership', a takeover in which the channel is still available for use is more of a change in management. :telnet: /n./ [Unix] The way _not_ to connect to an IRC server. See client. :twilight zone: /n./ [Rare; from EFnet's IRC Op channel] Notionally, the area of cyberspace where IRC operators live. An oper is said to have a "connection to the twilight zone". Generally classist. U -- :unix: /n./ /yu'nix/ [Also UNIX (tm).] Multitasking operating system on which IRC was traditionally implemented before the advent of MS-Windows. The "pure" IRC environment, and the OS on which most ircds run. V -- W -- :WTF: // /abbrev./ The universal interrogative participle; WTF knows what it means? X -- Y -- Z --