IRCEdit

IRC is a convenient way for Users to hang out with each other and chat without necessarily editing UnAnswers (although the two normally go hand-in-hand). At first glance this might appear to be a stupid idea (but then again, so does unanswers, and we're sticking with that...). Why have a Wiki, then take the attention of Contributors away from it?

It in fact does far more good than harm. A vital component of successful Wikis is a strong Community. IRC makes Communities stronger, by letting them talk and more easily become friends. And, in return for letting Contributors chat on IRC, what does UnAnswers lose? Well... very little, if anything.

It's a simple fact that the survival of UnAnswers will never come down to if we have a conversation about Pizzas archived in a particular Contributor's Talk Page archives. The conversations that come to pass on IRC don't have to occur here; they can benefit UnAnswers without happening on UnAnswers. And, quite often, without IRC those particular conversations would never happen at all.

That is why IRC is such a great asset to Communities. It doesn't draw conversations from UnAnswers, it merely encourages the Contributors to have more conversations. And, while conversing on the UnAnswers IRC Wiki channel, they'll be unlikely to forget about UnAnswers.

IRC can also be very helpful for more than one Contributor to discuss what revision of a particular page should be kept without having edit wars. It does a great job of bring Communities closer together, and the relaxed nature is another reason for it's popularity.

Please just remember that Contributors will normally be multi-tasking when using IRC, so unless you're already in a conversation if you say "hi" it could take a while for someone to notice and respond.

Please do consider joining us on IRC, we look forward to chatting with you!

How do I joinEdit

To Join the IRC channel, you need an IRC client, which is a program that connects your computer to IRC. If you don't have one, there are a number of different (free) possibilities you can consider:

• Cross-platform
  • Freenode webchat will give you access to the network - clicking the link will automatically choose the UnAnswers channel. From there, choose a nickname, and start talking.
  • ChatZilla - a firefox extention. Once installed, restart firefox and click here to connect.
    • ChatZilla will use your windows username as a default. If you don't like this name, type /nick newname and it will change. ChatZilla will default to the last used nickname when reconnecting
    • You can also connect by typing: /attach irc.freenode.net and then /join #wikia-unanswers
  • Opera is a free browser which has a built-in IRC client which just requires you to fill in your name and nickname the first time you join any channel, and will remember it from then on.

• Windows
  • mIRC is one of the most popular windows IRC clients. It is shareware, meaning that it will "nag" you to register the product.
    • To connect, click here or launch mIRC, and set up the server (freenode) and channel (#wikia-unanswers) according to the instructions.
  • HydraIRC is a popular windows IRC client, it is pseudo-open-source.
    • To connect, the commands are /newserver irc.freenode.net /join #wikia-unanswers - it is difficult to get this client to auto-connect, if you want to do this - you'll need to read the manual

Other clients are available, including X-chat, Klient, etc - but we won't cover them here otherwise this page will be too big, and the person writing it won't be able to get any sleep tonight (It's a wiki, if you feel your favorite client's not got a good enough write up, we encourage you to put some instructions above)

The connection information for other clients are:

• Server: Freenode (chat.freenode.net or irc.freenode.net)
• Channel: #wikia-unanswers

Is the channel moderated?Edit

The channel is moderated, although we can't guarantee that moderators will be on-line and watching the channel all the time, in addition - speaking is allowed by default, meaning that someone could potentially join and spam the channel before the moderators could do anything about it (but then again, that could happen with the wiki as well).

The rules for the channel are as follows:

1. You can say relatively whatever you like, exceptions being:
   • Overuse of explicit language (you can use explicit words at your digression, but if a moderator tells you to stop, please do - it is the moderator's final word on what counts as "overuse")
   • Freenode's policy on off-topic use, see here for details
2. IRC and the wiki are separate (you can't get banned from the wiki for using IRC) however - editors views of you, and your attitude may well change by the way you talk on IRC.
3. Maintain a sense of humour, this is a humour wiki, and editors may not be entirely serious on IRC
   • If something is said that is offensive to you, however - you are perfectly in your rights to tell a user to stop.
4. A kick from a moderator may well symbolize that you've done something wrong, feel free to rejoin.
   • Moderators may kick you for any reason, however - and sometimes you may be kicked in jest when you haven't done anything wrong. Generally a good rule of thumb is a moderator doesn't mind you rejoining if you have the option of doing so (they can prevent it).

   • While rare, these kicks are one reason to consider getting ChatZilla which will allow you to automatically re-join instead of waiting for you to do it manually.

5. If you have any problems with a moderator, please raise it with the moderator in question on the first issue. If you don't feel the moderator has dealt with it satisfactorily, talk to another, or post on the wiki. Moderators are expected to be representing the wiki when on IRC.
6. Don't be a dick

Our IRC Moderators are:

A_F_K <n=J_S@wikia/pdpc.professional.A-F-K>

El_Nazgir <n=El_Nazgi@wikia/El-Nazgir>

RandomTime <n=RT@wikia/randomtime> (may also appear as "Randomtime", "RT", "Ransomtime" or "Elterviest". Or "AlexTheFox". Or something else.)

Yallow <Yallow@wikia/Yallow> (Also frequently uses the nick "Lornivirch”.)

What you should expect on IRCEdit

• Talk about UnAnswers
• Talk that is not about UnAnswers
• In-Jokes
• The fact that there is no cabal
• People showing up as "online" in the userlist, but actually not being there at all.
• Drama, and lots of it.
• Maturity
• Immaturity
• Talk of cake, and possibly trout.