IRC Channels: The confusion grows

[Kusoyaro]

I know how to use it, yet there seems to be one little problesm: I don't KNOW where it is. Thee seem to be 2 or three different channels all claiming to be OP9 officials, and that is slightly disorienting. If possible, I would like to KNOW which one everyone is on, just to be on the same page as everyone else. So, which IS the irc channel?

[Bobbybirdtree]

Most people go to the blitzed one. Including the mods. There are about 10 people in here now.

[Iekleane]

If you guess who I am in the forums you get a cookie or possibly some pain. I haven't decided yet.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Ah, and everyone thought Chatzy sucked, but at least there was no confusion about where it was. Now you folks have to all go and muck things up with IRC without providing a goddamned IRC web-based client. Thanks tons for the confusion. Grrrr...

[Saitou Hajime]

A program for it was provided (not web based, but whatever. It's free and works well). Also, we use irc.blitzed.org and are in room #op9.

[Quartermaster]

It's time for a long long battle to the death.

[Pierrot le Fou]

It is really really REALLY simple.

a) I cannot download anything onto this computer.
b) I have a mac at home.

Neither of those problems is solved by having a downloadable PC program that works well. As much as I love your enthusiasm, I just can't stand behind a chat service that many people can't use, that's confusing, and that I can't participate in during work hours.

[Saitou Hajime]

Ah, ok. Didn't know about that, so yeah, I wouldn't like IRC as well if I were you.

[mediocre]

Most irc networks I think have a webbased java client, if your BOE machine allows that kind of thing

[Pierrot le Fou]

So then for the love of all that is holy, if you're going to make an unofficial chat for OP9, you should find such things and set them up such as to allow EVERYONE to join the chat quite easily, put them all into a thread, get a mod to sticky it, and all is well in the world.

Y'know, like I did with Chatzy.

[Panhandle Martinez]

I've suggested that the mods sticky several of my threads regarding these issues but to no avail.

I could easily set up a java applet on my HTTP server and make it interface with my IRC server, but the popular vote is against me for inscrutable reasons. So I'm not going to waste my time on it unless I know it'll be put to use.

Edit: Or I could work with Az to make the above happen. Same deal. I'm not doing anymore fruitless effort for no one who cares.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Oh the frustration.

Plenty of people used the simple one-click webchat because it was just that -- a simple one-click webchat. By turning it into a download-requiring, information-requiring, FAQ-requiring IRC chat, you're turning away a bunch of people (like me and Az at work), and justifying it because you don't know if it's going to be used.

Why change something that works if you're unwilling to go through the effort to switch to something else the right way?

[Iekleane]

there are web based versions of IRC not just downloadable. The god of google has called you! Head his call or pay!

[Citizen]

Nothing needs to be downloaded to get into an IRC chat if you play your cards right. Just find a site that has a chat, go into it, and then hop servers. /server irc.blitzed.org then /join #op9

Not that complicated.

It's also easy as hell to use. Not sure why people are trying to make it sound complicated. All you have to be able to do is type and hit enter.

p.s. If you don't like it, go away and use Chatzy. It's as simple as that. Because the people who use it now probably aren't going to stop. If we can't get all the OP9 chatters into one room, then so be it.

[Panhandle Martinez]

Why change something that works if you're unwilling to go through the effort to switch to something else the right way?

It seems that it is you who are unwilling to switch.

After a brief conversation with Citizen about an OP9 chat I set up a very fast and very secure IRC server for that purpose.

No one uses it.

Now, I didn't have to do this. It took me about two days to get it working and get it working right. I'm not saying that's anyone's fault. I did it because I wanted to do it. And I'd be happy to set up this HTML/java based web client for IRC on my server as well, doesn't matter which network it interfaces with. But I'd want to know that I'm expending effort for a reason.

Let me repeat that. I want a basis for the expectation that my effort will not go to waste. This is not unreasonable to ask.

Chatzy sucks and that's why no one wants to use it. It's a waste of bandwidth, it's clumsy and virtually feature-less. IRC doesn't suck and I'm sorry you are having a hard time jumping on board with the rest of us. But given the situation (I mean, really now) it would be a little backwards to suggest that we have resorted to a half-measure (when Chatzy is such to begin with.)

[Iekleane]

I vote we switch to plummets IRC server!

[Bobbybirdtree]

Maybe we should do plummet's thing then? That way all of the people who cannot or do not want to download can do so. And the people in confusion will be able to participate also.

[Pierrot le Fou]

It's really simple. You make a really nice IRC server for OP9 that is fast, and stable, and that we can all use, you make a Java/HTML client for it, set it all up, PM Az, ask him to make it the 'official' OP9 chat, and he stickies the details, with a faq and important links, and presto -- we all use it.

I have been using IRC since the mid 90's. I have no problem with the usage or features or whatever of IRC. I have a problem with not being able to use it due to my current situation. Almost every Java IRC client out there is fixed to a server, and you cannot hop them. Most of them do not want everyone using their Java applet to go to another server, because while IRC is very bandwidth friendly, the 200-300k Java applet downloads add up.

If we have one that is fixed the OP9 IRC chat, then more people will use it. The work may go to waste or not, but what's more frustrating is the confusion and division that having 40 different protocols causes. That's what made Chatzy good -- simplicity.

While you may be one of the people who enjoys the current DVD-R type debate, with some not being able to play in certain brand players or computers, and generally being a pain in the arse for anyone who wants to buy a DVD recorder, but I'm not. Make a standard. Make it good. And then have everyone use it.

If you're only going to half-ass a standard (Laserdisc anyone?) then don't bother to create it in the first place.

[Panhandle Martinez]

No, I agree with you. I just don't feel like anyone here listens to me and that makes me not want to gamble with my time.

I'm working on the http/IRC thing right now. Any luck and I should have it up by tonight. Then I'll pm to Az about redirecting the FQDN irc.outpostnine.com to my server, but I haven't had much luck trying to talk to him so it may take more than just my appeal to make this situation work itself out.

[Citizen]

Locked due to the creation of one uniform thread.

http://www.outpostnine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197