I think this is a mis-characterization of the medium and its usage.
I've been using IRC since, oh, 1991 or so, however, so it's a natural
thing for me.
One of the issues - especially with software support channels - is that
they are actually *slow moving*. And you're supposed to idle and wait
for answers. IRC is a *background* process; you throw the window at the
bottom of the stack and wait for it to notify you that someone has said
something to you.
I can help you get online if you like. I'll need to know what kind of
computer you use.
On 8/24/11 10:01 AM, Arnaud HERVE wrote:
> On 22/08/2011 04:58, [email protected] wrote:
>> I confess, I'm not sure what IRC is and not enough info in the #address
>> for me to get there easily. ;-(
>
> IRC is a chat system, except it is a bit more difficult to install and
> register in than say your average msn or skype. But basically you type
> messages with your keyboard, and they disappear as several other people
> answer.
>
> It was used first by professional geeks, and it has recently spread to
> clever teenagers.
>
> Since you are new to it I might as well give you my own experience,
> warning you though that it is entirely negative.
>
> The first time i used irc was about a software that I used, because the
> programmers on that website said "if you have questions please pay us a
> visit on irc". I found it extremely inconvenient, because :
>
> - You did not find the right person to answer your question if that
> person appeared to be offline.
>
> - The other way round, interesting answers given on irc quickly
> disappeared and were not published for all the other interested people
> to read.
>
> In other words, irc was for me insanely unproductive, especially
> compared to the forum that the website already had, with messages that
> could wait online for the right reply, or stayed online for readers with
> same questions.
>
> Also, the discussions were not categorized on irc, or had no title like
> here, so that with your question you were forced to meddle in other
> conversations going on about other topics.
>
> I then thought that irc was a media for computer-illiterate people. You
> may ask then why was it used by programmers ? Well it was a social need
> for programmers to gather in a specific space not for noobs.
>
> The second time I used irc was in my leisure time, in connection with a
> team for the translation of Japanese anime.
>
> There was a lot of pleasant chat, banter, even quizz games, but it was
> very difficult to maintain a conversation about the translation of
> Japanese anime amidst all that noise.
>
> Also, since I was already typing around 3k words a day, it proved
> impossible for me to stay on the keyboard in the evening. I had to go
> out, walk, watch movies... well in general turn away from the computer.
> Or get a life is another way of putting it.
>
> Another element that disturbed me is the
> conversation-between-close-friends atmosphere that irc creates. Those
> people were more like hobby acquaintances, not the kind of friends who
> will visit you if you are sick, who will help you moving furniture
> between appartments, etc. Not even people you will eat with. The
> atmosphere was too friendly for people you hardly know. I was too
> old-school for that I guess.
>
> The common point between geek users and teenager users is that irc is
> for people who :
>
> - do not use computers intensively in their work, or do not mind using
> them intensivey again in their free time
>
> - don't mind spending their evenings typing alone in their rooms, making
> friends with unknown people
>
> - don't mind if their messages disappear, don't mind if some relevant
> readers will never read them
>
> - don't mind if they miss relevant messages if they happen to be away
>
> - don't mind sympathizing closely with people that they will never see
> or are ready to forget immediately
>
> As a conclusion, irc is from my point of view totally incompatible with
> political discussions, which would require taking time to write to write
> articulate messages, taking time to read them, separating the topics to
> make them reasonably readable, and a social atmosphere suited for
> distant sympathizers for a cause.
>
> My two cents, anyway who am I to criticize, since I won't use it. I have
> documents to read instead. I don't chat, I read and write.
>
> If you don't know how to register, have someone show you, you will make
> your own opinion.
>
> Arnaud
>
>
>
>
>
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