# I may be able to sing...but I can't chat!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 4, 2000, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894 "2000-12-04T03:10:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/1 "2000-12-04T03:10:22Z")
I mentioned this in the Pit about a month ago and got the cold shoulder.
I can’t get into the Straight Dope chat anymore! I can get into the room itself like I used to, through [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/chat.adp](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/chat.adp) , but I get stuck in some weird room with Fathombot and no one else to be found!
I talked to SanibelMan, and he said to download mIRC. Is this necessary? If so, how do I go about doing it, which one do I download (there seems to be a huge variety), and how do I install it and get it to work? Please help, since I really miss chats. ☹
---
### Author:  [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/2 "2000-12-04T03:45:41Z")
Try typing “/server [us.undernet.org](http://us.undernet.org)” then “#straightdope” (without the quotes, of course) after you get in at Teeming Millions.
---
### Author:  [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/3 "2000-12-04T03:59:15Z")
Where do I type all that in?
You have to remember, you’re talking to a welfish computer dummy here…and being welfish makes it worse! _frazzled_
---
### Author:  [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/4 "2000-12-04T04:27:47Z")
I just had this problem, and was told that the fathom link doesn’t work anymore. I’d be able to connect, but it was always me and some dopey bot.
I downloaded IRC, and that worked. After your type in your info (username and all that stuff), you connect to s server. Pick any undernet server, and you’ll see in the window if you’ve connected or not. If you have, type (in the little window at the bottom): /join #straightdope
---
### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/5 "2000-12-04T04:29:25Z")
In the bar at the bottom where you generally type whatever you want to type, type:
/server [us.undernet.org](http://us.undernet.org)
Then once you’re connected, type
/join #StraightDope
Boilerplate: #Straightdope is not run by or endorsed by the Straight Dope, the Reader nor anyone else affliated with the column. Queries on #Straightdope should go to me, and not the admins or staff of this message board.
(Not that you were asking the admins, Welfy… just doing the usual coverjob.)
---
### Author:  [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/6 "2000-12-04T04:32:01Z")
It doesn’t work. “Your program doesn’t support changing servers”
Just get mIRC.
---
### Author:  [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/7 "2000-12-04T04:41:17Z")
Get a mirc client, it’s soooooooo much nicer and more enjoyable than using a java applet.
Go to [www.mirc.com](http://www.mirc.com)
Download the client.
In options, pick a nickname and choose IRC server: Undernet
Then choose an individual server, most use Baltimore.
Connect, then join channel:
#straightdope
---
### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-able-to-sing-but-i-cant-chat/43894/8 "2000-12-04T06:06:51Z")
Yeah, at that point, I say go with [mIRC](http://www.mirc.com) for the PC or [Ircle](http://www.ircle.com) for the Mac. There’s other java based alternatives out there, but it gets to be a lot of hassle. The biggest plug I can make for mIRC is that I’ve never known anyone who was using java based texts and then tried mIRC to go back to java.
If you simply _must_ java chat (due to a firewall preventing you from downloading or something), drop me a line at [edamoth@inil.com](mailto:edamoth@inil.com) and I’ll work out a java alternative for you. I have several.