Can someone direct me to a chat room where I can talk to other straight dope aficionados in real time? To be more specific, I’d be way more interested in IMHO type stuff than Great Debates.
Yes, there is. I’m there now. But it’s secret. BWAHAHAHA!!
OK, really, you just need any IRC client, like mIRC, available at http://www.mirc.com. Then join any Undernet server and join the room #straightdope. It’s always hopping, and loads of fun, unless I’m there.
Oh, yeah, the usual disclaimer: this room is not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with this site, Cecil Adams, the Chicago Reader, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Can somebody give me the chat room directions in an I-ride-the-short-bus version? I downloaded mIRC, and connected to a server a couple of times, but could not locate a straightdope chatroom.
Muchas gracias.
If you’re looking for it in the list that pops up, it’s not there. That’s a standard list that pops up no matter what server you’re on and has no reflection on reality whatsoever. Just type #straightdope into the field and click join.
Oh, and make sure the server you’re connected to is an Undernet server. Doesn’t matter which one - it just has to say “Undernet” in the name.
what I would really like are the MACINTOSH instructions. Tiggeril sent me the link to ircle.com and said “it’s so easy” unfortunately, I’m a dolt and I had no idea what to do AFTER DOWNLOADING THE PROGRAM. I’m completely lost.
jarbaby
Thanks, Smeghead. I have successfully found the chat room.
That is such crap and you know it, Smeg. You’re fun!
Silver Fire - Official Chat Addict, 2001
Here’s the link I referenced back when I gave chat a visit (It’s incredibly easy to use and you don’t have to install any extra applications to get at it either).
I didn’t exactly feel welcome the few times I’ve been there, but maybe you’ll have better luck -It’s definitely a whole different game.
I’m very sorry to hear that, Cnote.
There are a few things everyone needs to remember about chat. On a good day, it’s fast. And there’s usually more than one conversation taking place. A few weeks ago, myself and a few others were talking about coping with loss (death), and the other half of the room was talking about poop. That’s just how it goes, you just have to try to keep up with it.
Some people don’t talk much. Some people talk too much. Some people don’t talk at all. Some people stick to private messaging. Some people only talk to certain other people. I happen to be one of the many who will talk to anyone if they’re interesting. (Hell, some people will talk to you even if you aren’t very interesting, so long as you mention the word “orgy”. 
)
All told, it’s entertaining. Chat can be funny, gross, boring, sad, heated with argument… It’s this place, only in real time.
Happy Chatting!
Yup. I’ve tried a few times. I’ve given up on it. The only person who was polite enough to actually acknowledge me at all was a banned poster. It’s probably the least friendly room I’ve EVER been in. I think the rooms full of horny, illiterate teenagers who wRiTe LiKe ThIs are preferable to #cabalcentral.
That aspect is bad enough with all chat (The whole point of chat baffles me. A ton of people all taking past each other at that exact second. I mean, this place is bad enough with fast posts and trying to stay with the ever-changing argument), but I’m commenting on an exact event that took place the last time I was there.
The conversation went about like this-
::Paraphrase on::
- CNOte? great, their letting anyone in here now.
-<Amoticome fiver two eight sanctioned by two nine>
-<Beeblehut winks at two'er do'er>
-<Two'er Do'er winks back. Amoticome reset 12.04.31. Ready>
-how many others like you will be along cnote?
-whata bitch. Jeses...Hahah. tell her to stick it Beebeel..
-Of course condits a bad kisser. look who he's going for!.
-she is she just cant be their now and misses you.
-Hey cnot. what's youre problem dude?
::Paraphrase off::
That wasn’t an exact repeat of what happened, but it’s suprisingly more like the above than the chatters want anyone to know about.
Anyrate, that kind of an exchange about sums up why I never go there anymore.
But to those that like it? More power to 'ya. If you like it there, by all means, bust a nut… It just ain’t for me.
I’m an infrequent participant in chat, but I like to wander in there on occasion, and I must say that CnoteChris is completely misrepresenting it.
If you felt put-upon, it was probably a joke.
Well, geez. You didn’t tell me you’d need INSTRUCTIONS.
Here’s what you do. Open up the program, and four windows should pop up. One will be titled “Connections.” Pick the first name on the list and hit “Edit.” Put in the username you want. You don’t need a password, so leave that field blank. There will be a button labeled “Server” at the top of the Edit window. Click on that and scroll down until you see server names under the Undernet network. Your best bets will be servers like diemen.nl.eu.undernet.org, or amsterdam.nl.eu.undernet.org, or other Euroservers.
There are some checkboxes at the bottom of the Edit window. Check them all.
Now, click on the Autoexec tab on the Edit window. In the space , type /join #straightdope . That will take you straight into “#cabalcentral” as soon as you get connected to a server.
I never knew I was part of the mythical Cabal. Who knew all it took was going into chat?
I hope this helps. Email me if you have any other questions, jar. 
tigg
I got to chat and no-one’s ever been anything but nice to me. I say hello to new people, talk with my regular friends about everything and anything and have seen serious discussions, random arguments, people helping each other out, people being incredibly funny, whatever. I’m sorry about your one-time experience Cnote, but what you’re saying doesn’t ring true to me at all. Of course some people talk to certain people more - they’re established friends. When you enter the room, you’ve entered in the middle of an ongoing conversation - not everyone’s going to drop everything. Come in, say hi, be friendly, and I can’t see where there would be a problem. The conversation you related sounds more like friendly teasing from people that recognise you from the boards than hostility.
But, as ever, #straightdope has nothing to do with these boards officially and it’s a topic non-grata here. If you have a problem with individual people, I suggest you email them, or better yet, drop in and see for yourself that we’re not some ridiculous cabal.
Fran
Have you ever even been to #straightdope?
Can we keep the discussions of chat, in chat?
#straightdope has no official connection with the Straight Dope message board, the Chicago Reader, or Cecil Adams. Instructions telling people how to get there are fine; discussions of the events that take place there are something we prefer to keep separate from the message board.
Thank you and I’m closing htis thread since the pertinent questions have been answered.