# It's good to talk (Req - good \[free\] chat programs/servers) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061 "2002-12-07T01:01:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/1 "2002-12-07T01:01:20Z")
I have been sat here wondering what’s missing in my life, and it’s just hit me - Electronic small-talk. I used have ICQ, I used to spend hours in the microsoft chat program, and more recently I used to spend hours in AOL’s chat rooms. Now I have ditched AOL I have no-where to chat. For a while I’ve known something was missing, but not figured out what. Now I think I have. I need a place to chat to people ‘live’. I know there’s the SDMB. But the SDMB is not live enough, and you have to have a good enough reason to post, and people can choose not to see what you’ve got to say. In a chat room it’s live, you can say almost anything, and everyone has to at least glance at what you’ve said. So what can I use to get my chat fix? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/2 "2002-12-07T01:04:47Z")
Preferably a place type where there is the chance of developing ‘relationships’. In AOL I could be on for hours and hours and never really get to know anyone. But in Microsoft chat I often got quite ‘close’ to people. And in one case got so close that phonecalls were exchanged and expensive trans-atlantic calls were made. If I have one regret in life it’s losing touch with that person. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/3 "2002-12-07T01:06:54Z")
:smack: > [@](#): > > so close that phonecalls were exchanged Not phonecalls. I meant to say phone numbers. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/4 "2002-12-07T03:13:12Z")
What’s your OS? [Fire](http://www.versiontracker.com/moreinfo.fcgi?id=8933&db=mac) is a nice all-in-one chat program for MacOS X, and its free. AIM, ICQ, IRC, Yahoo, MSN, and Jabber (whatever that may be) all in one program. ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/5 "2002-12-07T04:11:24Z")
Talk to us! Get Mirc (or another irc client such as Trillian) and come to channel #straightdope or #sdmb on any Undernet server. (disclaimer : these irc channels are not officially connected to the SDMB, Cecil, or the Chicago Reader. They’re just used by the same people who post here) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/6 "2002-12-08T13:25:26Z")
My OS is Windows ME **Kalasnikov** Do the different servers link to the same rooms (with the same people talking) or is it their own version of the room? ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/7 "2002-12-08T15:17:58Z")
Ever heard of trillian? Its great, its a program like the one **AHunter3** referred to, except its for windows platforms. It is really a good program. To find it, go [here](http://www.trillian.cc) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/8 "2002-12-08T16:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*My OS is Windows ME > > **Kalasnikov** Do the different servers link to the same rooms (with the same people talking) or is it their own version of the room? \*\* The #straightdope and #sdmb channels are on Undernet. To get to the Undernet, connect to any Undernet server, then /join #straightdope or /join #sdmb. (Leave the periods off) They also have a java client [here](http://www.undernet.org/webchat.php) that only connects to their servers. Follow directions, and once connected, type /join #straightdope or /join #sdmb. Quite simple, really. [sub]These channels are not affiliated with the SDMB, the Chicago Reader, or the known universe. Side effects may include upset stomach, runny nose, excess gas and wide-eyed disbelief. See your doctor.[/sub] Robin ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/9 "2002-12-08T16:21:20Z")
Yes, all the Undernet servers are linked so the same channel name on any of them connects you to the same room. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/10 "2002-12-09T01:19:56Z")
Can I access an undernet server in Microsoft Chat? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-good-to-talk-req-good-free-chat-programs-servers/141061/11 "2002-12-09T01:26:50Z")
Yes, you can **Lobsang**