# Just what is an ICQ number?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244 "2000-02-14T15:33:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/1 "2000-02-14T15:33:00Z")

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😕

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Then we’ll turn our tommy guns  
on the screaming ravaged nuns  
and the peoples voice will be the only sound.  
-P. Sky

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**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/2 "2000-02-14T15:56:00Z")

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ICQ is a chat program. Check it out at [www.mirabilis.com](http://www.mirabilis.com)

Once you download the chat program, you’re given a number.

(Where have you been hiding?) 😉

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“I thought: opera, how hard can it be? Songs. Pretty girls dancing. Nice scenery. Lots of people handing over cash. Got to be better than the cut-throat world of yoghurt, I thought.” - Seldom Bucket

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**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/3 "2000-02-14T16:11:00Z")

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Thanks. But what does ICQ stand for? (The letters, I mean)

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Then we’ll turn our tommy guns  
on the screaming ravaged nuns  
and the peoples voice will be the only sound.  
-P. Sky

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**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/4 "2000-02-14T16:12:00Z")

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It’s a pun on “I seek you”.

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**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/5 "2000-02-14T16:17:00Z")

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I wish there was a smilie for slapping one’s own forehead.  
:o  
This’ll have to do.  
Thanks again, Moosie!

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**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/6 "2000-02-15T06:47:00Z")

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Don’t feel bad, Nicky, I didn’t get it either. And I’m also slapping my forehead. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/7 "2000-02-15T04:07:00Z")

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Maybe Nicky’s found out all about ICQ by now, but calling it a chat program is really underrating it. Basically it’s an instant messaging system with a chat feature. You can be selective about who you put on your contact list, and choose to chat or not. ICQ has a search feature and lotsa other stuff that I haven’t even explored. I still have to download the latest version – which has even more features! I love it. Have fun Nicky!

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-an-icq-number/7244/8 "2000-02-15T04:13:00Z")

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This is really a General Question, so that’s where it’s going.

your humble TubaDiva  
Administrator  
The Straight Dope