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DALnet For Chatting, Not File Sharing
PFAK writes "DALnet IRC Network, formerly the world's largest IRC Network has announced that the IRC network has implemented a new "policy" that will phrohibit "Using a channel for the primary purpose of facilitating the transfer of files", as of March 1st, 2003. This will be another staggering blow for the formerly largest IRC network in the world, this comes after one of the many suprises on DALnet, such as the recent DDoS attacks against the network."
I thought it was for idling and sitting in DCC queues? What are these "chat" channels you speak of?
someone's too used to typing "ph33r" on DALnet...
What makes you say that? I agree with the new policy. It doesn't say you can't share a file, but it says channels where the primary purpose is to share/exchange files are not prohibited. If we are in a channel and I need to DCC you a file, I still can. When is that last time you saw a channel with a title "Free and Open Source Software trading channel". That's right, you haven't. The usage of DALnet isn't reduced to ordinary users, but if you want to get on and open an MP3 channel, then you are in trouble. It's not like people in the file sharing channels chat anyway. Nothing goes on but queue updates/ads.
Is this the first time a #channel is slashdotted?
These *illegal file sharing* channels to suddenly start saying they are Trivia channels, that just happen to share files secondary....
Because god knows every channel on Dalnet seems to have some lamo trivia bot or three....
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms,
Exactly. I hate it when I can't find a good cybersex channel.
I for one welcome our new SCOviet Russian overlords to whom all our base are belong.
Lets see.
Real time group collaboration - As often seen there are millions of channels out there which are specialized around some subject. From Web Design to Hardware, Music production to graphics, Linux, General Help, BSD, Magic The Gathering, FPS gaming, Every other kind of gaming.. I can list channel designations all morning here. File sharing is not the final frontier in IRC.
It's a great place to kill time, learn, troubleshoot stuff, get relevant help, etc. IRC is essentially free tech support.
For example, couple of years ago I was vacationing in Palm Springs, in the middle of nowhere. I was in the Hotel Room surfing the web at 4am in the morning with my laptop and didn't want to drive all the way to the closest supermarket to buy cigarettes. All I had was a small package of really expensive british tobacco and no rolling paper. I got on IRC, and joined #help on Efnet. Asked them how to deal with the situation. Some guy suggested to tear out the last remaing pages from the Bible (found in every hotel room), because the pages are really thin and burn like zig-zags. Well, that night I smoked half of that tobacco, and at the same time felt closer to God.
Thank you IRC!
Damn, everything you touch seems to die.
spent 6 years as an administrator on Dalnet
Those that used BBS's in the day
Avid BeOS User.