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NYT Discovers Internet's Wild Side: IRC

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ok-corral dept.

maztec writes "The New York Times (free soul-sucking registration required) published an article today entitled The Internet's Wilder Side. Apparently, according to the article, 'the Internet has come to resemble a pleasant, well-policed suburb , [but] a little-known neighborhood known as Internet Relay Chat remains the Wild West.' In essence the article concerns itself with how IRC is the breeding ground of all the Internet's Evils, from animal pornography and illegal file sharing to virus making and computer cracking, it all starts here. I'd continue pointing out interesting quotes, but that'd be a waste. Go read it yourself. And if you're on IRC, remember, you're evil. Even if you're one of those do-gooders who uses Mozilla, LFS, or FreeNode servers for software development."

5 of 627 comments (clear)

  1. Shhhhhh by ryanw · · Score: 0, Redundant

    We better not tell them about Usenet, he might have a heart attack.

  2. Hell, of course it's wild. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Even TRON GUY hangs out on IRC. But I'm not telling you where.

  3. the internet's evil? by nil5 · · Score: -1, Redundant

    i think they mean usenet.

    i mean, duh...

  4. lag... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    it took them that long to find out about IRC!?

  5. Re:God forbid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    You read my mind, nearly word-for-word !

    I love those TV reports that scream about how evil and filthy the Internet is, yet the journalists know so little of the reality. Sure, some kid MIGHT stumble upon a small cache of free, typically very soft pR0n - if he's real lucky or clever or otherwise informed by one of his little friends - but finding true obscenity on the 'Net itself is actually somewhat difficult. (Unless you use Google, of course.)

    I like to think of it this way : The Devil goes to IRC for the fresh air and "the waters", but he LIVES on Usenet !

    So ... today's mantra - say it with me, everybody : "There is no Usenet. Usenet is a myth. Usenet does not exist." That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.