To Sindarina re: why IRC

irc.md

Okay, this will take way too many Tweets for me to write out properly, so I'll type it out here really quickly.

"IRC," like most other words, is both denotative and connotative. Internet Relay Chat, strictly speaking, is just a protocol, but it comes loaded with an expected methodology and culture.

Ideally, we should take advantage of the former to fix some of the problems with the latter.

##IRC is Modular

The crux of this is that IRC is modular in the sense that, as a protocol, it only requires a compliant client and server. Beyond that, there is no way that it has to be. We can layer client features, server features, and other features like bots on top of it.

But there's certainly a way that it is, which leads to some of the issues you mentioned in your tweets the other day. I believe we can break these into three general issues for newcomers: technological barrier to entry, social barriers to entry, and ingrained hostile behavior (active or passive).

##Technological barriers to entry

IRC clients are tricky to set up. There's no shortage of guides to get people started, but better UI/UX could resolve this problem easily. Friendlier setup interfaces are the obvious option, but other things like distributable configuration files/wizards for specific channels or servers might be a good option as well.

##Social barriers to entry

This includes problems such as lack of response, massive numbers of lurkers, and uncertainty re: etiquette. Guides have been created to introduce people, but we can build solutions on top of IRC, such as bots that introduce people and perhaps coordinate volunteer "hosts" that are on call to help newcomers.

##Ingrained hostile behavior

This one's harder because you're having to change a stubborn, existing culture. Still thinking on this one, but #nodejs' "Policy on Trolling" is a good start.

Thoughts?

(Other readers: suggestions or additions are welcome via comment or fork)

Ingrained Hostile Behaviour

Something about how op privileges and the like create a power dynamic that discourages disagreement with those 'in power' in a particular channel. Two sides to it, of course, it is also used to curb abusive behaviour. May expand on that later.

By the way, the fact that most 'geek feminism' channels seem to be hosted on Freenode, which is pretty much seems to be Meritocracy Central, does add to the barriers to entry. Just look at the various other channel names, their MOTD's and whatnot.

Speaking of the channel MOTD; crikey, it's like some want to cram an encyclopedia in there, full of 'bit.ly' links that describe everything you should be aware of before uttering a single word. Any reboot of IRC as a system should provide a better solution for that, IMO.