Well, I was referring to how IRC seems to be a secret almost as coveted as spoilers in the forums.
Hard to find was the website first, because all the links started with \"IRC\" but didn\'t show what the link was, then when I finally found it was freenode I googled it. Unfortunately their server was having problems. Then I had to search for the page to figure out just what it was, and what I needed to use it--I thought maybe it was a blog. When I finally found the page, then I had to find a download page, but finally gave up as there were no upfront instructions for how to use their chat client.
Chat is one of the most boring socially disconnected aspects of the internet I have encountered, especially in remote areas I\'m usually in--so I only just learned that IRC meant a closed chat network (of course some of them are not so closed). Apparently, you can use different chatters to access freenode.
I wonder if iChat for mac would work--I trust it to not be jammed full of spyware, ip trackers, and the like. Unfortunately, most any network other than a mac network snubs it from proper features--even the ones it is supposed to be a clone of.
