IRCs

I connect to a couple of different networks using Ircle 3.1 and hung out in quite a few channels (#music-videos, #chicago, #hardrock.ro, #funchat, #mp3jukebox, #Harley-Davidson, and #TheRing). At first I was a little frustrated because I didn’t feel I was getting quick enough responses from people. I’m not sure if it was the time of day or the channels I was surfing. However, I was able to get responses this morning. My first "real" conversation made me a bit nervous, see transcript below:

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*** Topic for #hardrock.ro: (BU) www.hardrock.ro
*** Topic for #hardrock.ro set by menes on Friday, November 5, 2004 5:00:58 AM
#hardrock.ro: PrimeTime @BU @hacktech @Fakedz @WoWz @PiKy @IonutS @Pavich @micro200 @`002 @micro14 @`008 @`003 @`001 @fnal @`0007 @C_O_S @Frana @AnDy @burana @TheIO @Remake @axl_io @axlio @breakthru @C-R-I-S-T-l @C-R-l-S-T-I @HocusPocus @menes @C-R-I-S-T-I
*** End of /NAMES list.
*** Channel Mode is +tnl 34
*** Channel created at Friday, November 5, 2004 4:56:50 AM
PrimeTime: hey - whats happening
BU: ?
PrimeTime: just wondered what's going on this morning in your world
BU: bored
BU: where are u from?
PrimeTime: Utah
PrimeTime: How 'bout you?
BU: romania
BU: :)
PrimeTime: Wow! That's pretty cool
BU: what sistem u have in comp?
BU: sunos?
BU: :)
PrimeTime: How's the weather there today?
BU: nice
PrimeTime: We're looking to get some snow soon - I don't know that I'm quite ready for that
BU: .dns 129.41.34.230
HocusPocus: Unable to resolve 129.41.34.230 .
BU: hehe i crack not so long ago one ip like yours
BU: but he had sistem sunos
BU: :)

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So yikes! I quickly signed off. Not exactly sure what this guy was trying to do, but I didn’t want my system hacked. Then I spent some time in #chicago (I’m heading there on business next week) and thought I’d try to get some leads on places to eat and sights to see. Someone in this channel addressed me by screen name and sent me a url with restaurant information.
HUSH: here you go primetime
HUSH: http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/
PrimeTime: hey, thanks Hush!

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What are the differences between people's interactactions in IRC verses LambdaMOO? I found some people to be helpful and friendly in both environments. I appreciated the use of nonverbal communication in LambdaMOO (people would smile, nod, wink, wave) and this allowed people to interact without the formality of talking with one another. This gives people the option of acknowledging their presence without putting themselves on the spot. In LambdaMOO, I never felt that my sense of security was being compromised (which is a little bit interesting because I remember hearing about a rape in cyberspace during Wiley’s 7150 class last fall – so obviously people experience this environment differently). So is one environment trustworthier than another or does it just depend upon the user and the other people one encounters? Similar to an offline environment, you can meet great people in a variety of settings. You can also meet snakes in life. You just have to be careful about who you talk to and where you are going.

As Reid points out in her article, people may use their true identity or create / adopt a new one. I definitely felt that BU was not being truthful during my IRC hacker conversation. I just didn’t have that immediate feeling of trust. However, when talking to Hush about Chicago, I felt a feeling of cooperation and trustworthiness. This question of portraying your authentic self or impersonating someone else is a very interesting question. Sounds like a great segue for next week…..