IRC Etiquette Guide: How to Be a Good Community Member

Guides

Why Etiquette Matters on IRC

IRC communities have developed a culture and set of norms over 35+ years. Following these unwritten (and sometimes written) rules makes the experience better for everyone and ensures you'll be welcomed rather than kicked or banned.

1. Read the Channel Topic

Before saying anything in a new channel, read the topic set by the channel operators. It often contains rules, links, or context about what the channel is for. Use:

/topic #channelname

2. Don't Ask to Ask — Just Ask

A very common IRC anti-pattern is saying "Can I ask a question?" or "Is anyone here?" before asking your actual question. Just ask it! People will answer when they're available. IRC is asynchronous — not everyone is watching the screen at all times.

❌ "Hey, can someone help me?"
✅ "Hi, I'm trying to connect on port 6697 with TLS but getting a certificate error. Using HexChat on Windows 11. Any ideas?"

3. Be Patient

IRC is not instant messaging. People have lives, jobs, and other channels open. If nobody answers in 5 minutes, wait a bit longer. Don't repeat your question every 30 seconds — that's considered spammy and annoying.

4. Stay On Topic

Each channel has a purpose. #help is for support questions. #development is for coding. #irc4fun is general chat. Keep your messages relevant to the channel you're in.

5. Don't Flood the Channel

Flooding means sending many lines of text rapidly. Never paste large blocks of code or text directly into a channel — use a pastebin service like paste.irc4fun.net instead and share the link.

6. Respect Operators and Staff

Channel operators (identified with @ prefix) and network staff maintain order. Follow their instructions. If you disagree with a decision, address it calmly and privately — not by arguing in the channel.

7. Use Proper Capitalization and Spelling

While IRC is casual, try to write clearly. Messages in ALL CAPS are considered shouting. Leetspeak and excessive abbreviations make you hard to understand and can make you seem less trustworthy in technical communities.

8. Don't Advertise or Spam

Never advertise other networks, products, or services in channels without permission. Spam bots and advertising are taken very seriously and result in immediate bans.

9. Register Your Nickname

Registering your nickname with NickServ is good manners. It tells the community you're a real, committed user and prevents identity confusion. See our guide on how to register your nickname.

10. Be Kind and Inclusive

IRC4Fun is a welcoming community. Harassment, discrimination, and personal attacks are not tolerated. Treat everyone with respect regardless of their experience level, background, or nationality.

Quick Reference: Common IRC Commands

• /join #channel — Join a channel
• /part #channel — Leave a channel
• /msg nickname text — Send a private message
• /whois nickname — Look up a user's info
• /away message — Set yourself as away
• /me action — Perform an action (e.g. reverse waves)
• /nick newnick — Change your nickname

Following these simple guidelines will make you a valued member of the IRC4Fun community. See you in the channels!