We regret that this new chatroom is somewhat arcane at first.  But we will help you get setup so you can enjoy all the new features!  We even have a special Help Room where you can get your questions answered anytime!  Click on the options below to learn more about the new chatroom.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Quickchat Interface (using a web browser)
IRC Interface (using an IRC program like mIRC)
Quick Reference
Go to Hippy Chat
Go to Help Room (get your questions answered there!)

Quickchat Interface (for web browsers)
Our new chatrooms, if accessed from one of Hippyland's or HipPlanet's webpages, is a java program that let's you join the chatroom and provides an easy to use interface.  To use this you don't need to know all the commands of the IRC Interface.  Before you logon there is an option to show user settings.  This offers some options that are very useful.  I recommend you select "show private message windows" and "float private message windows". This makes it easier to Private Chat (pc) with someone, because it opens a window as soon as someone double clicks your name.  You can also have multiple windows open at once (no limit).

How to Connect
Enter your nickname (choose one if you haven't registered one yet).  Enter your password if registered. Click on the connect button.  That's it you're in!  

If the name you chose has already been registered by someone else, you will have 60 seconds to choose another before you're assigned a guest name.  This is to protect people's names from imposters.  Choose another name by entering: "/nick anothername" (without the quotes).  You can always put a number after your name like Mary123 to keep the same name.  Find out how to register your name!

Problems
Some people are having a problem with the Quickchat interface because they've got many other windows or programs open or they're using Netscape, which doesn't do too well (runs out of memory).  If you're experiencing this problem, keep your open windows to a minimum, and use Microsoft Internet Explorer.  Or you can get the mIRC program which will solve the problems.

FAQ

Q:Why was the change done?
A: I don't know, but I've known a lot of really kewl people who avoided our chatroom ONLY because it didn't use the "normal" (IRC) protocol for chatting.  IRC also allows for kicking/banning of people who interfere with conversation. It also allows for many more chatters at once (we were limited to 25 before).  Also it's much easier to get in, no chatroom full messages or server errors.  There are ops (operators) who are very experienced and helpful in the room 24/7 (all the time).  These folks should be viewed as helpers, not cops (see next question).

Q: Huh??!  What about FREE SPEECH?!!!!
A: I'm all for that!  Isn't that what we're about?  When someone comes into the room and just keeps sending the same thing over and over and over (flooding), their purpose is to make the messages scroll away faster than people can read them.   That's not speech of any sort- it's simply an attempt to take away your ability to chat at all, and we will now have the ability to kick such people and even ban them if they persist.

Q: Why do I have to register my nickname?
A: You don't have to, but if you want to always use the same nick, and don't want someone impersonating you (as many did with Volcano Chat), it might be a good idea.  Also if you reg your nick, other people will be able to leave you a memo right there in the room even if you're not there.  If you just missed someone, see if they left you a memo.

Q: How do I connect using an IRC client (program)?
A: Select a webchat server (any should work), and enter #hippychat or #nameofchatroom as the channel.  Then connect!

IRC chat is a very powerful system.  It allows you to type all sorts of commands in the same way you chat.  Below is a summary of the commands available to you.  If you find this way beyond your understanding, don't worry!  You don't have to use any of these!  You can also use the web browser interface which makes it unnecessary to memorize these commands.  Click here for info on how to connect to the chatroom via any IRC client (program).

Note: Of course don't type the quotes- try it, it's all easy. Play. Experiment (we do that don't we?!)

Actions*******

To do an action, type "/me" followed by the action.
For instance to say "sunlion is empathizing with everyone" I would type
"/me is empathizing with everyone"

*** Registering and protecting your nickname ********************
Purpose: to prevent others from impersonating you.
-To register your nick to protect it, first switch to the nickname you want to use by typing
"/nick [nickname] "

Then register it by typing
"/ns register [password] [email address]  "
NOTE: remember the password you type here!

-To protect your nick when you're not here, type
"/ns set kill on"
That way no one else can use that nickname when you're not here.

As soon as you n, type
"/ns identify [yourpassword] "
or it'll take your nick away, cuz it assumes you're someone else.

If you have registered your nick, and the system changes you back to "guest" just type
"/ns release [nickname] [password]"
This will free your nick again.  Then type
" /nick [nick] "
 to switch to your real nick.

To change your nick (for instance, when you let someone else chat on your machine), type
"/nick [nickname]"

*** Using MemoServ ********************

Purpose: MemoServ is a way to leave a message for someone who isn't here- they can get the message next time they're in the room.  If you just missed someone in chat, see if they left you a memo.

To type a command, simply type "/ms" followed by a command.

For complete help, just type "/ms help"

For info on a particular command, type "
/ms help" followed by the command you want help with.

To use a command, simply type
"/ms [command]"

Here's a summary of the basic commands:

To get a list of your memo folders:
"/ms list"

To open one of those folders:
"/ms select"

To read the first message in that folder:
"/ms read 1" (note: other messages read same way)

To delete that memo, type"/ms del 1"

To send someone a memo
"/ms SEND [nickname] [message] "

"/ms" commands in summary:
SEND      - Send another user a memo
LIST      - List your current memos
READ      - Read a memo
DEL       - Mark a memo as deleted
EXPUNGE   - Delete all memos from the recycled folder
CLOSE     - Close an active memo folder
STAT      - Displays all Memo folders
CREATE    - Create a new Memo folder
UNDEL     - Undelete a memo from the Recycler box
SELECT    - Select your active memo box
MOVE      - Move a selected message to a specified memo box
IGNORE    - MemoServ ignore command.
KEEP      - MARK a memo that you do not want to expire

"/ns" commands in summary:
REGISTER  - Register a nickname
SET       - Change settings, including the KILL option
ACCESS    - Change the list of addresses allowed to use a nick
IDENTIFY  - Authorise yourself using a password
RECOVER   - Stop someone from using your registered nick
GHOST     - Terminate a ghosted nickname
DROP      - Drop a registered nickname
WATCH     - Have NickServ manage your watch/notify list
BUDDY     - Add your friends to your buddy/notify list
Other Commands:
RELEASE   INFO    ACC    AUTH     LISTCHANS
Example:
/msg NickServ help <info>
/msg NickServ help AUTH

USING IRC SOFTWARE: For more information about Internet Relay Chat, go to any search engine and search for "IRC FAQ" and you will find pages with answers to every question you will likely ever have.