What Is an Internet Chat Room?
At the most basic level, a chat room is where a group of people gather to talk about similar interests. The room may designated as a singles only room, a chat room for a specific town or community, or just about anything else. Once you enter a chat room, it can be helpful to know what to expect and what to avoid. Remember that how you project yourself affects your chat interaction.
Other People Are Reading
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Chat Rules
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Each chat room will have its own set of rules. Specific rules might include forbidding profane language or advertising. A chat room may require you to visit multiple times before you are allowed to "speak" to others in the room, and insist that you register before chatting. When a person breaks the rules, they may be immediately banned from the room or refused access for a pre-determined length of time.
Moderators and Operators
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A moderator controls whether or not new members can type messages. If a room is having a special meeting, the moderator would only allow the people involved to participate. An operator can control many aspects about the room, including who can join or participate, whether the room is private or public and the topic of the room. These people do not control the chat network, only a local channel or room.
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Chat Room Behavior
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A good rule of thumb is to sit quietly in a room before you try to participate. Get a feel for how the other people in the room are acting, both towards you and towards each other. The most active people in a room are usually the "regulars," and they can serve as a guide for what is and is not acceptable behavior. Making sexual advances is forbidden in many channels, and is considered childish in others. If you would not say something to a person's face, you probably should not say it in chat.
Chat Room Etiquette
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In chat, typing in ALL CAPS is considered yelling and should be avoided except to emphasis meaning. Remember that people visit chat from many nations, and use the preferred languages for the rooms you visit. Treat other people the way that want to be treated, and avoid getting involved in arguments. You may be banned from the room if you become labeled as a troublemaker. Do not make rude or sexual comments or ask silly questions like, "Does anyone want to chat?" People join a chat room to chat more often than for any other purpose.
The ASL Error
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A common mistake for a "newbie" to do in a chat room is type the line, "What is everyone's age, sex and location?" This question is so common that is is referred to by an acronym, ASL, and it is grounds for being temporarily kicked out of some chat rooms. If you want to know more information about a person, ask them directly. Remember, this is a very common question and your fellow users get tired of typing the same response over and over again. At the very least, your question is likely to be ignored.
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References
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