How to use IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

Step 4 Operator status and it's priveleges...

When you are the first user to show up to a channel, you are automatically given "operator status", meaning you are the operator of that channel, or the administrator of that channel. This gives you special privileges that other users cannot use without that status. It is considered polite to give operator status to people you expect to be there with you, so that they can have administrative control of the channel as well. To share operator status with your friend Gozer, type the following (assuming you were there first):

/op gozer

This command can only be given by someone with operator status to share the same status with a fellow user. What good is "operator status" to the two of you? I'll show you more commands that will demonstrate:

/kick Mr_Rude

This will kick the intrusive person named "Mr_Rude" from the channel, removing them from the channel. A message can be appended to show a reason why you kicked them, but is not necessary. An example is shown below:

/kick Mr_Rude No swearing is allowed on this channel

When Mr_Rude is kicked they will receive the message, "You have been booted from #instructables by B_Kenobi (No swearing is allowed on this channel)"

If you have a persistent user who annoys you and does not respond to the /kick command, you can use the /kick-ban command, that will kick the user off and ban them from rejoining. You can also attach a message in the same way as a simple /kick:

/kick-ban Mr_Rude No swearing is allowed on this channel

They will see the same message as above, but "booted" will be replaced with "banned", and they will not be able to join your channel as long as you are on it. you can remove this by typing the following:

/unban Mr_Rude

Now the ban is lifted and that user can log into your channel again. If another operator banned a user, you can unban them and override their ban as a fellow operator.

Operators can also set the topic for the conversation. To do so, simply type /topic and enter what you want as your topic, to be shown for all users at the top of the screen. Anyone who joins will see this in the introduction to the channel, and all users already logged-on will see the change as it is made:

/topic I love bunnies!

The topic will change to this after this command is given, if you have operator status. Try it and see by looking at the top of the window...

If you give someone operator status and they misbehave, an operator can strip another operator of his status by using the following command:

/deop Gozer

This will remove Gozer's operator status (maybe because he bans your other friends for no reason or abuses his operator status), and remove his ability to change topics, or kick/ban other users. If you wish to not have operator status, you can deop yourself as well, as an operator has control over privileges of all users, including themselves. An amusing way to leave as an operator is to kick yourself. Kick yourself for foul language even when you haven't used any, or for any reason. It's an inside-joke amongst veteran IRC users.

It takes practice, but not long before you are perfect with these commands....