Why are people on IRC so ... angry? reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Base2Music · 2015-03-05 14:00 I've been an IRC user for years, since 1998 times. I've been OP on channels, I idle in channels of interest to help others, but also ask for help. Now, a lot of times I see angry OP's, or OP wannabes. Someone will ask for help, and then flame them for doing so. I've challenged such users in the past about why they do it, and I get the same foul response, a kick, or a ban. Let's take Freenode's #PHP channel. It's a channel about the PHP programming language. Often times users will ask: "what's your opinion of the best mvc framework?" ... they get flamed because it's not on the topic of "PHP". Well, it is. The channel has hundreds of members, the majority likely having used a PHP framework, or are using one. So rather than flame, why not just respond with a solution (if you know one)? It seems people spend too much energy being negative, and causing problems. Surely, it'd be easier to just offer the guy advice, or stay silent? I think most of the time it's the OP wannabe's who study the guidelines until they know them by heart. The rest, it's obviously a power thing. Even in my own channels I wasn't an idiot to my members. If there was a problem, I'd be rational. What is it with these seemingly insensitive IRC users? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lindsayadult · 2015-03-05 14:08 I think people get power crazy! I once had an op ban me because I wouldn't send him nudes, and when I went to the admins of the site with logs, they shrugged me off. Eventually the same dude g-lined me from the network. People are fuckin' nuts man... just gotta find good rooms with good people :) edited for clarity because /u/angryircuser is angry :P ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NeuroG · 2015-03-05 15:16 Holy crap, that guy sounds insane. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lindsayadult · 2015-03-05 15:30 yeah, I've been on irc about as long as *OP has, though and that's literally the ONLY negative experience I've ever had. I actually met my husband on IRC lol *edit: thought you were OP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- seiyria · 2015-03-05 16:01 Could be anything. Some people are having a bad day, some people just can't stand being asked the same question 10 times in an hour, and some people (Especially programmers) can be insanely dogmatic. Honestly, I stopped hanging out in channels dedicated to programming languages or programming, because ideologies always clash hardcore, and someone always gets butthurt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bobdudley · 2015-03-05 16:30 I'm not familiar with #php, but in general on freenode, the rules aren't there to annoy you, they're there to keep things focused and to keep knowledgeable contributors from losing their minds. Think of the rules as the price of the help offered. I think you'll see that it's still absurdly cheep. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ThePaperPilot · 2015-03-05 16:33 I look for smaller communities, so I can keep up and make friends with the people there. This generally means the people there also are nicer, because there aren't swarms of people asking the same thing over and over. I mean, I'd get annoyed to if I'm being constantly interrupted by people who won't read an FAQ or search SO before asking in IRC, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- greeniguana6 · 2015-03-05 16:56 What IRC channels do you join where people actually talk? Every one I've joined is just hundreds of idle people, and whenever I try to talk usually one guy will just say "fuck off" 5 minutes later. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- angryircuser · 2015-03-05 17:08 People are angry because you write things like "OP". It's not an acronym, just an abbreviation. For the sake of the rest of us, please put it in lowercase. Here on reddit, oftentimes OP (in caps) means original poster, and this can be confusing. We also generally use "op" to refer to a simple channel operator. Someone who is able to gline you is referred to as an "IRCop", sometimes "oper". The scope of their power is much greater, but they will usually refrain from involving themselves in channel matters. Using the appropriate terms is a nice way to ensure that everyone understands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- liquoranwhores · 2015-03-05 17:21 The world is full of . IRC is no exception. For someone who claims to have been on IRC user for years, why does this surprise you? Most IRC (read: mostly all) channels are run as dictatorships. They don't need a reason to kick or ban you. For every channel I idle in, I've left a hundred more. You honestly come across as uber naive. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- roxven · 2015-03-05 17:32 I think knowledge channels like #php are different from social channels. The regulars in knowledge channels can't help but become jaded by the massive tidal waves or stupid that wash over them on a daily basis. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- kyleyankan · 2015-03-05 19:00 Similar things happened when my wife joined IRC. She was quickly turned off to learning a new chat medium. However, one of the the freenode staffers is a woman I know personally, if something ever happens on that network. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bodnast · 2015-03-05 19:05 I met my current girlfriend on irc! 3 years next week and still going strong :) it's odd explaining to people how we met though lol ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2015-03-05 19:12 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- penelopede · 2015-03-05 20:32 [#casualconversation](https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.snoonet.org/casua lconversation) is consistently active in across timezones. It helps that users come in with the intention of socializing (via /r/casualconversation). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Joester98 · 2015-03-05 20:32 We're on the subreddit /r/irc, I'm sure everyone knows that OP means operator here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2015-03-05 22:37 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- machinesmith · 2015-03-05 23:09 It really depends on which IRC channel - after losing out on being "the in thing" and the novelty wearing off, IRC was left to those who bothered with it - it never totally died but as it built up again it became filled with people who're ... well not AS socially adjusted as the average joe. When I first tried IRC it was 1999 and was greeted with similar hate that was being passed off as snark, tried again in 2002(ish) and was instantly told to fuck off wherever I went. I picked it up again in 2008 and explored what was out there - you wont believe the kind of places that were total shitholes - I mean on #xkcd (yes an IRC channel for the comic of the same name) youd think everyone would be talking smart and what not - not a chance, place was a hate filled cesspit and the ONLY person who was nice was the guy who actually made the comic Randall. I thankfully found a place where it wasn't all assholes trying to outdo each other with their assholery a retrogaming channel - 4 years later and now I host that same place on a separate server. \o/ So yes I agree with /u/lindsayadult " you just have to find a good room with good people. edit: whoops! shit this was meant for OP /u/Base2Music, my bad! My mistake lives on as a lesson for others! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Base2Music · 2015-03-05 23:21 Just because I've been on IRC for years doesn't mean I understand the minds of those with insensitive attitudes. I could have asked this question 10 years ago, but it just so happens I chose to ask it today. There's nothing naive about asking a question, giving a bit of context into why I am asking, and adding a little bit of a rant into the mix :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2015-03-06 03:33 The quiet and jaded genius is a somewhat common sight on IRC. I think lots of people try to emulate that, but end up loud jerks instead. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomic1fire · 2015-03-06 04:35 Or leave an FAQ of questions that the channel gets asked often in the /topic Not hard with pastebin. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ywBBxNqW · 2015-03-06 09:14 It's easy enough to generalize. There are many channels that are not like that. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- coldf2 · 2015-03-07 21:43 I play on abjects. Come play with us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AS7RONAUT · 2015-03-08 12:48 Private torrent tracker IRC's are usually pretty good. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MeowWhat · 2015-03-08 16:13 where at? I might like to hang there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- machinesmith · 2015-03-09 01:08 hey guy! o/ It's a retro tracker site (uses bittorrent...let me know if this means nothing to you I'll explain what they do in a PM) in order to get in you need an invite to the site (which grants you access to the irc server too otherwise you eventually get booted off). I'll be more than happy to send you one though if you're interested! Let me know! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vinskystra · 2015-03-20 16:43 I have found lurking moar is a good solution. You get used to the language and get to know what they hate. Just like lurking in 4chan. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Elzington · 2015-03-22 15:29 I just found this discussion by searching "Why are php programmers so angry?" It seems I am not alone. I have had similar experiences with the #php channel in IRC. They seem rude and impatient with those wanting to learn. For the sake of the IRC discussion ... I come across a large segment of people who are experienced and rude. They have no patience for people who would genuinely like to join the community, but don't quite know where to start yet. The common suggestion is "That's what google is for, you %#@&!!", to this my response is .... there is a ton of crap info and bad advice out there on google. It would be helpful to be directed by someone with experience to some helpful resources. A touch of kindness would go a long way as well. I like to learn in a social environment. People that do have experience could really help their community grow by offering advice as opposed to rude un- helpfulness. Good thoughts, Base2Music! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MeowWhat · 2015-04-06 18:53 yeah sorry this took so long to get back to, I'm mostly just looking to have a place to chill with some regulars but I enjoy retro gaming as well. hook me up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- edensg · 2015-04-19 01:46 IRC channels should take more from reddiquette, imho.