Chatting to @Z...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kayne	19 Mar 2002
In chat '@Z' is the least talkable person... yet he/she always seems to be there! Is this a secret spy, bent on reading the discussions of fellow Aeclectics or just necessary to keep the chat happening? Who is the mysterious @Z???

Diana	19 Mar 2002
:confused: Kayne, I am even more in the dark than you are. Because I haven't a clue what you're talking about! Where does this green @z come from? Where is he/she/it? I've never seen he/she/it? This is worrying. Are you seeing things that others aren't? Am I not seeing things that others are? And why did the chicken cross the road, anyway?

kayne	19 Mar 2002
LOL! @Z is at the top of the list of people in the Aeclectic Chat Room... I think of him/her as... The Zpy! I think I am not seeing things... I have discussed it with others in there... :D

Kiama	19 Mar 2002
I tried talking to @Z the other day, but alas, got noe reply... But the weird thing is, I logged onto the Chat Room, with the @ in front of my name. I was the only person on tehre. Then, I went back 5 minutes later, and Z was tehre, with the @! He/she had taken my @ away from my name! AGH!!! Who is this mysterious @Z? We must find out.... Kiama

Diana	19 Mar 2002
So is this @Z always there or only sometimes? I can't meet him/her/it, 'cos I can't go into the Chat Room (no ICQ). But I'm still curious to know who this Zpy is. Aeclectic is great - a detective thriller to solve. Wow.

Kiama	19 Mar 2002
@Z seems to be in there whenever there is someone else in there.... Its really scarey, cuz we never know if @Z is listening in on our conversations or not! Kiama

Bings	19 Mar 2002
I have not had the chance to join the chat room yet, but I am able to answer this question because I have been chatting on IRC for 6 years. The @ stands for channel operater. Or in IRC terms "ops". "Ops" are given to those who run the channel. They have certain privelages that help the channel run smoothly. They are allowed to set the rules, change topics, kick and even ban other users. If there is no other person in the channel when you join it, you may be given ops and then have a @ in front of your nickname. This is usually temperary until a person who is a permanamt op joins. Now on to who Z is. Z is a computer program. Or in IRC terms a "bot". His job is to maintain the channel when there are no flesh and blood ops presant. He will give a @ to those people who are listed in his program to have ops. He may also de-op you if you get ops by being the only one presant in the channel. If you type /whois Z the next time you are in the channel you will see that he is in numerous channels. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions just ask. Dianne

Bings	19 Mar 2002
Diana, You don't need ICQ. You need a program to run IRC (internet relay chat). You can get this program by going to; http://www.mirc.co.uk/ Dianne

kayne	19 Mar 2002
Mystery @Z solved! I am in the chat room right now and HOh-LOh! I have @ in fron of my name! I HAVE THE POWER!!! (Now... how do I use it???

Diana	19 Mar 2002
I'm disappointed - this is not like Agatha Christie at all. Dianne: Oh. There I go again showing my computer illiteracy :o :o I thought IRC and ICQ were the same things. What's ICQ then? But I know I don't have these (whatever they are) because I spend already too much time on the internet. And I know that certain temptations are too great for me to resist - like Aeclectic Chat Rooms and eating whole slabs of chocolate. (Oh my - now I can imagine myself doing both at the same time - pure bliss :) Get thee behind me Satan!)

Pollux	19 Mar 2002
Hey kayne, so it was a ZPY after all! I was right! :P Diana, you don't need to download anything at all! You just have to click on "yes" when that grey dialogue-box pops up, it will load the stuff your browser need to chat... The thing of getting this @ happened to me too! 8)

Kaz	19 Mar 2002
Z is the bot in the channel that gives out authorisations, like @ for some people. People with an @ in front of their name have operator status. Z has it by default, as it is a bot that "keeps" the channel. You can talk to Z, but only some commands work, try /msg Z , depends on what you say if it replies. For further info on things, look at the webby of the hostserver. Kaz

jade	19 Mar 2002
i still can't figure out how to get into the chat. someone kindly sent me some links for a mac, but i still couldn't figure it out. :( oh well. jade

Kaz	19 Mar 2002
That was me jade, what's the problem you have? Maybe I can help you with it. Kaz

Pollux	19 Mar 2002
UFF UFF UFF!!! :( PLEASE, WILL SOMEONE HELP JADE!!!??? I wish I could, but I'm clueless about MACs and compatibility and all... :( If someone does help you, do you promise you will also chat with me once - at least? :)

The Chatting to @Z... thread was originally posted on 19 Mar 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.