Through the Internet, a whole new world has opened. Not only does the Internet provide games, new up to date information, and at home shopping, it provides a cheap way to communicate with family and friends. Through the many "chat" programs or rooms "cyber families" and "cyber clubs" have been formed. These new forms of entertainment have received some very bad head lines in the past few years. We have all read and heard the negative stories about on-line chat and on-line relationships. Here I would like to tell you some of the positive stories about on-line chats. I belong to the mIRC, Dalnet family. To use mIRC, you download the program from the web and install it onto your computer. Dalnet is just one of the several networks with servers that you can log on to. I have been using this program for over a year, and these are just a few of the good things I have seen.
1. Several "cyber friends" staying up all night with another on-line
friend, talking to him, counseling him, and talking him out of committing
suicide.
2. Helping a teen-age boy move out of a home where he was being abused
and back in with family members who would help him.
3. Providing emotional support during very stressful times, such as the
death of a family member, a serious illness of a family member, and even
the break up of a marriage.
4. A channel on mIRC organized benefits to raise money for a cyber-friend,
to help pay for his medical expenses when he became seriously ill.
They also bonded together to provide emotional support for those close to
him. When his significant other had to move, several on-line friends
used their trucks to move her belongings into storage for her, and another
on-line friend provided housing near the hospital.
5. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and the birth of babies have all
been celebrated in channels on mIRC.
6. 24-hour technical computer help, companionship, laughter, and
friendship are always provided. Help with homework is often provided as well.
7. On-line holiday parties are offered so no one has to"drink and drive".
Nor do you have to tolerate nasty drunks.
8. Many channel hosts parties for the on-line club so you can getto met
the people you talk to in person.
On-line chats are like belonging to a club or going into the local corner
bar to be with friends, except you can do it in the privacy of your own
home. Just like the reality zone activities, there are people that you
should not trust, do not like, and who are just plain rude. Just as in real life,
you need to use common sense and be careful about what information you
give to anyone on line. There are "bad guys" everywhere! You have to remember that is a "fantasyland", just like the CB radio and Pen-Pals, (back in the days before Internet). On line, people can be what they want to be or as they imagine themselves to be.
But unlike the reality zone, in mIRC you can (with the click of a mouse)
put the person on ignore, have him booted out of channel, or you can
move on to another room.
As with anything in life, it is possible to become addicted to the Internet or chatting. But, those people would become addicted to
something if this was not an option. Also, just like in real life,
you find things out there that you do not agree with or approve of.
The solution is very easy, avoid the channels or websites that offend you.
That is not so easy in the reality zone.
Chatting on line is still inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends all over the world, make new friends, and learn about different countries.
Now, I will get off my soap box!
Next question......are you a mIRC member? If not, it is easy to become one.
The link to obtain the program is provided down below. There are over
3000 channels there, at least one of them peopled by individuals who share
your same interests. Still confused as to where to go?
Well, join me in #ircAddicts,
Visitors and new members are welcome in all of the above.
Hope to see you on-line.
This unsolicited mIRC-Dalnet commercial has been brought to you by kgie.
Links to other sites on the Web
mIRC Home Page
Rainbow Pop-ups
mIRC Home Page Ring
Michigan Tavern Home Page
This Ladies of Wellesley Ring site owned by
kagakata.
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