Pros and cons of having a default channel

Trusler · none Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 30

Hello! Looking for some more advice. Smile

Can folks give me some pro's and con's to having a default channel users join on connecting? We have one right now called #lobby. In the web site (as soon as it gets up) it explains what the point of the lobby is as just a first stop. We were thinking it was a Good Thing (tm) so that people who were IRC clueless wouldn't sign on and be unable to get anywhere to chat.

I got some contrary advice that it scares off new folks. So I thought I'd get a sample of wisdom from the experts out there. Speak up, I'm curious to know what folks think!

Guest · Posted: Sep 20, 2003 8:45pm Post subject:

Personally I think any network who uses forced on-connect joins will be relegated to remaining small, and insignificant in the greater scheme of things.

It shows the network wants to micro manage it's users. That presents the network in the light of being over bearing and likely having 'nazish' tendencies. Some users who may chat in the channel may not mind, since that's a channel they chat in, but overall, it's okay if you are basically running a one-channel-network, and not much else.

moonman · Lurker Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 212

nice post guest. summed it up nicely.

[DiMENSiON] · Eleet Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 621

I personally don't like them, I want to choose where i go. So in my opinion i don't think you should have one.

U · Eleet Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 521 Location: IRC

I had one and it caused issues, ie if a bunch of clones got loaded it got flooded with them.

I use default channels for my staff, because then they are autojoined to the IRCop channel which is convienent for them, but I stopped using a user autojoin channel a long time ago-it annoyed people more than it helped.

moonman · Lurker Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 212

the default staff channel annoys me, too. more often than not, i'll join the staff channels after i /oper, but i dont particularly like being forced to do so.

Stray · none Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 4

I don't like the forced join a channel on connect but been a small network can understand why some servers have it
as for the join a oper channel when /oper is used i guess thats up to the server admin

Trusler · none Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 30

We have forced /oper channels. Since I'd expect IRC operators to be in the network help channel this I do think is a Good Thing, since it just autojoins them, no muss no fuss.

I'm still thinking more about the default channel. I'm not ready to give up on the idea just yet. Perhaps its important to more clearly define its purpose. No one is required to chat in it, its simply a beginning place. The folks who hang out in our default channel are pretty helpful, and I think they can do a good job of helping new users find the rooms they want to go to.

Its basically the welcome wagon. I appreciate the input. I know a bit more of the viewpoints out there, so I intend to watch the development of the things and then make a final decision. Smile

Jason · Posted: Sep 22, 2003 7:40am Post subject:

I dislike the forced user joined channel, but in my case it's because the SearchIRC robots join each network every hour, and those with forced joins tend to kline the robot.

Ironically:
- The network itself tends to request the robot.
- They could set a +ban on the robot's host instead of klining it.
- irc.searchirc.com uses a forced-join even though I dislike them. I do this simply because irc.searchirc.com is setup with one channel, for SearchIRC help. It isn't a traditional IRC network.

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

For me, at least, a forced join is a great big red flag that a network may be an undeclared metanetwork. All domain names lead to the same place, but if you connect to irc.abc.com, then you are force joined to #abc; if you connect to irc.xyz.com, then you are force joined to #xyz. That way the IRC ops know which users are "theirs" to ban or help.

I doubt many regular users have clued in on this, but for what its worth, its my 2 cents on the issue. :)

Trusler · none Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 30

Jason - don't worry, no banning of your bots here. They are pretty unobtrustive. Occassionally someone asks "who was that," and then I can explain about what SearchIRC.net is.

I understand your comments Mary. That's why I'm upfront with the purpose of the channel. It is included in the entrymsg ChanServ sends to users why it is there, and that they should feel welcome to stay or leave if they'd prefer to just be in a channel more geared to their interests.

I think while DarkeIRC continues to slowly grow we will keep the autojoin channel since it provides some focal point. As individual channels develop more we will return to reevaluate the usefulness of the autojoin channel.

Jason · Posted: Sep 22, 2003 11:08am Post subject:

oh, I'm not worried about YOU :)

Generally speaking, auto join is a bad idea, but as I said, even I use it. There is a time and place for it, and on a really small network, it can sometimes be a good thing, especially if the network is made up of users from one channel that migrated from another network.

On the other hand, as far as network growth, and managing a "real" IRC network, the auto join tends to hinder more than it helps.

ed · Posted: Sep 22, 2003 3:07pm Post subject:

The only time I think an join on connect channel should be used, is if you are dealing with new users. For example, you have a java chat - all of the folks in the java chat are taken to #chat, because most likely they are new users, and will want some help getting started. Otherwise, normal users connecting get to choose which channel they would like to join.

Terry · none Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 28

We had a autojoin on connect for the longest time and we had enough complaints that we discontinued it...

peace..

Michael · none Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 48

I find them very annoying.