Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a live, instant messaging system that requires no registration. Much of the time there is someone into NVC on IRC who might enjoy giving you empathy, helping with questions about the wiki, or just connecting. You can use the web interface here - if you would like to get in contact with others live, just click "Chat!"

There's also standalone software for IRC, here's what we recommend for different systems (to get to the channel with these systems, here's the server: irc.freenode.net and channel: #NVC):

• Mac - Colloquy
• Windows - mIRC, Trillian,
• Linux - kvirc, ksirc
• Cross-platform:
  • Chatzilla (on all three, and lets you click on this link to connect: irc://irc.freenode.net#nvc )
  • GAIM (Linux and Windows)

Note: You might find that clicking on Chat doesn't work as well as other methods suggested here. If you use the free open source and "Best of Class" Firefox web browser, you might prefer the free open source Chatzilla plugin. It opens a new window leaving your browser window as-is, and it has many helpful features.