If you do decide you want to try out mIRC,
here are directions for getting started and
connecting to the class server. You'll see
the same text as someone using the
WebBoard chat feature, but you'll be able
to save it to your hard drive. Also, it should
run smoothly on your computer and not
consume all your system resources. If
you don't pay the shareware fee I believe
the author's picture just stares at you and
tells you what a bad person you are for
stealing from him. So, if you have no
conscience or sense of social
responsibility, the program is free.

1. When you install mIRC on your
computer, the "mIRC Options" window
will pop up. If you've already downloaded
it and closed the window, you can open it
up again from the "File" menu.

2. Enter a nickname. The nickname is
what will identify you in the channel. You
may be able to leave those other fields
blank.

3. Right above the "Connect to IRC
server" button is a pull-down menu to
select a server. Click the "Add" button next
to this menu and type in the following
information:

Description: LCC server
IRC_Server: list.lanecc.edu
Password: type the password you use to
log into WebBoard here. Or find the
password that was emailed to you when
you signed up for the listserv through
WebBoard.

4. Click "Connect to IRC server".

5. Once you're connected to a server, the
"mIRC Channels Folder" window will pop
up. Enter "#metaphysics_online" into the
text window near the top and click the
"Join" button. Make sure to include the
underscore in the middle ("_"). On most
keyboards, it's shift - (shift-dash key

6. Congratulations, you're now in the
channel. A list of the people in the
channel will appear to your right. To send
a message to the channel, type it into the
small text window at the bottom of the
screen and press the "Enter" key

7. To keep a record of the chat, right click
on the square blue and red icon in the
upper left hand corner of the channel
window, just to the left of where it says
"Undernet" and your nickname. Then
choose "buffer" and "save log as". You
can make mIRC log automatically by
going up to the "File" menu, choosing
"Options" and then selecting "Logging"
from the list of options to the left.

Prof. Borrowdale
borrowdalej@lanecc.edu