Internet > Internet
Relay Chat (IRC) > Advanced
Use >
IRC Private
Messages
You can conduct private,
real-time conversations across the Internet with another
user on an IRC channel with the following
commands:
- Basics. You can send a private message
to another user with the "/msg" command, followed
by the user's name and the message. This message will show up on the other person's
computer only, and not be echoed to other users on the channel. Your message
will be marked as a private message with your name surrounded by "*" instead
of the brackets usually used for public messages. For example, the following
command
/msg Steve what type of bike is it? produces
*john* what type of bike is it?
If you want to have
a private conversation with another user, the polite thing to do is to ask
them
one or two questions, and then not to bother them if they decline or don't answer.
If they do want to talk, they will /msg you back, and you can carry on a private
conversation. You can have more than one private conversation at the
same time.
- /invite. If you want to ask a user to join you in
another channel, use the "/invite command, which will send the user a message
asking them if they want to join you in the indicated channel.
/Invite john #politics - /query. Use
the "/query" command to specify that every message you type should be directed
to a single user.
/query john
If the other
user also specifies a "/query" command to you, then all of the messages you type
will be displayed only to each other. You can still monitor the ongoing public
conversations in the channel.
Use the "/query" command by itself to turn
off the private channel. /query - Options.
You can message several people at once by separating their names with commas.
/msg Steve,Jane can you use whole-wheat flour?
Some programs let you use the "/m" abbreviation for "/msg"..
/m elvis hello there The "/notice" command is the
same as "/msg" except that the message will be contained in dashes, which will
prevent a response from most robots.
/notice Steve what
type of bike? produces -john- what type
of bike?
|