IRC - Internet Relay Chat
Blinkenshells official IRC chat channel: #blinkenshell @ irc.blinkenshell.org, Port 6697 SSL (irc://irc.blinkenshell.org:+6697/blinkenshell). The channel is located on Blinkenshells IRC Network BlinkenIRC.
If you do not have an IRC client installed on your computer you can use the Webchat to get started.
New to IRC?
IRC is a chat protocol mainly focused on group chats. Blinkenshell has an IRC channel (or room if you prefer) called #blinkenshell where all members can hang around and chat. All members are required to stop by now and then to show that they are active. You will also have to visit the chat if you want to sign up for a new account here. Most people have their IRC client running all the time, but they might not be actively chatting or they might not even be in front of their computers. If you ask a question in the channel when it's quiet, it might take some time for people to notice and respond. Please leave your IRC window open in the background and wait for a while if no one responds right away.
IRC Clients
If you prefer to use a standalone IRC client take a look at one of these howtos: XChat/SilverX, mIRC.
Here are some other common IRC clients:
Halloy - Modern GUI client for Mac, Windows and Linux
HexChat - GUI client based on XChat. Free software.
mIRC - Popular old IRC client, maybe not be the best anymore. Shareware (free trial 30 days).
QuesselIRC - Another cross-platform GUI client
irssi - Popular CLI client for UNIX-like OSes. (Also runs on Windows now.)
weechat - Another CLI client for UNIX-like OSes. Extensible via scripts (ie Perl, Python)
Howto/TheLounge - Web based IRC client
General description on how to connect to Blinkenshells chat:
After starting up your IRC client, try finding some way to connect to a custom server or to add a new network. Our IRC-network is not the most common, so it's probably not in the list of known networks that comes with your IRC-client. Add the server irc.blinkenshell.org, Port 6697 with SSL. When you are connected to the network, join the channel #blinkenshell and start chatting with us! 
#blinkenshell
Blinkenbot is an IRC-bot in the #blinkenshell channel that generates channel statistics (Posted URLs) and has some useful commands to help users in the signup process.
Blinkenshell members can get autovoice from blinkenbot if they want to, use the signup program to request it.
Rules
- No flooding or spamming (in channel or PM)
- No advertising
- No auto-rejoin after kick
- English only please (use #non-english for chat in other languages)
- Be nice! Don't start flamewars, insult others etc
- No Trolling or nick jumping
- No Ban Evasion
IRC Related articles
Info/IRC/SASL - Authenticating to NickServ using SASL
Howto: Register nickname with NickServ - Step-by-step instructions for how to use NickServ
Howto: IRC with irssi + screen - Getting started with irssi and screen
Bitlbee - Access other instant messaging protocols through IRC
Blinkenbot - Blinkenshells IRC bot
Notable IRC Networks
External links