One time on Usenet, "A.C." > said:
> Glitter Ninja wrote:

> > They're probably idle, or a chat bot. Or are you sure that's not the
> > case? I have only done a few chats in my day but we always (always!)
> > had people just sitting there, idle, while on other windows doing
> > something.
> > Chat bots can make themselves look unidle while recording the
> > conversation, fwiw.

> bots don't use the java client. personally, i could give a rats ass who idles
> and who doesn't. i've been using irc for years and i'm used to seeing people
> idle for days or weeks at a time. most of the people who are bothered by
> idlers are irc novices anyhow.

It depends on how "close" the channel users are -- I used to IRC with
a very tight group and we kicked anyone who didn't identify themselves
immediately. I think the RFCers are being pretty nice about it. Then
again, I don't do IRC so much now; by the time I read the notices and
get to the RFC channel, everyone's asleep or gone...


--
Jani in WA (S'mee)
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~