IMPORTANT NOTES RE IRC CHAT
IRC (internet relay chat) can be great fun if you bear in mind the following tips and words of caution.

• IRC is an unregulated medium. We have little control over who enters the chat room, or the conversations that take place. For this reason parents should consider carefully the advisability of children using the chatroom unsupervised.

• When you choose a nickname, it can be almost anything you like but we strongly advise against using your FULL name. Just your christian name and initial is fine - but not your full surname. For safety's sake, a degree of anonymity is always advisable. If someone else is already using the name you choose, you will not be able to use it. This problem can be overcome by adding an extra character - an intial or number for example - to the end. If you want to keep your nickname for your exclusive use it is possible to register it and select a password for using it. Note that this only applies to the IRC chat on the server we use and not the whole of IRC.

• When you chat in the Northamptonshire room, everyone in the room can read the message. If you want to talk privately with someone you can do so.

• You can chat to your friends on-line and meet lots of new people in the chat room. This can be great fun and you can make lots of new contacts.However, you must remember that you know nothing about the person you are talking to, apart from what they tell you on-line and you should be very careful about disclosing a lot of personal information in this situation. Also bear in mind that sometimes people on-line are very different off-line!

• It's not unknown for people to portray themselves as who the would LIKE to be, rather than who they are! This can be good and fun too, but remember you are communicating with someone acting out a fantasy, rather than the real person!

• When you've been talking to someone for a while you may want to talk on the phone, or arrange to meet. This CAN be great fun too!! But the normal rules for meeting a stranger in this situation apply - make sure other people know where you're going - always meet in a public place - be cautious about giving personal details such as addresses and phone numbers, and if you feel at all uncomfortable leave!

• IF you want to carry on surfing the net but stay in the chat room while you do, click on the 'options' tab and choose 'float'

• If you are familiar with irc, you can get into the chat room directly with your irc software, if you log on to server irc.webchatting.com

• If you have any questions about IRC chat just send us an E-Mail and we'll try to help.

• CLICK HERE AND ENTER THE CHAT ROOM!