Subject: FAQ: CFS IRC Internet Relay Chat
Supersedes: <medicine/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/cfs-irc_828569567@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 11 Apr 1996 05:54:04 GMT
Summary: This posting describes how to participate in the #CFS channel on
          the Undernet IRC network
X-Last-Updated: 1996/01/17

Posting-Frequency: weekly

                                CFS IRC

This file explains the most basic rudiments of #CFS IRC, the live chat
channel that is a support forum for people who have chronic fatigue
syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis.  This file also includes a table of 
the regular meeting times for the #CFS chats.  

                              BASICS FOR CFS IRC

   IRC is a multi-user, multi-channel chatting network.  It allows people
   all over the internet to talk to one another in real-time. The CFS IRC
   channel is becoming quite active.  Recently it seems that people are
   available on channel #CFS at almost any time.  We exchange some good
   information -- but it's also just a lot of fun!  And please note: we
   have found it much more effective to log in to Undernet servers rather
   than to the regular servers.

   If your system has irc, then do the following:

      Enter "irc" (without the quotes) to start the program.

      Enter "/server us.undernet.org" to switch to Undenet (or try
      ca.undernet.org or eu.undernet.org or au.undernet.org,)
      depending upon which country or continent you are in).

      Enter "/join #cfs".

      You're there!

   You may wish to note the following basic instructions for using IRC:

   All IRC commands begin with a / character. Anything that does not
   begin with a / is assumed to be a message that is sent to everyone on
   your channel.  Here are a few basic commands to help you get started:

   /JOIN
          Join the named channel. Preceed the channel
          name with a "#". (Example: /join #CFS )
          All non-commands that you type will now go to
          everyone on that channel.

   /NICK nickname
          Create or change your nickname (the name that
          appears to other users).

   /WHO
          Shows who is on a given channel,
          including nickname, user name and host,
          and realname.

   /HELP
          Gets help on all IRC commands.

   /HELP BASICS
          Shows summary of commands.

   /QUIT
          Exits irc.


                       TIME SCHEDULE FOR CFS DAILY CHAT
                                       
   The CFS channel has been getting more active, and people are likely to
   be online at almost any time. However, you may wish to note the
   following daily meeting times that have been set. The most well
   attended daily meeting is the "Pacific conference", especially on
   Friday nights (or in Australia, mid-day Saturday). The "Atlantic
   Conference" is most often attended on Sundays.


                  Pacific       New York    California     Atlantic
                 Conference    Breakfast     Breakfast    Conference
                 ----------    ---------    ----------    ----------

 Adelaide           1:30pm        1:30pm      4:30am         7:30am

 Sydney             2pm           2am          5am            8am

 Los Angeles        7pm           7am         10am            1pm

 New York          10pm          10am          1pm            4pm

 UTC               0300          1500         1800           2100

 London             3am           3pm          6pm            9pm

 Stockholm          4am           4pm          7pm           10pm

 --------------------------------------------------------------------

   These times are based on local times for late 1995, i.e. they show
   standard time where applicable (i.e. winter for North America &
   Europe).


Another helpful channel on the Undernet IRC network is #MSers which is
frequented by people with MS, FM, CFS, Lupus and various diseases
that all have similar symptoms.  They have a meeting for people with
chronic disease and pain from 2-4pm daily Eastern time, a Women's meeting
on Wednesday nights 9-10pm ET, a morning devotional and prayer at 12 noon
ET daily, and late night get togethers around 11pm ET each night. 
 

========================== From: CFS-L@LIST.NIH.GOV =======================











