[IRC] The basic unit of discussion on
IRC. Once one joins a channel, everything one types is read
by others on that channel. Channels are named with strings that
begin with a `#' sign and can have topic descriptions (which are
generally irrelevant to the actual subject of discussion). Some
notable channels are #initgame, #hottub,
callahans, and #report. At times of international
crisis, #report has hundreds of members, some of whom take
turns listening to various news services and typing in summaries of
the news, or in some cases, giving first-hand accounts of the
action (e.g., Scud missile attacks in Tel Aviv during the Gulf War
in 1991).
