Is IRC safe to go in?

[Bazoukas]

I have X-Chat.

 Is IRC a minefield or is it ok to go in?
When i go to IRC i go at linux and linuxhelp.

[rtgwbmsr]

It is a minefield...always. Especially if you have windoze. But if you don't, as long as you are careful, it is OK.

[TheQuirk]

you forgot the most important part -- don't be a moron and IRC as root (decent networks ban/kick people that use root for security reasons -- both theirs and yours)!

[eradicator]

IRC is safe, just don't mess with the "wrong" people. the only network that is really full of script kiddies is dalnet, and maybe some other small networks. otherwise, OPN(openprojects.net) has decent users, and so does Undernet.

[TheQuirk]

you mean irc.freenode.net -- they changed their name.

[choasforages]

some reason i can't get on dalnet anymore. owell. the only thing i use xchat for is talking to some friends and trying to get "things"

[lazygamer]

IRC is fine for small communities where everybody knows everyone, and it's too selcuded to get alot of retards. This is why I like message boards, message boards are very safe.  

[Master of Reality]

is hosting your own IRC server safe?.... well ummm... it will be as long as i get a good server and not be stupid.

New Q: where can i get a decent IRC server to run on Linux?

[voidmain]

From Goooooooooooooooogle.  

[Master of Reality]

i was wonderin if there was a reknown IRC server (like apache is for http and squid is for proxy). Maybe i will go with something simple and fast like AcidBlood.