The True Meaning of +v

If you chat on IRC, it's probably happened to you. Someone in a channel you're in sets you as mode +v. So you're all excited, wondering what you can actually do now. The answer is probably: "Nothing you couldn't do before.". Kind of a drag, eh? I mean, someone goes to the trouble of setting you +v and there's nothing that comes with it except for a + sign next to your nickname? What's the deal?

It's simple, really. Being set +v means you're being given a voice. If the channel is set as +m, it means it's a moderated channel, and only operators of that channel can speak publicly in it. Well, ops and anyone set +v. In +m channels, being given a voice is useful. It allows you to chat in it with others who are +v or ops. The problem that I have with this is, +v is frequently given to people in a chatroom that isn't moderated. Anyone can chat there freely, whether they've been given a voice or not. Why bother setting someone +v if they can already converse with the rest of the channel?

This has been going on for a while now. I've been aware of it and all... but I was hit in the face with the uselessness of +v some years ago, when it happened to me in the #CyNetChat channel of the CyNet IRC Network (established in January 1998, but is apparently no longer around). Here's what happened:

*** Now talking in #CyNetChat
<juliebug> Uhm. hi.
<robbie> hey Juliebug
<juliebug> Hi, robbie.
*** robbie sets mode: +v juliebug

Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying that robbie did something wrong. Actually, quite the contrary. For some reason that I just cannot understand, +v has become some kind of status symbol on IRC. I'm sure that some people actually get offended if they aren't given voice upon entrance to a channel. But why?

I was discussing this with my pal Jimmy (through ICQ) and he said:

the channels i frequent do not have those [modes in use]. I get really annoyed when a channel does that ... when I first join and I'm a new person in the room i want to feel welcomed, not judged not worthy to be given voice or something ... it's definately a status symbol for some people.. i guess they have no lives, they have to have their little + or @ symbol to make themselves feel important. also, some channels are this cliche of friends and stuff, and it''s like "us" versus "them", and i generally avoid those. I mean, whats the point of chat if you don''t meet new people?

Right on, Jimmy. That's how I see it exactly.

Join with me now, people. Stop giving +v in a channel that isn't +m. It's pointless. It's an empty gift. If you want to give people something, give them ops on the channel. +v isn't worth it.

Julie

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