A chat site is a web site created for chatting. Each site has slightly different rules, regulations, features and personalities. Most chat sites have multiple chat rooms, usually arranged by interest. Chat is different than a newsgroup because you do not post an article - you send a short message inside a chat room. Only people in that room during that time can see it, and one or more of them can respond. Instead of posting a message with your e-mail address, chat sites use what's known as "handles" or "chat names" to identify their chatters. Most chatters choose a name that they want to be known for, so it could be a nickname or a personality trait like "blue-eyes" or "ShyGal".

What most people find great about being a chatter is that you can literally be whoever you make yourself up to be - a 28 year old doctor, a tall red-head looking for love, a professional basketball player - the secret identities could go on and on. This may sound scary to some, because you can never be really sure who it really is that you are chatting with. On the other hand, it can be fun and exciting. Besides, they could be telling the truth.

Some chat sites let you choose a handle each time, but most ask that you register with their site under a specific handle and password. Some will ask you to choose a password, while others will assign one to you. Many sites that ask you to register will e-mail you a confirmation (usually within minutes), so be sure to enter in your correct e-mail address!

Remember, when you register with one chat site, your name and password only apply for that particular site. You might want to make sure that your registered handle and password stay consistent with each chat site that you visit. If you do, it'll be easier to remember your name, and you can be recognized in different sites. But, if handle at one site is taken at another, you may have to register under a different one. Keep track of your handle and password for each site! Save your e-mail registration confirmation, or write it down. If you lose your password, be sure to read over the instructions on the site to find out what to do. Each site is a separate entity and WebTV Networks has no access to this information.

So, once you've established a handle, you have your password and you've chosen a room to enter, now what? Whatever you do, don't panic and leave -- you've already gotten through the work, and what's left should be fun! Don't be shy or expect everyone to just be there waiting to chat with you - they may not notice you if you don't type in a friendly greeting and submit it. Some sites will display who is in the room, and others may not. People who enter chat rooms but don't say anything are called lurkers.

If you see a particular chatter that you would like to correspond with, then always refer to them by their handle and then type your message. This will let everyone knows who it is you are writing to. Obviously, you don't need to do this if there are only two of you in the room.

A bit of Netiquette - DO NOT CAPITALIZE EVERY WORD unless you want people to think of you as a shouter! This cannot be emphasized enough. Chatters, like people in newsgroups, find this to be very rude, and if you're rude to people, they may be rude back. However, most chatters can be very helpful in introducing you to chatting if they find you are friendly.

Now it is up to you to make new and wonderful friends in the exciting world of chat! Have fun and enjoy the sites listed above. They were provided by our webtv.users newsgroup, so more than likely you will find some club members there!