User:Improv/how to read my irc logs

It is easy not to understand who is talking where on my IRC logs. I could convert them into some kind of colour-coded conversation, but it's probably better for people just to learn how IRCII-style communication works. Below is a "practice conversation", which will then be explained, and then rules will be laid out.

Practice conversation

> Hello all!
<Frank> and then he decided to walk through the rain to his car..
<Frank> Heya Improv
<Jane> Improv: Did you get my email yet regarding Thomas?
<Tarley> Frank: No umbrella?
> Jane: Not yet. I'll check again.
<Frank> Tarley: He lost it the previous evening. I don't know what's going on in his head.
*Frank* I updated Slartibartfast. Can you proofread it for me?
> He sometimes can be a nut.
*Frank*> Sure. I'll let you know when I'm done.
*** Mode change "+o Grembly" on channel #foo by Frank

Explanation/narration

In this conversation snippet, it's helpful to know that I go by the name of Improv on IRC, traditionally. There are a few other people on the channel, namely Frank, Jane, and Tarley. There may be others, but they're not talking in this part. I first say hi to everyone. Then, Frank, continuing some conversation from before, talks about someone walking through the rain. He then says hi to me. Jane asks me a question on her email (it's publicly visible, but directed at me). Tarley responds to Frank, asking about the umbrella. I tell Jane (publically, but directed at her), that I didn't get the mail yet. Frank says to Tarley more about the umbrella guy (there are often many threads of conversation happening at once on IRC, and you need to learn to tune out what you're not part of). Frank then sends me a private message about Slartibartfast. I respond to the umbrella guy conversation noting that the umbrellaless guy can be a nut. I then send a private response back to Frank telling him I'll let him know. Finally, there's a server message on a channel mode change (these are generally uninteresting).

Rules

• When something starts with just a ">", it's me saying something publically.
• When something starts with <USERNAME>, it's someone else saying something publically.
• When something starts with *USERNAME*, it's a private message to me from USERNAME
• When something starts with *USERNAME*>, it's a private message from me to USERNAME
• When something starts with ***, it's not conversation, it's a message from the server or my client, or something else that's generally uninteresting
• When, in conversation, you see something like USERNAME: blah, it's someone saying something that's mostly meant for that person. It usually is still said publically, but is often used to reply to someone or similar

How I make the logs

I typically cut'n'paste from the IRC window into a text editor. I then run some vim macros which insert spaces before each line (so wikipedia won't do it's own formatting) and convert angle brackets into HTML escape sequences (so wikipedia won't parse them as HTML). I then cut'n'paste into the relevant article