Introduction - Revision history

Epicness: Added support nagging section

2025-09-03T18:44:04Z

Added support nagging section

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:44, 3 September 2025
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	More on this topic can be found in the form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).		More on this topic can be found in the form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).

			===== Can someone help me please??!!!?? I can't get logged on! PLEASE HELP! =====
			Our community, including our staff, are mostly in this for the fun of it - we don't get paid to sift through the support channels every 5 seconds, especially when most posts are things that could be solved by just looking at our troubleshooting pages.

			''Before'' you engage us, we expect you at the bare minimum to read any applicable help pages (such as the [https://wiki.nina.chat/wiki/Protocols/MSNP/Troubleshooting troubleshooting] and [https://wiki.nina.chat/wiki/Clients/Windows_Live_Messenger/Errors error list] pages for Escargot WLM/MSN) - we even have the bot ask you to do this. If it's obvious that you haven't even read these pages, we'll just point you to them where applicable.

			If it is some weird error that you have to engage support for, or just can't figure out what to do, create a thread in the support channel on Discord or on the forums. Please don't ask for support in places meant for general or service discussion - you're going to get buried quickly. And please don't continuously nag us in different channels, ping us, DM us, etc. - this will, at the very least, make us annoyed at you, and might even get you banned if you're overly egregious.
	===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====		===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====
	Currently we have a contacts page on our [https://nina.chat/contacts/ website], full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. You can add your information and people will (probably) message you.		Currently we have a contacts page on our [https://nina.chat/contacts/ website], full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. You can add your information and people will (probably) message you.

AD: /* Terms and Terminology */

2025-09-03T18:16:46Z

Terms and Terminology

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:16, 3 September 2025
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	===== NINA & Escargot are effectively the same thing =====		===== NINA & Escargot are effectively the same thing =====
	Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.		Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.

			===== Messages aren't called "texts" =====
			Smart phones have made it to where some people call instant messages or private messages "texts", this is wrong.

	===== Is Escargot down? =====		===== Is Escargot down? =====

Epicness: Switch contacts from discord to website

2025-08-26T07:33:13Z

Switch contacts from discord to website

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:33, 26 August 2025
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	===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====		===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====
	Currently we have a #contacts ~~channel~~ on our [https://nina.chat/~~discord~~/ ~~Discord~~] ~~server~~, full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. You can add your information and people will (probably) message you~~. This channel will be moving to the website very soon, but for now it's hackily on the Discord~~.		Currently we have a contacts page on our [https://nina.chat/contacts/ website], full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. You can add your information and people will (probably) message you.

	=== Before you FAQ ===		=== Before you FAQ ===

AD: /* Is the Escargot down? I can't connect, it must be down lol! */

2025-08-01T21:33:21Z

Is the Escargot down? I can't connect, it must be down lol!

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 1 August 2025
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	===== Is the Escargot down? I can't connect, it must be down lol! =====		===== Is the Escargot down? I can't connect, it must be down lol! =====
	I already said, "No." We don't go down all the time. It's something on your end, re-patch, re-read tutorials, etc.		I already said, "No." We don't go down all the time. It's something on your end, re-patch, re-read tutorials, etc. Also ending everything with "lol" is obnoxious and makes people want to ignore you.

	=== Extended FAQ ===		=== Extended FAQ ===

AD: /* Extended FAQ */

2025-08-01T20:11:20Z

Extended FAQ

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:11, 1 August 2025
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	You can, however, still [[Introduction#Can_I_donate_on_someone_else.27s_behalf.3F_Can_I_donate_for_a_friend.3F\|donate on someone else's behalf]] and the finer details make it clear why that's still allowed.		You can, however, still [[Introduction#Can_I_donate_on_someone_else.27s_behalf.3F_Can_I_donate_for_a_friend.3F\|donate on someone else's behalf]] and the finer details make it clear why that's still allowed.

			==== Where can I find help? ====
			I'm sure you've read all of the above, you have learned a lot, but still need help, and that's fine! We're always interested in helping people get on to the old Internet. The best way is via the [https://nina.chat/forums support forums], but also you can get support via the [https://nina.chat/discord/ Discord server], and if that's still not what you need, you can contact us directly via [https://nina.chat/support/ our support page].

	==== UUHHHH is NINA or Escargot down lol?!!? ====		==== UUHHHH is NINA or Escargot down lol?!!? ====
	How many times do I have to tell you, no. See all the other times above. It's a problem on your end, re-patch, see tutorials, ask for help elsewhere.		How many times do I have to tell you, no. See all the other times above. It's a problem on your end, re-patch, see tutorials, ask for help elsewhere.

AD: /* Where can I find people to chat with? */

2025-08-01T20:06:05Z

Where can I find people to chat with?

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:06, 1 August 2025
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	===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====		===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====
	Currently we have a #contacts channel on our [https://nina.chat/discord/ Discord] server, full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. This will be moving to the website very soon, but for now it's hackily on the Discord.		Currently we have a #contacts channel on our [https://nina.chat/discord/ Discord] server, full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. You can add your information and people will (probably) message you. This channel will be moving to the website very soon, but for now it's hackily on the Discord.

	=== Before you FAQ ===		=== Before you FAQ ===

AD at 20:05, 1 August 2025

2025-08-01T20:05:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 1 August 2025
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	More on this topic can be found in the form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).		More on this topic can be found in the form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).

			===== Where can I find people to chat with? =====
			Currently we have a #contacts channel on our [https://nina.chat/discord/ Discord] server, full of people who want to chat including a little information about their interests, hobbies, etc. This will be moving to the website very soon, but for now it's hackily on the Discord.

	=== Before you FAQ ===		=== Before you FAQ ===

AD at 19:56, 1 August 2025

2025-08-01T19:56:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 1 August 2025
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	Welcome to the NINA & Escargot community.		Welcome to the NINA & Escargot community.

	~~Let~~'s ~~do a quick overview of terms~~ and ~~so forth~~.		Read all of this, and I mean all of it, don't half-ass it and then get ridiculed later because you were told to read this page and then cried because it was "too long". If you think it's too long, you're just lazy and will receive no sympathy from other users or admins who care.

	=== Terms and Terminology ===		=== Terms and Terminology ===
	Terms you need to know and understand before asking about AIM in the AOL forum or ~~discord~~ channel, a most egregious faux pas.		Terms you need to know and understand before doing something like, as an example, asking about AIM in the AOL forum or Discord channel, a most egregious faux pas.

	===== AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and AOL are two different things =====		===== AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and AOL are two different things =====
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	===== NINA & Escargot are effectively the same thing =====		===== NINA & Escargot are effectively the same thing =====
	Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.		Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.

			===== Is Escargot down? =====
			No.

	=== Old Internet Etiquette or "Why isn't anyone talking to me?" ===		=== Old Internet Etiquette or "Why isn't anyone talking to me?" ===
			This isn't just useful information for NINA & Escargot it really applies to pretty much any online community, especially retro-oriented community.

	===== Classic messaging apps aren't meant to be used as on-demand entertainment =====		===== Classic messaging apps aren't meant to be used as on-demand entertainment =====
	That isn't to say they aren't (or can't be) entertaining, it means that you sign on, let the buddy list/contact list hang in the background while you do other things on your computer or mobile device. You can, of course, message someone and they may respond, or you can wait for someone to message you. However, with some younger new users, they expect that if they sign in they'll be instantly bombarded with entertaining conversation like they're pressing play on a video ~~and~~ they will literally stare at an empty buddy list/contact list waiting for something to happen to them. One has to be pro-active in getting (or keeping) a conversation going.		That isn't to say they aren't (or can't be) entertaining, it means that you sign on, let the buddy list/contact list hang in the background while you do other things on your computer or mobile device. You can, of course, message someone and they may respond, or you can wait for someone to message you. However, with ''some'' younger new users, they expect that if they sign in they'll be instantly bombarded with entertaining conversation like they're pressing play on a video, the end result of this mindset is they will literally stare at an empty buddy list/contact list waiting for something to happen to them. One has to be pro-active in getting (or keeping) a conversation going.

	===== Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!???? =====		===== Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!???? =====
	Yes, there are probably tons of people around, but keep in mind you're taking a step back in time to the old Internet. That means NINA and Escargot are service where you have to partake in actual conversation and wait for someone to reply, we aren't infested with bots waiting to please you. Interacting with real people in a retro-community means that you say something, try to get a conversation going, and give it some time.		Yes, there are probably tons of people around, but keep in mind you're taking a step back in time to the old Internet. That means NINA and Escargot are service where you have to partake in actual conversation and wait for someone to reply, we aren't infested with bots waiting to please you. Interacting with '''real people''' in a retro-community means that you say something, try to get a conversation going, and give it some time.

	It doesn't mean you join a chat room, demand someone acknowledge you, then immediately leave. You can say "anyone like XYZ?", "I'm about to play this game, I'll be on this server, or on this stream." In other words: chat rooms are only dead if you make them dead, if everyone else is sitting and waiting for someone else to start a conversation, then nobody is talking about anything. Furthermore, conversations can sometimes be fast and sometimes slow, you may say something but not get a response for some time or at all, maybe talk about something else after a while. That's just how old Internet conversation was for a couple of decades, because it's the old Internet, not television or ChatGPT.		It doesn't mean you join a chat room, demand someone acknowledge you, then if no one does within 30 seconds you immediately leave. You can say "anyone like XYZ?", "I'm about to play this game, I'll be on this server, or on this stream."

	~~This~~ is a ~~slight~~ form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).		In other words: chat rooms are only dead if you make them dead, if everyone else is sitting and waiting for someone else to start a conversation, then nobody is talking about anything. Furthermore, conversations can sometimes be fast and sometimes slow, you may say something but not get a response for some time or at all, maybe talk about something else after a while. That's just how old Internet conversation was for a couple of decades, because it's the old Internet, not television or ChatGPT.

			More on this topic can be found in the form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).

	=== Before you FAQ ===		=== Before you FAQ ===
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	If you want to help, the best way right now is to help us keep the lights on and deal with our growth by [https://nina.chat/donate/ donating]. If you can't do that, tell others about our services, spread the word, but please don't spam.		If you want to help, the best way right now is to help us keep the lights on and deal with our growth by [https://nina.chat/donate/ donating]. If you can't do that, tell others about our services, spread the word, but please don't spam.

	===== Is Escargot down? =====		===== Is the Escargot down? I can't connect, it must be down lol! =====
	No.		I already said, "No." We don't go down all the time. It's something on your end, re-patch, re-read tutorials, etc.

			=== Extended FAQ ===
			We have FAQ pages on our websites (e.g. [https://nina.chat/support/faq/ main website FAQ]) with specific things for those services, but sometimes other questions remain, perhaps meta-questions, or for weirdly specific questions which come up once in a blue moon. This is for that.

			==== How much do I pay for AIM/ICQ/AOL/WebEscargot access? ====
			Most of our services are now free, though AOL, WebEscargot, and some others are still under heavy development and a small donation is required. Check out the Rewards section [https://nina.chat/donate/ here] to see each tier, the donation amount required, and the benefits offered.

			==== What are PowerTools? ====
			PowerTools is a set of premium features available exclusively to supporters. Think of it as our version of Discord Nitro or X Premium. Currently, it provides access to the Last Call chat room on Discord and provides proxy access for file transfers, direct connection, etc in AIM. In the near future, it will unlock additional features and capabilities within AIM, ICQ, and more. We'll have a page for it specifically very soon.

			==== How many UINs or screennames can I register? ====
			You can register 5 screennames/UINs/PPNs under the same email address, and we highly recommend you use the same email address for all -- there is a reason for this, but it's an account management feature still under development.

			==== Can I donate on someone else's behalf? Can I donate for a friend? ====
			Yes, this is allowed, however that donation will never be applied to your account(s), no matter what happens between you and your friend. Our database will simply mark it as a donation from them.

			==== Can I transfer my supporter status to someone else? ====
			No. This isn't, however, because of money. Instead it has to do with a few issues which are best demonstrated by a "hypothetical" situation:

	~~===== Is the server/service down? =====~~		: Tina is an alpha tier supporter, but isn't interested in using the service anymore. So she wants her supporter status moved to Pat. That's easy enough, so it's done. One year later Tina returns and says "I was an alpha supporter, can I have that status back?" She genuinely doesn't remember giving the status to anyone else and because the original conversation about the issue is now gone, it can't be proven.
	~~I already said~~, ~~"No." We don~~'t ~~go down all~~ the ~~time~~. It's ~~something on your end~~, ~~re-patch~~, ~~re-read tutorials~~, ~~etc~~.

			As you can see it creates a few issues, the least of which it requires us to do additional tracking of where it was moved to. Tina technically did nothing wrong, she really doesn't remember giving it up, so she feels angry that we are now telling her she no longer had that status. It's just easier for us not to allow this.

			You can, however, still [[Introduction#Can_I_donate_on_someone_else.27s_behalf.3F_Can_I_donate_for_a_friend.3F\|donate on someone else's behalf]] and the finer details make it clear why that's still allowed.

	See ~~also our [[Support/Extended_FAQ\|Extended FAQ]]~~		==== UUHHHH is NINA or Escargot down lol?!!? ====
			How many times do I have to tell you, no. See all the other times above. It's a problem on your end, re-patch, see tutorials, ask for help elsewhere.

AD: /* Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!???? */

2025-08-01T19:36:35Z

Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!????

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 1 August 2025
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	===== Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!???? =====		===== Hello? Hello! Anyone here??!???? =====
	Yes, there are probably tons of people around, but keep in mind you're taking a step back in time to the old Internet. That means NINA and Escargot are service where you have to partake in actual conversation and wait for someone to reply, we aren't infested with bots waiting to please you. Interacting with real people in a retro-community means that you say something, try to get a conversation going, and give it so time.		Yes, there are probably tons of people around, but keep in mind you're taking a step back in time to the old Internet. That means NINA and Escargot are service where you have to partake in actual conversation and wait for someone to reply, we aren't infested with bots waiting to please you. Interacting with real people in a retro-community means that you say something, try to get a conversation going, and give it some time.

	It doesn't mean you join a chat room, demand someone acknowledge you, then immediately leave. You can say "anyone like XYZ?", "I'm about to play this game, I'll be on this server, or on this stream." In other words: chat rooms are only dead if you make them dead, if everyone else is sitting and waiting for someone else to start a conversation, then nobody is talking about anything. Furthermore, conversations can sometimes be fast and sometimes slow, you may say something but not get a response for some time or at all, maybe talk about something else after a while. That's just how old Internet conversation was for a couple of decades, because it's the old Internet, not television or ChatGPT.		It doesn't mean you join a chat room, demand someone acknowledge you, then immediately leave. You can say "anyone like XYZ?", "I'm about to play this game, I'll be on this server, or on this stream." In other words: chat rooms are only dead if you make them dead, if everyone else is sitting and waiting for someone else to start a conversation, then nobody is talking about anything. Furthermore, conversations can sometimes be fast and sometimes slow, you may say something but not get a response for some time or at all, maybe talk about something else after a while. That's just how old Internet conversation was for a couple of decades, because it's the old Internet, not television or ChatGPT.

	This is a slight form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).		This is a slight form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).

	=== Before you FAQ ===		=== Before you FAQ ===

AD at 19:36, 1 August 2025

2025-08-01T19:36:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 1 August 2025
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	Let's do a quick overview of terms and so forth.		Let's do a quick overview of terms and so forth.

	==== Terms and Terminology ====		=== Terms and Terminology ===
	Terms you need to know and understand before asking about AIM in the AOL forum or discord channel, a most egregious faux pas.		Terms you need to know and understand before asking about AIM in the AOL forum or discord channel, a most egregious faux pas.

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	Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.		Escargot is only MSN/WLM and NINA is everything else, but it's the same user system, same login, same developers, same everything; they are 100% shared across the platform, in fact it's a single platform/network.

	==== Old Internet Etiquette or "Why isn't anyone talking to me?" ====		=== Old Internet Etiquette or "Why isn't anyone talking to me?" ===

	===== Classic messaging apps aren't meant to be used as on-demand entertainment =====		===== Classic messaging apps aren't meant to be used as on-demand entertainment =====
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	This is a slight form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).		This is a slight form of the "be cool" philosophy as outlined by our supporter Phlud: [https://phlud.neocities.org/library/becool read more] (highly recommended you read more).

	==== Before you FAQ ====		=== Before you FAQ ===

	===== I messaged someone and it said it couldn't be delivered because they aren't online! Your service is broken! =====		===== I messaged someone and it said it couldn't be delivered because they aren't online! Your service is broken! =====