It tends to be the moderators who are considered rude.

I love it, some times makes me cry of laughter.
(From an hour ago.)

<Alan> Let's make a highlight song.
<Alan> like it ?
<Zapachoo> tell me when youre done so i change window
<Zapachoo> i just kept window selected
<Zapachoo> and didnt hear anything
<Alan> I was done already, I'm always done fast.
<Zapachoo> lmfao
<Alan> oh wait...
<Alan> No, only in IRC
<Alan> Not in.. well you know.
<Zapachoo> ;3

Some people are rude. But it's a great way for people to chat.

I see #toribash as a way for the community to converse without the rules of the forums constricting any discussion. There are other channels if people need help and clans can have a place to talk without the delay of PMing on and off. Sure there is trolling but there will most likely be a reason for the trolling. Hanz0's idea is the best lurk and learn before you jump in. You shouldn't take everything from #toribash seriously, its the internet if people are deterred from a game by trolling then they really shouldn't be here in the first place.

/2cents

I didn't join our IRC channel until maybe 3-4 months after I first joined Toribash. By then I was known by most In-Game and on the Forums. I kept to casual talk at first then began to dive on into the shenanigans that took place. Yea, I must admit, I got a few witty insults thrown my way a couple of times, but simply handled them by throwin' a few insult back. It made for a much better IRC experience.

ITS BALLS TO THE WALLS CRAZY.
VANILLA ICE COULDN'T HANDLE OUR ICE COLD SHENANIGANS.

Basically it's full of unfunny people such as myself poorly trolling and what not.

The moderators are not rude. They are fun to talk to.

Depends where you are on the food chain.

There is no food chain(with the exception of smods, admins and oldfaegs). You act normal, you get treated normal. You start good conversations, you get good feedback. Not doing that will just make people troll you, etc.

Webchat is killing the elite club that has been IRC.
It also provides us with troll fodder though, which can be fun.

IRC is the main hub of the real community though, and the trolling is like a trial by fire. You weed out the losers, and forge the rest into cool, respectable people.