Hi, I've never used irc and I decided I'd just like to learn how it works. I've got Xchat installed, I can easily find networks and channels with users in it, but then I can never see any messages. I see the initial channel messages when I join, but even in channels with hundreds of people I don't see any other messages come up. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

What distros you have installed Xchat on?
Did you entered into channel before you chat?
The Issue you are facing might be because you have not selected any channel to chat !!

It's currently on scientific linux.

I have entered a channel, and I know there are plenty of people in the channel. Take a look:


This was after being in the channel for a while. It will give me initial channel set messages, as well as sometimes telling me when people come and go. However, this is after a long time of being in the channel. I doubt that the more then hundred people in the channel would have said nothing. And the same goes for any channel I've tried to join. As well as channels on other networks. Any thoughts?

Yeah there are so many kinds of IRC channels, and for some reason people is quiet most of the time. Try saying hi and asking something, then wait for a while...
You could try irc.2ch.net (the webpage has a "flow" rate, which shows what channels have people talking in them) and at least confirm rather than just think no one is speaking.
Or call a friend and tell him to get in a web based version of irc (like 2ch's above, or efnet's), and try it.