I've set up a chat room on a IRC network called BeyondIRC..all forum moderators could be given op status via channel protection services to remove any umwanted troublemakers (via bans) etc..even if no one is in the channel it remains open and protected at all times.
if anyone would like to join follow these instructions
go to www.mirc.com and download the small application called Mirc
this link
http://mirror.public-internet.org/mirc/mirc616.exe will start the download automatically if you wish
once installed run the application, you will be presented with somewhere to enter a "Name", "e-mail Address", and "Nick Name" just use your username from here for the "Name" and "Nick Name" boxes and a bogus e-mail addy will do ie: nobody@nowhere.com...although it cant be seen by others anyway
next from the list at the left of the box you will see the "Connect" tab is already highlighted...click the next section down which says servers....from just underneath where it says "IRC Server:" click the box and select the "BeyondIRC: Random Server" now just underneath there click on "Connect To Server", you will prob see a lot of odd text scroll past just ignore that.
next in that window that should be now full of text type this /join #FTO
and press enter
thats it you should be in
the channel is Moderated and you will be auto voiced on connecting...just another feature that allows you to silence people if they cause trouble and filter out bad language if wanted.