'''SlashNET''' is a medium-sized, independently operated [[Internet Relay Chat]] (IRC) network. Originally sponsored by [[Slashdot]] and founded in 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://slashdot.org/story/98/05/11/211700/slashnet-irc-goes-live|title = SlashNET IRC Goes Live!|date = 11 May 1998|accessdateaccess-date = 25 Feb 2015|website = Slashdot|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> in 1999 SlashNET split off to become its own entity.<ref name="DiBona"/> A few well-known communities and projects maintain an IRC presence at SlashNET, including #g7 (the IRC [[idle RPG]]), #totse ([[Totse]]), #idiots-club ([[ZZT]] Community), #mefi (a [[Metafilter]]-related community), various [[Penny Arcade]]-related communities, #Twitterponies (a [[Twitter]] [[roleplay]]ing group), and #rags (an old-style rag calligraphy community). As of 2012 it is ranked in the top 40 networks by IRC.Netsplit.de,<ref>[http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/top100.php "Top 100 Networks"]. IRC.Netsplit.de.</ref> with an estimated relatively constant 1700 users,<ref>[http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/details.php?net=SlashNET&submenu=years "SlashNET last 2 years statistics"]. IRC.Netsplit.de.</ref> and #25/737 by SearchIRC.com.<ref>[http://searchirc.com/rank/SlashNET "SlashNET's network ranking"]. SearchIRC.com.</ref>
