Helli Michael,
Ripe does have a IRC server used for meetings and discussions, but it would be good to have a social channel there for all ripe partners and people working with ripe to connect and discuss in.
Its on irc.ripe.net.
Yes, i know, I try to follow meetings on the IRC. Its a single server with no services (nickname, channel registration, etc). If we can get a good IRC network (with few servers linked to a hub server (the ripe one, for example) and a good services (for not to be supplanted) I think it can work.
I agree though it would be good to have general IRC rooms for those of us wishing to chat instead of using a mailing list.
Mailing list should be used for what they are meant, but there are a lot of discussions, chit chat, etc... that can be done in IRC and then embodied (<-- not sure if is the correct word) on the Mailing List as "official".
Kind regards,
Regards,