I'm curious to know the reason for the name of BitchX. I searched on internet for etymology but it was a fail.
- Just to keep decent girls away from dirty IRC areas ! maybe:-)Slyx– Slyx2014-01-07 16:11:12 +00:00Commented Jan 7, 2014 at 16:11
- 1Because it's a noun and a verb? "Firefox" is from Mandarin, but that still doesn't explain why the browser is called that. I would guess because someone involved said "How about firefox?" and other people concerned said, "Ok". According to wikipedia the original BitchX was 'written by "Trench" and "HappyCrappy"', so go figure...goldilocks– goldilocks2014-01-07 16:32:57 +00:00Commented Jan 7, 2014 at 16:32
- 3@goldilocks Well, actually, Firefox has a much more interesting naming history than that, involving at least a few flamewars and trademark threats...derobert– derobert2014-01-07 18:30:11 +00:00Commented Jan 7, 2014 at 18:30
- @derobert : Sounds like the long version of same, lol. For all history knows, Trench had to hold a cigarette to HappyCrappy's forearm until s/he agreed that "ParleyX is dumb name!"goldilocks– goldilocks2014-01-07 19:42:15 +00:00Commented Jan 7, 2014 at 19:42
- Only the original author can answer this. It should be closed as opinion based...jasonwryan– jasonwryan2015-07-08 18:19:28 +00:00Commented Jul 8, 2015 at 18:19
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3 Answers
I went to #BitchX on EFnet and asked the question there. People were able to tell me that the original script for ircII made by Trench and HappyCrappy was already called BitchX: A version of their script from late 1995 contains the line
assign versionmesg ^BBitchX^B v713 by Trench and Happycrappy They did not know why the original script was called BitchX, though.
Additionally, there are various websites on BitchX made by dedicated users with many tips and tricks on using the client, scripts for BitchX, etc. One of these websites, made by izzo, tells us the following story:
The name comes from "Bitch Cross" - one of Shakespeare's famous historical tragedies, Henry V, where King Henry proclaims, "Blessèd are souls of bitches' cross". (Source)
So, according to izzo, the name would come from Shakespeare's Henry V. The same claim is made in this article and in this forum thread.
So there's one story... judge for yourself!
I would add that it is also at least as likely that there is no deeper meaning behind the name. BitchX started out as a script for ircII written by two enthusiastic hackers in the mid-90s. Scripts in those days oftentimes had meaningless random names. It may just have been the first thing which came to their mind, and it stuck.
In "BitchX Tutorial by Ferry Boender" I found following:
BitchX can be a real Bitch to work with.
I concluded from the Urban Dictionary definition that it might mean that the BitchX is classy software that does the right thing no matter what and doesn't care what anyone thinks about that!
I found this explanation here:
bitchx - The rudest irc client (in many ways). Evil? Use Bitchx.
Also this wiki page:
BitchX is known for its distinct messages when quitting the program. An example is:
"Khaled uses BitchX. CTCP TROUT THIS, BITCH!" Where reference is made to the creator of the competitive program mIRC, Khaled Mardam-Bey. Other reports can be found in /etc/bitchx/BitchX.quit.
