Not only do I turn off OOC, I turn off SHOUT and AUCTION. If I am looking
for something I will suffer and turn Auction back on. I have found that
shout is totally annoying. If someone needs help and plainly says "help"
without shouting, chances are they are actually close enough that I can help
them (and I will) but who wants to hear some numbnutz aimlessly bellowing
into the darkness about their putrid corpse? I think what it really comes
down to is, although I am generally a social creature, I have definite limits
with whom I am willing to socialize and, frankly, the vast majority of people
playing this game are not worthy of my company. Don't get me wrong. I have
met some really fun, intelligent, great people and characters. Shame they
are just as few and far between in EQ as they are in real life.

Cooter