if you (a single person) join a channel where the rules state (the @'s make the rules, live with it!) that you shouldn't use colours it's not up to them to display the viewing of them in THEIR client... it's up to you to conform with the channel rules and turn them off yourself.
maybe the reaction of the person from the opening post was a bit much for some people but I can understand it.
next to that, IRC is a privilege not a right. everyone can maintain their channel as they want (conform the network rules). it may be a bit short tempered but hey, it's their channel so they can do what they want!
as many in this thread have already said: you should always go out from the worst and turn off any features that might annoy others untill you know which ones are allowed or not.
I do know you said you 'normally' turn off the colours, but you didn't this time clearly. so the fault is yours, not theirs really.
