I believe IRC is being used in 2 senses in this thread...
1. I.R.C. the ugly ancient caveman era unevolvable protocol.
(Basically the neanderthal's version of the telegraph)
2. IRC as a general term meaning somewhat... Cloud of clusters of partially compatible decentralized unstable social networks.
(Basically a ClusterFuck)
I see no future for either of these...
Since you like analogies...
Using the ClusterFuck social network is like giving a telegram to a bird to deliver, when e-mail exists.
Video and Audio?
Well maybe that bird can carry a DVD or 2... Hell, Storks deliver babies right?
