I am new to Pidgin as well as IRC chat.
I created a nick so I could join the portables room
I was playing with different aspects of the program and right clikced on my own name. I then chose show info
this is what I see
Nick: vf2nsr
Away: Playing with Portable Apps and Pidgin 
Username: ~Ilene@cpe-76-179-15-53.maine.res.rr.com
Real name: purple
Server: anthony.freenode.net (Irvine, CA, USA)
Currently on: #portableapps
Idle for: 5 minutes
Online since: 3/20/2010 11:02:31 PM
Now a few things that disturbed me mainly although it is not a valid hyper link the username field does point to my geographical location as well as the account for the computer i am currently logged in on. Which happens to be my landlords, where I share a room and internet connection.
Is this normal? Is this something that a user can possibly hack me by? Am I paranoid?
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Perfectly normal.
and you are not paranoid,
It is just a surprise to most newcomers to the IRC that your IP address is reported [in the form of a Host Name, that is, words instead of just numbers].
In theory it helps cut down on the amount of bad stuff you might do on the IRC because your IP address/Host Name can be traced back to you. Also, that information can be used to block your access to channels on the IRC by the channel OPs if you get out of line.
Your IP address is also recorded for most of the email you send and web browsing you do as well.
Again, it's perfectly normal
Tim
Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?
What you did is what's called a "whois". It can be done on any irc user. Its handy for channel ops(those that regulate the channel and keep it friendly and protected). If you want, you can register your nick and head over to #freenode and ask for a unaffiliated host mask. I have that, and thus you don't see my ip.
Yes, this is normal. You could possibly be hacked by this, but not really. Read up on it. I'll give you one piece of advice, if you get a DCC (or direct chat connection), block it. Unless you know the person very well.
Nope, you're not paranoid. It is a very good thing to ask questions of things you don't understand. This is how you learn more. One day you can pass it on
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
EDIT: Here you go
http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#cloaks
---------
Talk to the ops in the channel to see if there is a way to cloack your hostname.
What this does is hide you hostname, which displays your IP address, and replace it with other information not related to your IP nor ISP.
In some servers all you have to do is register with nickserv in other you have to register your nick with nickserv and have channel op cloak your hostname.
Good luck and welcome to IRC.
---
This is one of many intro to IRC that you will find on the net.
http://irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html
Note: that not all IRC commands work in pidgin.
in_vino_veritas,_in_aqua_sanitas.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I do work for an online chat program and realize that yes in fact the upper echelon of the program can see ip addys and such just was a surprise to me to see it on my level. Thanks again!
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss