IRC can automate many things for you, from inserting color in your text, to complete responses back to other IRC users.
It can automate joining certain rooms, and automatically connect to certain other users if you are both on-line
mIRC scripting is really only limited by your imagination

I teach others when I can, mostly by showing the basics and waiting until someone is comfortable with the few things I've shown them. Then, as they progress, I give them more :)

(More to follow soon)