# File lib/rbot/ircsocket.rb, line 249
    def connect
      if connected?
        warning "reconnecting while connected"
        return
      end
      if(@host)
        begin
          @sock=TCPSocket.new(@server, @port, @host)
        rescue ArgumentError => e
          error "Your version of ruby does not support binding to a "
          error "specific local address, please upgrade if you wish "
          error "to use HOST = foo"
          error "(this option has been disabled in order to continue)"
          @sock=TCPSocket.new(@server, @port)
        end
      else
        @sock=TCPSocket.new(@server, @port)
      end
      @qthread = false
      @qmutex = Mutex.new
      @sendq = MessageQueue.new
    end