Bitcoin Forum

I see a lot of people mention OTC when referring to someone selling an item for BitCoin. I know it's some sort of merchant rating system, but that's about it. Is it a website that gives the rating or something?

It's the Web of trust Infrastructure used by bitcoin-otc. 

bitcoin-otc.com/trust.php

bitcoin-otc.com

the links above will give you everything you need.  My book walks you though some of it step by step [see signature if interested].

A somewhat complex way of rating people imho.

The Bitcoin-OTC project is a marketplace for people to conduct over-the-counter trading in bitcoin. It is located in various IRC channels on the freenode IRC network.  The marketplace is located in #bitcoin-otc channel on the freenode IRC network.

Here's a Web-view of the order book:
 - http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php

Here's the directory of user ratings:
 - http://bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php

Web access to the IRC "#bitcoin-otc-foyer" channel is available to anyone.  You can communicate with other -otc members using this.
 - http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#bitcoin-otc-foyer

Participation (e.g., to enter an order or to communicate on the #bitcoin-otc IRC channel) requires GPG.  This is a tool that helps to protect against identity theft (impersonation).   Here's how to get GPG on your system.
 - http://wiki.bitcoin-otc.com/wiki/GPG_authentication#Third-party_guides

Once you have GPG installed, then you register your IRC nickname with the -otc bot (gribble) so that you can authenticate with it.  To enter an order, you must be authenticated.  You also must be registered to either give or get ratings,

You wrote that book? I have that on my Amazon wishlist, lol! I plan on buying it in the next day or so!

Thanks for the info everyone!