I. Goals: The reason #Authors was formed, and the stated purpose for which we all come together

II. Purpose of Channel Operators in #Authors

III. Guidelines for Channel Operators:

• The Hierarchy of Operators Within #Authors
• General OP Rules
• Kicking and Banning
• Unbanning

1.To provide a supportive environment for writers -- a place to relax as well as celebrate one another's successes.

2.To provide a light-hearted atmosphere for conversation and "water-cooler breaks" on the Internet.

3.To grow the channel and consistently gain new members. It is important that the channel continuously gains new members, as others leave.

II. Purpose of Channel Operators within #Authors

To accomplish the above-stated goals, the OPS will try to provide a nice friendly atmosphere in which everyone who follows our channel protocol is welcome.

OPS are there to provide leadership, direction, and control to the events happening in the channel. OPS within #Authors will be given responsibilities in the channel, but are expected to follow the rules stated below. The position of OP is not to be taken lightly.

III. Guidelines for Channel Operators in #Authors

The OPS are expected to operate from a set of Guidelines, listed below. These guidelines are designed to help fulfill the above stated goals of #Authors.

The Hierarchy of Operators Within #Authors

Channel Operators within #Authors are broken into two groups:

1. Administrative Operators (level 450+) - Decide the general Policy within #Authors. Vote on new OPs, and on bans.

2. Channel Operators (level 100 and those on auto-ops) - Help maintain the channel according to the OP rules listed below.

All Operators are required to follow the rules and guidelines listed below, at all times they are in #Authors.

General OP Rules:

OPS are expected to:

1. Provide help and support the newcomers of #Authors. Please greet those who enter the channel, especially those believed to be joining for the first time. Think of yourself as a moderator: help the newcomer introduce him or herself to the group by asking questions that demand more than a yes or no answer. (For example, "What do you write?" instead of "Are you a writer?")

2. Provide a light-hearted atmosphere for conversation in the channel. Whenever possible, introduce possible word-play topics that let us, as writers, show off or try out our creativity.

3. Help and guide those who are new to IRC. If the channel is busy, use your discretion as to whether or not it would be best to provide such help in a private message to the newcomer.

4. Help keep the conversation in #Authors lively, and interesting.

5. Include everyone in the discussions. Keep general conversation in channel whenever possible, keeping in mind that several threads of conversation may be going on at a time.

6. Keep discussions pertaining to OP issues, between OPS in op messages.

7. Keep personality out of any heated discussion. If you cannot intelligently and maturely discuss a matter, without a personal attack, leave the discussion.

7. Be in the channel and logged in at least once every 21 days. Also, take a genuine, active role in helping the channel. This includes e-mail discussions that may arise about channel business.

8. Keep a log of the channel (if possible). Logs may be cleared on a regular basis, to preserve disk space.

9. Continuously improve the atmosphere in #Authors, working together to keep the atmosphere fun and interesting to guests.

10. Not be rude when the inevitable question "Are you guys really Authors?" is asked by newcomers.

11. Limit lengthy stories and/or pasted "quotes" (of your own writing or that of others) to when the channel is not as busy. This doesn't always mean the number of people shown in channel, but rather the amount of ongoing conversation. When things are busy, it is unreasonable to expect all other users to "quiet" to listen to one person.

Kicking and Banning

People will be kicked and/or banned from #Authors based on the following criteria:

1. Personal threats or insults directed specifically against another will not be tolerated.

2. People who use offensive language repeatedly will be kicked, after a two minute warning (taking into account Ping time). People who are rampaging may be kicked, and banned without the warning, however, based on severity. Certain words, and actions deemed as totally unacceptable, will be considered immediate kick offenses. (This is at the sole discretion of OPs currently in channel.)

3. Anyone found to be violating the rules as set forth by the Undernet organization for behavior on their network will be given a warning, then kicked. Repeated attempts will cause both banning and reporting of the offender to the administrators of the Undernet.

4. OPS have the right to kick and/or ban anyone who harasses either them, or someone in the channel. A warning should be issued first, however, if possible.

5. Intentional flooding of other users will result in a permanent ban.

6. Over-use of a foreign language in the channel is disruptive. #Authors is a registered English channel with CSERVICE. (Over-use is defined as: after an OP asks politely for it to stop)

7. Unruly scripts will cause a kick immediately. Turn the script off before re-entering. If not, a ban will be called for immediately.

10. Newcomers entering channel begging for ops will be kicked immediately.

Unbanning:

In general, the rule regarding removing a ban (UNBAN) is the person who banned the user, must, if not be the one to, unban the offender, at least have a voice in regarding whether or not that person's ban is lifted.

OP Discipline

When an OP violates the OP rules, as defined in the charter, another OP should have the events in a LOG. If the offending OP has gotten completely out of line, another OP has the authority to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the channel, however extreme measures (Kicking/banning/de-OPing) should only be used in extreme circumstances.

The OP should discuss with the offending OP the transgressions, and the matter should try to be resolved between the two OPS. If more than two OPS are involved, and/or the transgression(s) were in GROSS violation of either the rules as defined in this charter, or the rules as defined by the Undernet, then the LOG (if there is one) should be passed to the AdminOPS and discussed in an OP meeting. Offending OPS may be put on probationary status, or de-OPed, or banned from the channel, if the AdminOPS feel that the transgression was bad enough to warrant it.

(An op is not to be kicked or banned without prior consent from the Channel Mgr. unless it is an emergency, and the Channel Mgr. or an AdminOP is not in channel.)

[ Original 02-18-98]