#GaySA Operator Rules

Channel Operator status is not an entitlement, it is a privilege and a responsibility.
Do not use your ACC level as status. It is not.

  1. Abide by ZANet’s rules, and the rules of the channel.
  2. Channels Ops must act in the best interest of the channel, and be fair, tolerant, not unnecessarily hasty, and even-tempered in their dealings with the users of the channel.
  3. Any HOP, AOP or SOP must identify BEFORE entering the channel.
  4. You may only kick or ban individuals for transgressing channel and/or ZANet rules. You may not kick or ban for trivial reasons, or on trumped-up charges. Be tolerant and understand that Gaysa should be a channel which is conducive to chatting.
  5. A user who has broken a rule should be first be kicked for the offence after being warned as per the rules and banned only if the offence is repeated. The exception here is bashers and flooders, who may be banned immediately.
  6. When you kick or ban anyone, you must give your reason in the kick/ban message – not only to inform the individual, but the rest of the channel too.
  7. When Newbies commit basic and/or innocuous infringements they should be warned and encouraged to read the rules. Educating Newbies through kicking and banning is not condoned.
  8. Except in extraordinary circumstances, you may not kick or ban anyone with an access/authority level higher than your own. If you do, make sure you have the log of events to substantiate your action, which, in these circumstances, should be strictly in terms of the rules.
  9. Nicks that are blatantly offensive, drug-related, racially offensive or sexually explicit may be banned on sight, with an appropriate kick or ban message. When in doubt, consult a SOP, or an AOP.
  10. Anybody deliberately trying to instigate trouble or cause unpleasantness may be removed from the channel. However, please be even-handed – the person taking the bait might be just as much to blame for the fracas as the person throwing it out.
  11. You may not kick or ban a user before they transgress a rule.
  12. Avoid kicking and banning for a laugh, i.e. as a joke.
  13. If anyone asks you to kick or ban another user for abusive behaviour, advise the complainant to use the /ignore <nickname> command.
  14. As a Channel Op you should, as per the general rules, also use the /ignore <nickname> command if you cannot simply ignore the remarks of an individual who offends you in the open channel, or in private.
  15. If you are abused as a Channel Op in private, deal with it in private. Do not summarily kick or ban the abuser. However, if there are complaints from other users of similar abuse from the same user, then kick or ban the user in accordance with the rules.
  16. Any ban may be removed if it is older than 7 days (unless set by BabyServ), you may not remove another Op’s ban without first consulting with that Op within this period. If the Op in question is not present, you may remove the ban at your discretion. However, Channel Ops who lift legitimate bans will be removed from the BabyServ list.
  17. You may not use Ops to influence, or to win favour with users.
  18. You may not use Ops to settle personal disputes, or to intimidate users.
  19. You may not kick or ban anyone because they have made you emotional, bruised your ego, or rattled your self-esteem.
  20. You may have only one nickname on the #GaySA BabyServ ops list. If you are found to have more, all your nicks may be removed from the list.
  21. AOPs are to op HOPs at all times. AOPs that do not adhere to this risk being removed from the AOP list.
  22. OPS may NOT change their nicks after being opped. If you wish to change your nick FIRST de-op yourself and then change your nick.
  23. Should you be away from your computer, change your nick to reflect this,  e.g AwayYourNick or YourNickAway
  24. If a channel operator transgresses any of #GaySA’s general or operator rules, their Chan-op status will be suspended for 30 days at the discretion of 2 or more channel SOPs.
  25. If you ask for your nick to be removed from the #GaySA ops list, it will be removed. Permanently. It’s a good idea to wait a few days before you request something like this.
  26. You may not set topics that are distasteful, religiously offensive, drug-related, racially offensive or sexually explicit.
  27. #GaySA’s url must remain in the topic at all times followed by the current topic. i.e. www.gaysa-irc.co.za | “Current Topic”
  28. The onotice feature may only be used by the channel operators as a way of communicating official channel business amongst themselves. The same rules apply for the use of onotice as for normal chatting in the main channel.

NB: If you feel you are unable to abide by any of the above rules please ask to be removed from the #GaySA ops list. Otherwise, as long as you are on the list, you acknowledge that you have read and understood all the channel’s rules, and agree to always abide by them - to the good of the channel.