Star Wars Fanon:IRC policies
The Star Wars wiki of fan invention.
This policy in a nutshell:Stay civil, assume good faith, stay on topic, respect user privileges, and don't spam in the IRC.
[edit] Rules
[edit] Keep it civil
Star Wars Fanon strives to maintain a user-friendly environment where one can contribute fan-fiction without hindrance and engage in discussions in a civil manner. This holds true when you are on the Star Wars Fanon IRC.
New users should be treated with respect. Many newer members are still unfamiliar with site policies and our article layout theme. Though this is primarily for users on Star Wars Fanon in general, it also applies to the IRC. If a new user comes in and asks for help in a polite manner, or even a rude manner, one should strive to assist them so they can be on their way. This rule is not limited to new users, however. Be respectful when speaking to other users and administrators.
Don't harass other users, and be kind and fair when making decisions and compromises with others. Do not goad other users into making personal attacks, and do not make personal attacks. Star Wars Fanon’s IRC is still a part of Star Wars Fanon as a whole, and you will be held accountable for anything demeaning or insulting you say on the channel.
[edit] Assume good faith
Assume that most users have logged into the IRC to contribute to the topic at hand or are there for friendly banter. Do not immediately assume they are trolls, vandals, or the like. When in doubt, ask. This can avoid misunderstandings and prevent problems from escalating. Users generally mean well, but make mistakes without realizing they have done so. If this is the case, simply inform them of it and fix it. Remember to keep a cool head and consult with the user in question.
[edit] Stay on Topic
If there is a current topic of discussion in the channel, do not attempt to change the topic. Even if it isn’t to your liking or you find it boring or dull, allow the topic to continue on its course. If there is a set topic or arranged meeting, off-topic banter should be limited so the topic at hand can continue to progress. The conversation should continue moving forward toward the set goal of the topic or meeting, enforced by chanops. If you are disrupting the meeting or preventing the topic from moving along after being warned, you are liable for a kick from the channel or being muted if voice status has been set.
[edit] Use Op powers sparingly
Star Wars Fanon channel operators (chanops) are users who have been granted the responsibility of keeping the channel running smoothly and on-topic. They have access to numerous IRC functions, including kicking users who violate IRC policies or are causing problems, banning trolls and spammers who join the channel, and granting op status to other users; either temporarily or permanently.
However, these powers are to be used sparingly. If you are in a relatively empty channel, do not op yourself unnecessarily. Generally, ops are only needed when a spammer or troll enters the channel, or users have lost their cool and need some time to cool down. In addition, chanops should generally consult with another user, preferably another channel operator, before kicking or banning someone from the channel. Do not abuse your op powers, or they will be removed. This includes participating in “kick-wars” and “ban-wars”.
[edit] Normal users should not have op status unless there is community approval
In general, only Administrators, Bureaucrats of Star Wars Fanon may hold access levels, to prevent an abuse of chanops. Administrators and Bureaucrats have been elected because they have been deemed to have the community’s best interests at heart. However, Janitors and Wikia Staff will also have chanops power in most wikia-based IRC channels. Do not contact them for help; however, unless you have contacted almost all other Admins for help first.
There are times, however, when trustworthy users or former Administrators will receive or retain their chanops, respectively. Normal users may ask for the ability to be on the access list. Their request should be postponed until a general approval from the community’s Administration can be received. Former Administrators may retain their position on the access list, though a general consensus amongst the Administrators is still required. Fomer Admins may vie to have their chanops abilities removed if they so desire.
[edit] Do not remove autoremovals or bans without consulting the Administrator who made the block
Users are generally blocked for a reason. Unless you have contacted the Admin in question or another Admin who was in the IRC at the time of the block, it is better to not meddle with those that have an autoremove or ban status.
[edit] Try to use your username or a common nickname when logging in
When using the Star Wars Fanon IRC, there are very few ways to identify yourself as the user with the same name on Star Wars Fanon. With that in mind, it is generally easier for everyone if you use your username from Star Wars Fanon, like Darth_tom or BrandonRhea. However, if you would rather go by a common nickname, like JM76 (Jedi Master 76), Ataru (Atarumaster88), or CBT (CurrentBigThing), you may log in under that nickname as well. If people can’t identify you, then it is difficult to communicate. If you choose to log in under a nickname unrelated to your actual username, like Darth_Abeonis (Jasca Ducato) or Verraeter (NKSCF), then inform users of your actual username if they ask. In general, users on the IRC don’t enjoy playing guessing games trying to figure out who you are.
If a user can't be identified in worst-case scenarios, IRC chat has a feature known as whois. By typing in "/whois Username" (sans the quotation marks), one can determine the actual username of an unfamiliar user, the channels they’re logged into at the moment, as well as other things. So if there was a user nicknamed C3PO who no one could identify, anyone could type "/whois C3PO", and it would likely reveal the user as C3PO the Dragon Slayer. While this can be useful in determining the authenticity of a suspicious user, it is not foolproof.
[edit] Do not spam, flood or disrupt the channel
Spamming is the act of useless or annoying information that’s only purpose is to induce inflammatory remarks or annoy users. It could also be the act of trailing off the designated topic of the channel and posting random or joking remarks, which distract users from the current conversation. Do not spam on the channel under any circumstance. Think before you begin to post off-topic and try to keep the channel clear of unnecessary ranting or posts in general. In additon, one should avoid immaturely responding to said spam.
Flooding occurs when one begins to post massive amounts of text in the channel without a forewarning or remark, and generally slows down everyone’s connection, often causing lag. While flooding is sometimes necessary when contributing large amounts of information, copy and pasting useful text, or quickly contribution an opinion, it is generally frowned upon. Do not posts large articles, ASCII art, or other unnecessary text if it can be avoided. Generally, hyperlinks are better for sharing information. If you are gong to flood a channel with text, give a warning beforehand so the users know to expect the large amount of text about to come their way.
Similar to Star Wars Fanon, do not disrupt the channel to make a point. Discussion is a better means of explaining a flaw in the rules or policies of Star Wars Fanon. If you don’t like something about the IRC chat or Star Wars Fanon in general, drop in and politely inform an Administrator or other Moderator. Do not cause trouble in the channel, and do not game the system. Instead, communicate with users about your issue.
[edit] Consequences
Just because you are in a channel away from Star Wars Fanon, does not mean you can avoid complying with the rules of the IRC. If a user decides to not follow the rules, a warning should be given by the Administrator or Moderator. This warning could be as simple as directing them to this page and asking them not to violate the rules again. If they have been warned more than twice, then removal from the channel may follow. If you are asked to leave the channel or kicked from the channel because of your behavior, then you are not expected to return until you have acknowledged that you realize the rule you broke and confirm to those in the channel that you will not disrupt the channel again.
For repeated instances, a ban from the channel may be necessary. However, bans are generally reserved for vandals, trolls, and spammers, and should be used as sparingly as possible. If a user commits a personal attack or violates the rules of the IRC on a regular basis, then bans on their account on Star Wars Fanon may be employed by the Administration.
Generally, consequences for the actions of users should be based on a case-by-case basis and the Administrator or Moderator's discretion.
