#melbourne rules and guidelines

As a guide to helping the channel run in a consistent and amicable way we which spell out what behavior is acceptable on the channel and what happens if a user digresses.

It's important to remember that these rules aren't designed so some operator can get his or her rocks off on a power trip. On the contrary, the rules are there so all users can feel comfortable chatting in the channel without being harassed or having their screens filled by lame scripts or flooding. Basically the rules mirror the Message Of The Day (MOTD) which all users see when they enter IRC. We have simply added to the MOTD in places to accommodate the unique character of channel #melbourne. We consider these guidelines as simply an extension of netiquette.

First, a message from our sponsors… 

*** - client.oz.org Message of the Day -
*** - 29/12/1999 16:38
*** - Welcome to client.oz.org. bandwidth and server
*** - housing is sponsored by optusnet.
*** - -----
*** - DISCLAIMER: IRC is an unmoderated medium.
*** -
*** - oz.org does not log or scrutinize the traffic which passes
*** - through this server. We take no responsibility, and explicitly
*** - disclaim any legal liability for the content of any messages
*** - which pass through this server, and the results of running any
*** - commands you do as a result of being "on irc".
*** -
*** - PARENTS: IRC may be unsuitable for children. Please supervise your
*** - child's IRC session.
*** -
*** - POLICY: No bots, no "fserves," one client per user.  No flooding.
*** - Real usernames required. Any breach of policy can and will result in
*** - your permanent removal from this server.
*** -
*** - We reserve the right to prevent or remove any connection to or from
*** - this server without warning or explanation.
*** -
*** - - Rules may change without warning or prior notice.
*** -
*** - By continuing to access this network through this IRC server,
*** - you are accepting all terms and conditions above and agree to
*** - abide by all policies.
*** -
*** - - Information on this network can be acquired from http://www.oz.org
*** -
*** - - Users in the edu.au, gov.au, csiro.au, id.au and oz.au domains
*** -   should use wollongong.oz.org
*** End of /MOTD command.
*** -
*** By using this server you have agreed to the server conditions of use.
*** If you can't see them listed above, you have your client configured to
*** ignore the message of the day. As ignorance is no excuse, you may wish
*** to type   /motd   to make your client show the conditions again.
*** Reminder - IRC is a live medium and may be unsuitable for minors.
*** REAL USERNAMES REQUIRED. NO EXCEPTIONS.

-global:$*.org- [GLOBAL] Reminder to all users that Fake Userid's are
*NOT* to be used on these servers. You are to use your account login
name. If you are found using a fake userid you will be removed from
the server.

1. No flooding

The servers explicitly mention "No flooding". Flooding usually means excessively sending (often repeating the same line of) text unnecessarily to a channel or user. People who do this will be warned against flooding, and will be removed from the channel.

1.1. Excessive repeating of characters

Not considered flooding as such, but just as annoying is people who feel that they need to get over-eager with their greetings. Stuff like "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" for every nick that greets them is annoying. Doing it once or twice is okay, and it's not an eye-sore, but filling the screen with them is really inconsiderate. You will be removed from the channel for this.

1.2. Excessive repeating of MiXed CAse TeXT or CAPS

This is annoying to read, line after line. It will be treated as flooding, such that a line here or there is fine, but lines and lines of it is not acceptable. If you do this, you'll be removed from the channel.

1.3. Use of mIRC color codes

Just as annoying to read, particularly on older clients that don't support mIRC color codes (eg. ircII, older versions of mIRC). It will be treated as flooding. You will be removed from the channel for this.

Read http://www.oz.org/faq/mirc.html for more.

1.4. Really annoying away messages

Its fine to let other users know you are away, but please don't repeat your away message every few minutes - it's annoying and it will make other people really wish you were away, permanently! You will be removed from the channel for this.

2. No offensive language directed towards channel

Deliberate offensive language directed towards the channel or against another user will result in removal from the channel. Words like "fuck" are pretty common in our language, so that does not count as offensive language if used in context, unless used excessively. Words like "cunt" are regarded as offensive by many users, and people using it may be removed.

3. No derogatory conversation about another user

Abusing other users of the channel will not be tolerated. Take it to /msg, if you must, so they can put you on /ignore. People either abusing other user or encouraging such behaviour will be removed. If you want to be abusive and rude, join your own channel, don't do it in #melbourne.

4. People being stupid on channel

People being idiots on channel ("op me plz"; "any females in here?"; "a/s/l plz"; "Melb sux") will be warned to stop and probably removed from the channel, particularly if they continue being idiots.

5. Avoiding bans

People avoiding bans by using fake usernames or other accounts will have themselves banned for longer periods. People insisting on doing it again and again will be reported to the IRC Ops and/or their ISP's system admin.

6. Spamming

People who come onto the channel and immediately invite others to their channel, web page, or somewhere else, will be removed.

7. What to do if you have been banned

If you have been banned from #melbourne then if you wish to discuss your ban, please message a chanop to find out who banned you, then take up the banning with the chanop who banned you. Under most circumstances a chanop will not take any action on another chanop's bans. If you think a particular chanops is being too harsh or unfair, then please ask the channel manager or a senior operator to discuss the problem further with the chanop in question. You may request a list of channel operators from http://aucs.oz.org/.