IRCChat rules

From TCWiki

Rules?

Ok, this is for discussion about having some rules in the chat room. Someone people want rules, some don't.

Here is the list up for discussion so far:

1: Note: this rule is not up for negotiation. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take a fight with another person in to ANY other channel for any reason.

2: Don't be a Dick. AKA: you character can be an ass, you cannot. (This has been around almost as log as MT:tC has.)

Rules as offered by Wolfen:

1.No fishing for flamingos from giraffe back while wearing a tutu after 9pm.

2.Eschew obfuscation.

3.Do not feed the elephant.

4.Obey this rule. By order.

5.Do not do the below.

6.Ignore the above.

As proposed by Rapierman

Do not abuse the newbies. You were new once. Help them out if they need it. Give them as much guidance as you can, and pack along some patience. Point them to the appropriate entries within the wiki.

Comments

Please edit and add your comments below. (note: these have been copied from DarkTan's LJ)

Skorp: Don't think we need them. The ones calling for them are the ones who'd use them to push newbies out and stagnate the game.

BozoCat: @Skorp: Can you be more specific? Who wants to push newbies out that has actual authority that anyone listens to in this game? 'cause I think the newbie dislikers and the people with authority are pretty much disjoint sets.

Skorp: @BozoCat: That's the point. They SHOULD be seperate. We don't want to risk the newbie-haters getting power and screwing the rest of us over.

BozoCat: On rule 1, it's very vague. It could be read as "don't offend one of the op's arbitrarily defined sensibilities." If you're going to have rules, they should be easily and objectively defined, and come with built-in consequences.

Or they should not be there at all. A bad rule is worse than no rules. (end of copied comments)

DarkTan: edited rule one to coincide with tC's greatest rule. And as for who has power and who does not: Right now I have founder/admin rights only cause i reged the channel. I have no intention of using it unless necessary. Things like spam bots and outsiders are what i consider necessary other than keeping up with the registration and access lists and other admin-y things that need to be done from time to time. BozoCat has Admin access and will b our only active admin.

BozoCat: Could drop the first half in favor of the second. It's redundant.

DarkTan: unless of course BozoCat doesn't want to be admin. then we just won't have an active one.

BozoCat: I could be an inactive admin... I'm happy to splat spambots and vandals. I'm not going to try to enforce rule 1 as written. It's too subjective, and it puts me in the middle of stuff I don't have the emotional energy to be in the middle of.

DarkTan: @BozoCat: perhaps the existence of the rule will curb some of it just by it existing. we can always hope right?

Rapierman: Do you want to consider mentioning IRCHighway rules since they do override things? Nothing large, maybe just a one-liner or less, and/or a link?

DarkTan: @Rapierman: TOS is found here: TOS

Just to answer before it comes up: According to their admins on the forums, any problems we have (fighting namely); so long as they're are not illegal or promoting anything illegal; are our own problems unless the spread to other channels. Only upon receiving proof of illegal activies or fighting on other channels will the server admin's come to investigate.

Rapierman (@DT): Understood, never had a problem with that. Just as long as they all know what's what, I'm okay with that.

Continuing on:

Item One: It seems that the one "rule" that you've mentioned is more like a philosophy than a rule (though there's really no problem with that). If you're not up to creating "rules", perhaps a "FAQ" to expound upon that one item. Speaking of which....

Item Two: Given Skorp's concern for newbies (which is a legitimate concern), I propose the following: "Do not abuse the newbies. You were new once. Help them out if they need it. Give them as much guidance as you can, and pack along some patience. Point them to the appropriate entries within the wiki."

Item Three: Thou shalt not "flame".

Item Four: Thou shalt not "troll".

Item Five: All-Caps and "1337"-speak are frowned upon, except when performing a character who might do that, and only in-game. The standard here is English (we'll take both versions as long as it's intelligible).

Item Six: Do you want to allow lines like this to be extremely long and appear to be moving ever so slowly and inexorably until they appear to reach a final limit, yet they still continue on forever and ever, amen, or do you want them to break it up into smaller chunks?

Item Seven: Answer all questions to the best of your ability, even if the answer is "I don't know". If the answer can be found in previously posted material, provide a link with a statement along the lines of "You will find your answer here". Repeat your answer if necessary: Some are not always as intelligently fast as you are (see also: newbies).

BozoCat: @Rapierman: I'm not a fan of item seven. Seems to me, if it were actually followed, it would promote lots of people who don't know what they're talking about, or have nothing relevant to add, to say stuff, filling the chat with meaningless spam. Likewise Item six isn't a rule. It's just confusing. Item five: Both versions of what?

Rapierman (@BC): 1. I'm about to get to the "spam" part, which will warrant a discussion. 2. Have you ever seen my long sentences and paragraphs? It takes a while to type 'em. 3. English (American vs. Euro-Continental). There are differences. 4. Newbies will have questions. I'd rather have them politely answered than be a rude asshat.

Item Eight: Regarding "spam", and assuming that we do want to prevent such things, where is the line to be drawn? This also relates to Item Six.