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Network Policy
INTRODUCTION
The primary reason this network exists is to provide a medium for USERs to have discussions on a wide range of topics and interests, in an environment which is fair, family oriented, and free of harassment. The most important element of our network is the USER, and in view of our network purpose, we believe offering unique, configurable Services to help protect the USER is an important part of fulfilling our vision. Hence when connecting to our network, by default our servers set user modes +Gix enabling:
  • "G rated" mode to help filter typical badwords within private chat (topics and quit messages are also G rated.)
  • "Invisible" mode to protect the USER from spammers when /who searches are done.
  • "Hidden Hostmask" mode to protect the USER from DoS and related abusive attacks.
A summary of our Network Rules are the folloing:
  • IRCops do not interfere with Channel politics so don't ask us to akill, etc.
  • Channels takeover, wrongful use of Services, clones, flooding, and mass messages are abuses and not tolerated.
  • No WinGate or other Proxy Clients (We scan connections for open HTTP, SOCK and WINGATE proxies!)
  • Do not use this network as your means to advertise other IRC networks.
  • We do not support porn or warez so don't ask us to help you if this is your activity!
  • Most important, please have fun!!!
If you do not agree with our rules and policy, please do not connect to our network.
USER TRAINING:
Currently we do not provide scheduled training for using our Network and Services software. We do have a mIRC script to assist USERs with NICKSERV, CHANSERV, BOTSERV, and MEMOSERV, and is available for download here; or, visit our online help page here. When connected to our irc.chatster.org server, type "/helpserv help" -or- "/helpop" for a list of our network commands. Our Network and Services software provide flexibility to help shape the USERs own domain to meet most of their personal needs. We often recommend the /ignore or /ban commands as the best solution for undesired private/channel chats, and only use K-LINES or G-LINES when necessary. We also provide live help at #irchelp if you have questions on how to use our Services or need OPER assistance.
REQUESTS for IRCops (OPER) STATUS:

Currently we are not in need of any IRCops. However, when we make additions to our IRCop team, some of the characteristics we look for are people who have proven themselves dedicated to helping users and providing constructive input to aid the network. Additionally, we are mindful of people who have the ability to set aside personal differences when dealing with users, instead of banning based on personal disputes or dislikes. Candidates would be in agreement with our network policy and a team player toward the integrity of our network. Candidates should also be willing to accept Local IRCop status and realize s/he is on probation for a minimum of three months, during which time (or afterwards) they could be promoted or demoted based on attitude and consistency with upholding network policy. Individuals who ask for IRCops, abuse users, or show abuse towards our services, the network, or policy are not considered.

OPER GUIDELINES:

Chatster's OPERs should be the USER's friend
The most important element of our network is the USER, not the IRC operators. On Chatster's IRC Network, the IRC operators (IRCops or OPERs) are the USERs' friend, and are available primarily to run the servers and help USERs with network or services questions in a courteous and friendly manner. Opers are not IRC "Cops", and do not enforce laws or monitor/police the USERs on our network for bad behavior. As an OPER, you are representing the network, and your activities reflect on the network and the rest of us as a whole.

OPERs are not to take sides in disputes between USERs, become involved in the politics of a channel, or abuse a channel's rules. If USERs cannot conduct their activities on our network free from harassment or abuse of OPERs, then they may not return. Additionally, if USERs are left with the feeling that asking for help from an OPER is a nuisance, they may not return. There are plenty of other networks which are competing for USERs. This means that the USERs should be able to see something in our network which will prompt them to come back. This also means that we should go out of our way to be as courteous and friendly with the USERs as possible, so that they will want to come back, and tell their friends about us. USERs who have had difficulties in finding help from us, or who have been treated unfairly and discourteously may not return.

In addition, if you have a "personal" problem with a particular USER, use the /IGNORE command on your client, and defer the matter to another OPER. G-LINES and perm SHUN should be last resorts, when other attempts to control a particular situation have failed. In most cases, if you talk to a person in a polite way, they will refrain from what they are doing. If talking to the person has failed, please try using a temp SHUN rather than G-LINES and K-LINES, to make room for the USER to apologize or correct their abusive behavior. We have repeatedly found this method to be very effective, where the users have emailed an apology and refrained from future abusive behavior. Again, as a last resort, a perm ban from our network should take place ONLY if other methods have failed. There are some obvious exceptions, for example: flood nets, hacking attempts on our network or services, spamming, and unauthorized massive cloning. In most cases of cloning, our Services will automatically A-Kill this abuse for a period of time.
OPERs should respect the rights of the USERs, and always treat USERs with respect. This means that OPERs do not do the following:
  1. Harass USERs because of their nick or the channel name they've formed. We have an extensive list of channel names and nick names that are blocked with CHANSERV and NICKSERV. If you find a particular channel or nick offensive, put in a petition to our Service Administrators that the name maybe added to the list of blocked channels in CHANSERV or added to the list of blocked nicks in NICKSERV.
  2. Join channels which are marked as INVITE ONLY or have a KEY, unless specifically asked by the channel owner or one of the ops to intervene in a situation occurring on the channel. A channel should be regarded as an apartment that a user has set up, and should respect the privacy of the USERs. Violating INVITE ONLY or channels which have a KEY should be viewed the same as breaking and entering.
  3. Unauthorized channel and user mode changes; this includes using -m +o +v -i -k modes. If you do not have access in CHANSERV with a channel, or was not given prior permission to change channel/user modes by the channel owner or one of the channel ops, yet make an unauthorized mode change on yourself, the channel, or other members of a channel, you are violating a channel's privacy. This type of abuse may result in permanent loss of OPER status.
  4. Change the host masks of USERs simply because you find a particular hostmask offensive. A hostmask should be view like a persons clothes. Some clothes may not be appealing, but that does not give you the right to strip off the clothing, and insist that they walk home naked.
  5. Abusing your abilities and privileges, even in a joking manner or by unauthorized testing, will not be tolerated under any circumstances. You were not granted these abilities and privileges for your own amusement or to be a "show-off"; they were given to you so that you could assist the USERs or maintain the integrity of the network in providing a fair, safe, family oriented environment for them to conduct themselves. Abuse of these abilities and privileges will be taken very seriously and may result in suspension and/or loss of OPER status. Repeated abuse will automatically result in a loss of OPER status.
TEST SERVERS:

A server which has met the requirements of the network, and has been designated as a TEST-SERVER will be maintained in that status for a total of 60 days, during which various aspects of the link will be reviewed: including server reliability and oper reliability.

TEST-SERVERS who have met the requirements of the network, and have been designated as a TEST-SERVER will be given an L-Line (Leaf) only. They are not permitted to grant links to any other server outside the network. Any attempt to connect to an unauthorized link will result in an immediate Jupe, and a loss of TEST-SERVER status.

Server Administrators whose servers have met the requirements of the network, and have been designated as a TEST-SERVER will be admitted as a Global Oper status. All opers associated with the TEST-SERVER will be assigned the level of a local oper, until such time as the testing period has been completed. TEST-SERVERS are not permitted to add additional opers during the TEST-SERVER period.

DISCLAIMER:

Chatster.org is now checking all users for open and exploitable Wingate/Proxy server upon connection to any chatster.org IRC Servers. Please see our network policy page on Proxy Scans for more information.

IRC is an unmoderated international medium. We take absolutely no responsibility, and explicitly disclaim any legal liability for the content of any message which pass through our servers or the effects of running any command you do as a result of being "on IRC". Our servers are privately owned; therefore, your use of our system is a privilege and not a right. We reserve the right to deny access to our servers to any user, host, or site without warning or explanation. Rules may change without warning or prior notice. The use of our system is your expressed consent and agreement to our Disclaimer and Policy.