ClueNet:IRC Rules
From ClueWiki
This is the authoritative page on Cluenet IRC rules. Any other pages that seem to be copies of this may be outdated. All current policies follow from the information on this page.
Network-wide rules
These rules apply to any Cluenet channel you are in,
No Leetspeak
Details
"Leetspeak" on Cluenet is defined as words containing numbers or symbols substituted for letters (such as substituting '3' for 'e'), certain words (such as '1337'), and unnecessary abbreviations (primarily 'u' for 'you', 'ur' for 'your', etc.). You will usually get off with a warning the first time, but if it continues, it will lead to a kick and a ban.
Rationale
The correlation between discussion substance and style is surprisingly high. Leetspeak hurts the channel environment. Because Cluenet strives to be an overall intelligent network, this is a network-wide rule.
No Malicious, Illegal or Stupid Bots
Details
This includes XDCC bots, DDoS bots, floodbots, and others. If you bring any of these types of bots onto the network, you and they will be immediately banned.
Bots must also meet the rules detailed in Bot:Policy.
Rationale
No illegal activity whatsoever is permitted on Cluenet and we do not want to be a host to any kind of malicious activity.
Obey All Channel Operators of the Channels You are In
Details
If a channel operator of any channel asks you to do something, you must do it if it is a reasonable request. If you do not wish to do so, leave the channel. Failure to obey channel operators in a network-sponsored channel, in severe situations, may result in a ban from the network. The severity of consequences depends on the channel and the circumstances of the request.
Rationale
To preserve order in the network, the channel ops must be able to properly perform their duties. Enforcing network-level consequences for severe infractions helps them do that.
Obey All Network Operators
Details
If the admin of the server you are on or any network operator asks you to do something, you must obey. Failure to do so will result in consequences dependent on the circumstances.
Rationale
If network operators cannot perform their duties, order in the network will fall apart.
No Threats of DoS or Other Illegal Attacks
Details
If you threaten another user of the network with any kind of Denial of Service or other attack, you will be immediately banned from the network.
Rationale
Cluenet has no tolerance whatsoever for script kiddies. If you are threatening other users with attacks, then you are certainly a script kiddie.
No DNS Spam Hosts
Details
Hosts with intentionally long names designed to be "cool" are frowned upon. Usually this is not a severe offense, but failure to remedy the situation may result in finite consequences.
Rationale
Cluenet strives to be a medium for intelligent, useful conversation, not a place for people to show off their hosts. We also promote new technology and correct Internet usage, and DNS spam is against the DNS RFC.
No Colors in Channel Topics
Details
Any mIRC color codes or other strange ASCII characters in channel topics may cause the topic to be changed by a network operator or, on repeated offenses, a closure of the channel.
Rationale
Colors in a channel topic represent the lamer faction and serve to draw undue attention to a channel. Cluenet does not wish to appear vulgar or lame, and we want the importance of a channel in the channel list to appear neutral, so it does not allow colors in channel topics.
No Ban Evasion
Details
Ban evasion of a network ban is suitable grounds for the lengthening of the original ban. Intentional ban evasion of a channel ban is often grounds for a network kill or ban. Even if the original ban wasn't (in your opinion) justified, go through the proper channels for lifting the ban. Evasion is still evasion.
Rationale
If a user does not have respect for a channel ban, they will likely not have respect for network rules either, and should not be on the network.
No Harassment or Flooding
Details
Harassment and flooding are very subjective terms, and the degree of infraction can cause a variety of consequences ranging from a simple warning to a network ban. Ambiguous scenarios will be arbitrated by the network admins.
Rationale
Harassment and flooding is disruptive and not conducive to clueful conversation.
No Spreading of Viruses, Intentionally or Unintentionally
Details
If you are intentionally spreading a virus, you will be immediately banned from the network. If your computer is infected and is unintentionally spreading a virus, you may be temporarily banned for a short period of time until you have a chance to clean the virus.
Rationale
Cluenet will not be used as a medium for virus transmission.
No Illegal Activity
Details
No activity that is illegal in the United States or your current country of residence may be performed on the network. The punishment will depend on the degree of legality.
Rationale
If something is illegal, it's illegal for a reason. The network will not be responsible for anything illegal.
Network-Sponsored Channel Rules
These rules are suggested for all channels on the network, but they and their consequences only apply to channels that are sponsored by Cluenet. These include all channels for official Cluenet services.
No Auto-Rejoin on Kick
Details
If you are kicked from the channel and your client automatically rejoins, you may be banned for several seconds and kicked again to prevent your client's automatic joining. Repeated offenses may earn a longer ban.
Rationale
A kick is designed as a warning to a user to stop misbehaving. If a user's client automatically rejoins after a kick, the warning loses all meaning.
No Blatant Insults or Nonconstructive Criticism
Details
If an op believes that there are blatant insults or criticism only designed as a flame, they may use their discretion to take care of the problem.
Rationale
Nobody should need blatant insults, and they can only cause problems.
No Private-Message Without Permission
Details
In general, you should ask for a person's permission in the channel before sending them a private message. In important cases (as judged by the channel operators), a PM without permission may be justified, but you should always ask to be safe. Depending on the contents and importance of the message, consequences may range from a warning to a kick. Repeated offenses may result in a ban.
Rationale
This rule is primarily in place to stop people from mindlessly PMing the operators and other people asking for special favors or other generally available information.
Speak English
Details
The official language for all network-sponsored channels is English. If you speak another language without an operator's permission, you may be warned, kicked, or banned.
Rationale
If you speak a different language, the operators may not be able to monitor or understand the message content. It can also be disruptive to other conversation currently occurring in the channel.
Use Clueful Chatting to the Best of your Ability
Details
Pretty much don't use lame colors, punctuation, or ASCII characters, and strive to use correct capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. Depending on the severity of the offense, you may be ignored, warned, or kicked. Please read Clueful Chatting for more specific information.
Rationale
Clueful chatting promotes honest, helpful, and intelligent information exchange.
No Promotion or Emulation of Illegal Activity
Details
Promotion of any illegal activity (as judged by operators) is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, promotion of physical violence/assault, illegal drugs (or drugs with age limits, where applicable), illegal use of exploits, and denial of service attacks.
Rationale
For legal reasons, the network cannot be used for the spreading and promotion of actions which are against the law in the relevant countries where the users reside and servers are hosted. Additionally, promotion of illegal activity undermines respect of authority and often morality in general, which goes against the philosophy of the network.
No Blatant Advertising of Products, Other IRC Networks, or Services
Details
This is determined by oper's discretion. What classifies as advertising and what classifies as information is subjective, and will be handled subjectively.
Rationale
Advertising just annoys people. People don't want to be annoyed.
Oper Rules
These rules, including the rules above, apply to opers
No Frivolous Kills or Bans
Details
Any kill or network ban may not be made without a good reason constituting an infraction of a network rule. An oper participating in such actions may have their privileges removed.
Rationale
Random disciplinary action undermines the actual meaning of such actions.
