channel operator quick reference

search this document to use it quickly (ctl/cmd + f)

quicker reference

to ban someone: /msg chanserv akick #reddit-diabetes add *!*@12.34.56.78 feeling free | worleygurl asked for it
to ban a nickserv account, op yourself and /mode #reddit-diabetes +b $a:worleygurl

practices

try to use chanserv to set topics and modes if you can. setting an akick will keep your name from being seen when user administration is delivered, for example. don't waste time on this if you don't have extra time

about

try to direct discussion about administrative action away from the main channel and into #reddit-diabetes-ops to minimise disruption. our -ops channel is the place where users should come to ask for our help. examples:

asking why a ban was set
reports of harassment (unless the user is confiding in you)

handling users

warn a user with /kick
consider quieting instead of setting a ban
using chanserv will keep your nick from appearing as the user who set a ban. this may help prevent suspicion of bias if you have interacted with the user in the channel.

hostmasks

about hostmasks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat#Hostmasks
match a user by IP address with a mask like *!*@1.2.3.4 or *!*@ip-4-3-2-1.city.dynamic.someisp.net
match pools of IP addresses with masks like *!*@1.2.3.* or *!*@*.city.dynamic.someisp.net

managing permissions

note that using chanserv requires you to be authenticated to nickserv

via services

to op yourself: /msg chanserv op #reddit-diabetes
to deop yourself: /msg chanserv deop #reddit-diabetes
to set a permanent akick rule: /msg chanserv akick #reddit-diabetes add *!*@1.2.3.4 kick message | private notes
to set an akick rule to expire in two weeks: /msg chanserv akick #reddit-diabetes add *!*@1.2.3.4 !T 14d kick message | private notes
to unset an akick rule: /msg chanserv akick #reddit-diabetes del *!*@1.2.3.4
to list akick rules: /msg chanserv akick #reddit-diabetes list
to quiet a user: /msg chanserv quiet #reddit-diabetes *!*@1.2.3.4
to unquiet a user: /msg chanserv unquiet #reddit-diabetes *!*@1.2.3.4
to set the channel topic: /msg chanserv topic #reddit-diabetes Welcome to the /r/diabetes IRC channel. Please interrupt any off-topic discussion if you would like to talk about diabetes.
to append to the channel topic: /msg chanserv topicappend #reddit-diabetes FYI about recent abusive intrusions: https://git.io/zrffqw
to prepend to the channel topic: /msg chanserv topicprepend #reddit-diabetes FYI about recent abusive intrusions: https://git.io/zrffqw

requires op

to kick a user from the channel: /kick username
to set a ban mode (requires op): /mode #reddit-diabetes +b *!*@1.2.3.4
to set a quiet mode (requires op): /mode #reddit-diabetes +q *!*@1.2.3.4
to set an op mode: /mode #reddit-diabetes +o awaxa
to remove an op mode: /mode #reddit-diabetes -o awaxa
to set/remove an op mode for up to four users at once: /mode #reddit-diabetes -oooo Ariensus dosman711 clarksonguy04 awaxa (your nick must be last if deopping yourself along with others)
to set the topic manually: /topic FYI about recent abusive intrusions: https://git.io/zrffqw
to forward to another channel (limit join/part flooding): /mode #reddit-diabetes +b *!*@1.2.3.4$##fixyourconnection

no privileges required

to list ban modes: /mode #reddit-diabetes +b
to list quieted users: /mode #reddit-diabetes +q

handling troll/flood barrages

people will not die if they get spammed on irc
ping other ops for help
quiet unregistered users with /mode #reddit-diabetes +q $~a
temporarily block unregistered users from joining the channel with /mode #reddit-diabetes +r
ban users who are already banned in another channel using an extban: /help extban using a mode like /mode #reddit-diabetes +b $j:#other_channel. for example, use /mode #reddit-diabetes +b $j:#freenode to ban users from #reddit-diabetes that staff have banned from #freenode

resources for operator advice

https://freenode.net/channel_guidelines.shtml
https://freenode.net/using_the_network.shtml
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/IRC/wikipedia/Channel_operator_guidelines
##chops-lounge is a great source of advice

reference information to link to users

/r/diabetes rules https://reddit.com/r/diabetes/about/rules
an old rules gist https://git.io/bxxQ
our old community rules post https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/comments/1677wz/meta_rules_for_our_community/
#freenode https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=freenode for technical issues
freenode knowledge base: troubleshooting channel access, modes/quiets/bans https://freenode.net/kb/answer/channels

awaxa/channel-op-cheatsheet.md