Why?

   While we all have a right to free speech, each IRC channel has its own general rules for appropriate conversation and decorum. Needless to say, flooding, spaming, personal attacks against other channel members, or deriding others because you have differing views is inappropriate in any channel. Some level of decorum, order and mutual respect must be maintained to make it pleasurable for other participants and to avoid chaos - be it a conversational channel such as #mensa, a help channel or a warez channel.

When?

   A temporary ban merely means that your behavior, comments, or conversation was considered inappropriate to a particular op at a particular time and in a particular situation. Temporary bans are generally of duration appropriate to the offending behavior and, if necessary, repeated with durations of increasing lengths. Since ops have to prune these ban lists, none enjoy making unnecessary entries.

How to get unbanned?

   We have a nice group of regulars on EFnet #mensa with a broad range of experience and interests and we try to maintain a channel atmosphere conducive to stimulating and interesting conversation on almost any topic. Sometimes we even succeed. The #mensa FAQ gives general guidelines for behavior and you are encouraged to peruse it.

   If you have been banned for the first time, the ban will probably be automatically be lifted in an hour or so. However if the banning op thought a longer ban appropriate, you might wish to message him or her with an apology, that you have read the FAQ, and are willing to adhere to it in the future. Most ops will automatically lift the ban. No one is perfect, including the ops; misunderstandings occur. But if you break your pact by deliberately ignoring the channel guidelines a second time after promising to do so, you are courting a permaban. A permanent ban means that the majority of ops feel you are more a disruption in the channel than an asset.

Ergo, ...

   We invite you to actively participate in any discussion you find of interest. Even if you have little knowledge of some esoteric topic being discussed, an inquisitive, intelligent mind posing a poignant question potentiates meaningful dialogue. However, please bring something to the table other than your attitude. Quelle ambiance! You really should be quite pleased if you get past the velvet ropes.

[Last updated on 9/8/00]

Copyright Quarf 2000, all rights reserved.