How to be an operator in #adium
(or how I learned to calm down and not ban users every five minutes)
General Advice
First, make sure to follow all the rules on [AdiumIRCChat this page]. Always remember that being an operator in #adium is a privilege. Unlike Chinese emperors, you do not have divine right. Finally, remember that as an operator, you are acting for the good of the channel. If a user annoys you, personally, tough luck. If the user is disruptive to the entire channel, then action should be taken.
Action? Did somebody say action?
Your primary method of channel wrangling as an operator does not start with a slash. Subtlety tends to work far better, because blunt methods invariably turn into arguments about whether it was the right way. Diverting the flow of discussion away from harmful topics or users, sending a polite pm along the lines of "this discussion is really going down the wrong road... it'd be great if we could take it down a better one", or even a simple "hey guys, can we talk about something else now?" can do wonders for a channel. Warnings (a.k.a threats) are perhaps the third tool an operator should resort to corral users into an orderly pattern. Kicking should be a last resort, and banning should only come in the most extreme circumstances. Nobody is going to blame you if you wait to ban a disruptive user, but they will if you act too quickly.
It's a trap!
Often times, silliness will happen in #adium. Especially at night. A good rule of thumb (but not official policy) is that after 11pm Eastern, and before 7am Eastern, the maximum silly level (and general channel MPAA-style rating) is increased. Make sure you can distinguish silliness from serious spamming, trolling and annoyances. Joke kicking often happens during periods of silliness; make sure nobody gets scared by it, as it doesn't happen on many other channels.
How many people suffer from ED?
This is the most impotant question to ask yourself as an operator. How many people are suffering because of the Extreme Doofus? If it's just you, you should use /ignore or just deal with the user. If it's multiple people, you may want to take the user aside in /msg and have a chat. Perhaps they aren't aware of their behavior. If after repeated public and private warnings, it's time to start kicking. Another thing to consider is that annoyance is different from offence. If there's one Australian on the channel, and the topic has turned to Aussie bashing, they may be taking it a lot harder than everyone else.
Attaaaaaaaack!
Kicking is a useful tool. It lets users know when they are out of line, but doesn't have any lasting punishment. It can be an excellent wake up call to try and drill some sense into the ED. It can also be hilarious.
BOWNED
Banning isn't hilarious. Ever. It is your last and final power, and should be treated with extreme respect. Temporary bans and bans beginning with % (also known as +q or +quiet) can be useful before you drop the b-bomb. When you do decide to do it, make sure you chose the right moment for maximum effect.
The Moment of Inertia
The best time to ban someone is right after a serious infraction or insult. This keeps it very clear what you are banning them for. Sometimes you may miss an oportunity to deal with ED. That's OK. If they really deserve to be banned, they will repeat the offense again later.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. cbarrett's personal guide to ruling with an iron fist a velvet glove some kind of weird iron-velvet hybrid. Happy bannings!
<edited by cfm to add his own anti-confrontational style>
