11JAN 97 Written by: Itsy

Last Modification - Amendment 5 May 2006

StarLink-IRC RULE #1: Do not annoy others.

StarLink-IRC  RULE #2: Do not be too easily annoyed.

Part I : Charter and Foundation

StarLink-IRC was originally founded on 15 July 1996 for the purpose of providing IRC users with a good place to meet, exchange ideas, and generally have fun. On 1 January 1997, these concepts were reborn in the StarLink-IRC network where the original spirit of communication, cooperation and user support that has become our hallmark.

StarLink-IRC is a network neighborhood: Our Services infrastructure support the channels that comprise the neighborhood homes, offices, meeting halls, and parks where people can safely meet, exchange ideas and form 'families' and common interest groups.

The founding members of StarLink-IRC, after due deliberation, adopted the following principles:

StarLink-IRC balances the inherent rights of free speech and the rights of users. Although supportive of alternative viewpoints and lifestyles, StarLink-IRC will NOT support advocacy of intolerance or abuse of the rights or property of others. The following Special Restrictions apply:

Prohibited Activities:

Penalties:

Violators will be permanently and immediately removed from StarLink-IRC, possibly without warning or appeal. Relevant records of prohibited activities or advocacy may be provided to appropriate authorities for further action.


Part II: StarLink-IRC Structure

StarLink-IRC is an interactive group of people who all have a common interest in the success of our network. Input from affected parties will be solicited and considered. While individual Groups are autonomous and not subject to review by other activities, any decisions affecting StarLink-IRC as a whole are subject to review by the OPERATIONS GROUP.

    Part II-A Services and Organizations

SERVICES: The technical or administrative functions that support the network. De-facto Services are those which appear on a /map or /links listing and are an integral part of the net. The principal services provided by StarLink-IRC are:

ORGANIZATIONS: StarLink-IRC Named Organizations are defined Groups which determine the character and nature of SERVICES and coordinates their implementation. The Five StarLink-IRC named organizations and principal authorities are:

Part IV: Channel Registration

    Part IV-A Registration

    Given the nature of IRC networks, all channels are inherently 'provisional' .. they only exist because a user or bot sets them up. The registration process recognizes this and is designed to reduce the administrivia usually found in channel registrations.

    In general, only one channel will be registered to any individual.  Failure of a channel owner to appear (authenticate and join the channel) for 45 consecutive days will constitute abandonment of the channel.

      1. CService will review applications for content and completeness and send a response letter to the applicant.
      2. CService may deny registration to anyone who has been abusive to the net or its users.
      3. Any registered Channel may be removed for necessary and sufficient reason.
      4. Temporary channels may be set up from time to time for special purposes but must be either removed or formally registered as soon as practicable.
      5. CService will periodically purge channels that appear to be abandoned.
      6. With suitable justification, a channel that has been mistakenly purged will be immediately reinstated.

    Part IV-B Changes

    Part III-C Objections

      Any reasonable objection to a channel will be considered by CService. Upon receipt of an objection, the CSC will:

      1. Immediately convene a meeting of any available CService members to determine the seriousness and nature of the objection.
      2. Designate or set up a channel for discussion of the issues (if needed due to the nature of the objection).
      3. The discussion date/time will be set to accommodate as many concerned individuals as possible yet still provide a timely response.
      4. No final decision will be made until BOTH sides of any disagreement or objection have been heard.
      5. Meeting attendance by parties NOT involved in the issues will be discouraged.

AMENDMENT 1: Founding Membership

During the meeting establishing this charter, the following memberships were established. Each group and service will meet as needed to make adjustments to these positions. Link to AMENDMENT 1 (Founding Membership).

AMENDMENT 2: Current Membership

As needed, SL-IRC makes adjustments to positions. Current Membership is shown on the StarLink-IRC organization web page.

AMENDMENT 3: Advertising

This charter is hereby amended to include:

Advertising/spamming is prohibited. Particularly advertising of other networks

AMENDMENT 4: Deception

May 2003. This charter is hereby amended to include:

Malicious deception is annoying and thus prohibited. Malicious deception is simply lying to accomplish a dishonorable purpose. An example is falsely posing as a network staff member, channel op, or anyone else in order to falsely obtain trust or privilege.

Specifically, malicious deception in order to obtain personal information or undue control in a channel is absolutely prohibited and will result in loss of privileges up to and including being banned from the network. Channel Services may or may not consider reinstating privileges lost pursuant to this Amendment as they see fit.

Starlink-IRC staff and administrators will collectively enforce any sanctions resulting from violations of this rule.

AMENDMENT 5: Mail System

May 2006. This charter is hereby amended to include:

SLIRC Mail System Charter

Proper mail list management is critical to the reputation and character of the net.  It doesn't take much to end up on a bunch of blacklists these days.  Therefore, the starlink-irc.org domain owner will be the final authority on the mail lists that will exist and their management.  Within that authority, the Channel Services administrator will determine the SLIRC-Register membership list.  The SL-IRC Mail Administrator will manage all mail list activities and functions.  The Mail Administrator is selected or removed by the SL-IRC domain owner as necessary.

A. Lists.  There are three network email lists, 
All lists are "open" for posting to by members and non-members.

SLIRCERS@starlink-irc.org

        Moderated for non-members. Unmoderated for members.     
        Membership restricted to SL-IRC Staff

SLIRC-Register@
starlink-irc.org
        Moderated for non-members. Unmoderated for members
        Membership restricted to CService Only

SLIRC-Mail@
starlink-irc.org
        All posts are moderated.
        Self-subscribing, Unrestricted membership (subject to admin control for abuses)

B.  Net Aliases.  Email aliases for the net include:

abuse@            to SLIRCERS
services@        to SLIRCERS
webmaster@    to webmaster
newsletter@    to newsletter editor(s)
webring@        to webring manager


C.  Individual Aliases; 
Additional aliases for individuals (staff) may be available at the discretion and willingness of the services provider being used. 

D.  Administration and Management
The  Mail Adminitrator:
        1) monitors and provide general management  of all lists
        2) selects and approve helpers, moderators or assistants as necessary.
        3) adds and deletes list members, (except SLIRC-Register).
        4) acts as the primary point of contact for changes to email aliases
        5) is the final authority on mail list management, issues, rules, and membership.
        
General Guidelines.
These are basic principles of operation and may be modified as necessary by the Mail Administrator.

One person will monitor all lists as primary with alternates as needed.  For the staff lists, it's cleaning up spam mostly.  The administrator and helpers will work out the best way to share duties so that there is backup without too much redundancy.

Staff Mail:  Mail received at slirc-mail that should be addressed to staff (bans, glines, general administrivia) will probably be thrown away.  The staff knows which lists they should be using.  If you posted to general mail and it didn't show up, you might want to resend it to the right list.

Newsletter Mail: Mail received that is FOR the newsletter should be redirected to the newsletter editor.  Time permitting, send a note back to the user and tell them that in the future, submissions should be sent directly to newsletter@starlink-irc.org.

General Mail;  The mail list is a sensitive critter.  Users will unsubscribe if there is too much traffic on it that isn't interesting to them.  If staff want to exchange chatter on a post, they should use SLIRCERS or even wallops (we have a chat net, after all).  Staff should NOT reply to general mail postings on the general mail list unless it is a critical correction or expansion.

Forum:  We have a forum over on gmail.  There is virtually zero interest in it.  And has been since about 1998.  The complainers want to use a captive audience - which is why slirc-mail is moderated.  We have #Townhall meetings for that.

Moderation: The general list is for the newsletter and critical net or news information (major security issues, channel purges, things of direct and compelling interest.)  Remember, our subscribers will unsubscribe if there are 3 or 4 posts to the list a MONTH.   Occasionally the administrator may let a funny go through if it's short and to the point however, that's totally up to them, so don't be surprised if your post doesn't make it.  Also don't be surprised if the administrator pulls the plug on a thread.

For all users:  Mail list moderation decisions are treated like channel bans.  You can complain about them all you want to the administrator. Even ask to be reconsidered.  Do NOT beat up on the administrator because your favorite post didn't make it - it is a very difficult job and is bound to tick just about everybody off at one point or another.  Be thankful YOU don't have to deal with it and let them. 


AMENDMENT 6: Bots

This charter is hereby amended to include:

Bots are automated programs owned by users of the network that run unattended at any time while connected to StarLink-IRC. Temporary bots are those related to a client connection and which go away when the user is offline.  All other bots are considered permanent, must be 'homed' in a registered channel, and may only connect to specific server(s) as permitted by the server admin. Bots must not interfere with CStar, the network, or channel operations and must have the channel owner's permission to be present. Bots shall only reside in channels and may only be in five (5) channels at any given time. StarLink-IRC reserves the right to unilaterally remove any bot for any reason without recourse. Channel operators and owners may rescind permission for bots to be present at any time, with or without notice to the bot owner.

(CStar, Deathstar, and the scanners are not bots. They are servers.).


Copyright 2007 StarLink-IRC.org All Rights Reserved.