Being a good op

@ is trust. Use it quietly.

The golden rules

1. Warn first. A friendly reminder fixes most problems.
2. Kick second. A kick is a firm "please stop", not a punishment.
3. Ban last. Use it for people who ignore the kick or who are clearly there to cause trouble.
4. Say why. Put the reason in the kick message.
5. Stay calm. If you are angry, ask another op to handle it.
6. Be consistent. The same rule for everybody, including friends.
7. Keep it public when it should be. Warnings in the room, disputes in private.

Do

• Welcome newcomers and point them at the topic.
• Keep the topic current.
• Thank people who help.
• Hand over @ when you leave for a long time.
• Tell other ops what you did and why.

Do not

• Do not abuse @ against someone because you disagree with them.
• Do not give out @ to people you do not know.
• Do not ban wide masks (a whole provider) unless you must.
• Do not leave yourself opped in every room while you are away.
• Do not argue publicly with someone you kicked.

If you are not sure

Do nothing, and ask another op. Reversing a mistake is always possible: unban, invite, apologize.

See also Community guidelines.