The CService Charter 15 January 1997 Edited by: Itsy This is the Official Channel Service (CServiceSM) Charter. If you have any questions or comments please drop by #Channels. Verification: CService representatives can be 'verified' by typing VERIFY CService Helpers can be checked by verifying their access on #Channels is Level 400 or above. * * * CService * * * Principles Channel Service exists to provide timely aid and assistance to all legitimate users of the network or its services. CService representatives will take only the minimum actions deemed necessary and sufficient to correct the situation in those cases where possible violations of network policies are evident. CService shall never: Interfere with legitimate channel activities or operation, or Harass or abuse legitimate users of the net. The actions of any CService member are subject to review and possible sanction by the body of CService at any time and for any legitimate reason. CService will: Answer general questions about the proper use of the channel service bot. Advise users in the proper use of network features (e.g., op lists, modes) to maintain channel stabilty Advise and assist users with respect to network principles, netiquette, and standards. CODE OF CONDUCT By the nature of the job, Channel Service is the most visible of all network activites to visitors and channel users. CService representatives shall maintain exemplary levels of conduct and professionalism at all times and, most importantly, remain patient and courteous!! From time to time, things will get hectic and sometimes we actually can't be everywhere all at once! CService representatives are always expected to make the best possible effort to meet user needs in a timely manner, no more and no less. As Cservice, we are representatives of the network, and should behave with professional conduct on all matters. The INTENT of channel services is obvious: We help StarLink-IRC maintain its overall integrity and general 'family' atmosphere. Families have favorite relatives, visitors, and the occasional black sheep, and the StarLink-IRC network is no different. Acceptable behavior is always in the eye of the beholder and our toughest job, by far, is to figure out what needs to be done to support the Net as a whole. CService will try NOT to upset or annoy legitimate users of the net. However, IRC being what it is, somebody somewhere is going to be annoyed with what we do. Is the annoyance justifiable? Were we out of line? Sorry to say but the only way to tell is when we look BACK on what we did and see what the actual result was. We're going to win some and lose some, and that's just the way it is. In emergency or special situations, we do what has to be done and take full responsibility for our actions. Deliberate malicious abuse of ANYONE may be grounds for immediate removal of a Channel Service member from Channel Service. The delayed golden rule is in effect .. "Do unto others as they would do unto you .. except they get the first shot" Sadly, some individuals only understand direct action on their own terms and from time to time, we are going to have to do things that someone is going to feel is 'abusive' of their rights or whatever. There are no solid rules for determining if actions were simply too direct, abusive, or simply responding in kind to an assault. Abuse of Channel Service Authority will not be tolerated. Period. Certain channel bot access levels allow control equal to or above that of a Channel Manager. This is somewhat dangerous in that sometimes the temptation to assume control of a channel (or put someone in control of it) will be very high. On RARE occasions this may be the thing to do, USUALLY it isn't, however.. so be very careful. #Channels: The Home of CService. All representatives are expected to spend some time on the channel to answer questions, comments, and complaints. A main principle on #Channels is that anyone there with op status is an authorized CService representative and is actively participating in the channel. Representatives who are on #Channels but, for whatever reason, are not actively watching or present are expected to de-op. If present and opped, it is expected that they will respond to user messages on or off channel in a relatively short time. Complaints While abusive behavior is not tolerated on the network, the standards for CService representatives are, of necessity, a little more restrictive. ANY user complaint of abuse of authority or inappropriate behavior will be addressed immediately and decisively. A conference of available CService members will be convened, if necessary, to determine the merits of the complaint and circumstances. Individuals found to have acted inappropriately may be removed from membership in Channel Services. The bottom line is that while Channel Services sets its own standards, the network's user community will be the final judge of CService quality and performance! Channel Service Structure The Channel Services group is comprised of: Coordinator and Registrar Administrators and Representatives Assistants Helpers Channel Services Coordinator and Registrar Levels: 1000-Coordinator Level: 800-Registrar Banner: Channel Services - StarLink-IRC Coordinator - Overall coordination of channel service activities Registrar - Review and Approval Channel Service Policy and Procedures Channel Service Administrators and Representatives Levels: 700-Administrator Level 550-Representatives Banner: StarLink-IRC CService Channel Initialization and CService Coordination (Administrator) Channel Setup Channel Manager Assistance Channel Service Assistants Level: 400 (On #Channels Only) Banner: StarLink-IRC CService Direct assistance and online support of channel service activities User help and assistance. Helping Channel Service Everyone is encouraged to help users in any way possible. CService is simply a small (but identifiable) group who have volunteered to give exceptional time and effort to assisting users. Anyone wishing to do so is invited to hop into #Channels and help assist users and answer questions... a 'membership' in Channel Services is not required! . However, individuals desiring to be a member of the Channel Service group must first of all demonstrate: A thorough undestanding of network principles and guidelines. Patience Willingness to devote significant time and effort in direct support of network users Patience The ability to effecively communicate with users of all experience levels Patience Good judgment Patience Integrity and, did I mention Patience? ----------------------------------------- ADDENDUM I EFFECTIVE 15 OCTOBER 2005 OVERRIDE REFERENDUM Any CService poll resulting in a single minority vote (yay or nay) dissenting from the majority may be subject to override by referendum. The referendum will be a poll of only those members who originally voted opposite the dissenting vote. A referendum can be called by any voting CService member if seconded by another. The referendum poll must be unanimous to nullify the dissenting vote. If a unanimous vote to nullify is not achieved, the referendum is over and the dissenting vote and original pool stand as before. If a unanimous vote is achieved, the referendum is over and the dissenting vote is nullified. The orignal poll results are re-tabulated with the nullified vote removed. A referendum vote of nullification may only be taken where there is only one dissenting vote in a poll requiring unanimous results and shall not apply in any case where there are two or more dissenting votes.