While use of classic IRC has faded in recent decades, this message is for all those (and wannabe) IRC users who may be running clients on our systems.

IRC’s rather chaotic (and sometimes anarchic) culture often lends itself to expressions of anti-social behavior by its users. However, we require all our users to be responsible net citizens, especially while using our departmental computing and network resources.

The following is a list of “do not do’s” on most channels and over IRC as a whole:

• Do not flood the channel with text. This can be extremely frustrating for people over slow connections, and is likely to get you instantly kicked.

• Do not use beeps in your messages.

• Do not use profanity in your public messages.

• Do not harass other users with unwanted messages/comments etc.

• Do not use our systems if your goal is to troll, goad, and respond to or incite strife on IRC channels.

• Do not indulge in *destructive* behavior which reduces the functionality of IRC. (such as running clonebots/floodbots/nick colliders – this can lead to your system admin being notified).

We will kill all unauthorized bots we see on the system and suspend your account, pending a chat. If you want to run a bot, have your faculty advisor (or faculty member for whom you are doing this project) send us the okay.

And, as always, make sure that your behavior while accessing IRC servers at PSU or on the net while using PSU resources follow PSU and MCECS guidelines.