Becoming an IRCop

From Afterxwiki

Forgive us if this article seems aggressive in its tone. It is not being aggressive, it's just trying to get my points across as CLEARLY as possible! (This article was orginally a post to forums.afterx.net by Sterri

Simple question: How do I become an IRCop? 
Simple answer: You don't. 

The standard reason being:

Becoming an IRC Operator requires not only a strong working knowledge of IRC and this IRC network, 
but also a working relationship with hub admins and other opers. Opers are selected when there is 
a need, and never given based on who is asking for it. 

WHY?!?!? You might ask.

This is because if you are a channel op in a channel, you do not give strange people ops when they ask for it. Consider your reasons why you don't. Similar applies to us telling you "no, you cannot become an IRCop".

If we said yes to everyone:

a) We'd have hundreds of IRCops on AfterX.

b) We have no quality control - some may become abusive and kill people without good reason!

c) We don't know what these strangers get up to in their own channels or messages. They may make threats by being an IRCop. They may harvest passwords or worse!

d) Most users (I hope) have an element of trust in AfterX's IRCops - this is only because we are VERY choosey about who become an IRCop!

e) NEVER ask to become an IRCop. That tells us you are power-mad and likely to do horrible things or something for your own personal gain and not for users and the spirit of Xnet.

f) AfterX IRCops work as a team. This means each oper knows the other oper quite well (more than just asking "how are you today" and "asl?" and the like). DON'T TRY TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE AN IRCOP - why? Because it is extremely obvious that you're just interested in being an IRCop and not being friends. This is annoying, not to mention a waste of YOUR and OUR time!

How *DID* you become an IRCop on AfterX?

Most IRCops have been around for many years on AfterX. Personally, I've been on AfterX for NINE years! Many IRCops have shown good maturity (whatever their age), diplomatic skills, great patience, ability to see the bigger picture, have a good relationship/friendship with other IRCops on AfterX and do not use the extra powers an IRCop for their own personal use - *ONLY* for in the interests of AfterX and other users!

For that reason:

"An IRC operator is someone who maintains the IRC network. They cannot fix channel problems. 
They cannot kick someone out of a channel for you. They cannot /kill (kick someone out of IRC 
temporarily) someone just because you gave the offender channel operator privileges and said 
offender kicked *you* off." 

(quote from: IRCHELP.ORG website) 

The chances of anyone becoming an IRCop on AfterX is remote. You probably have more luck in winning the lottery.

IRCops do not get PAID at ALL!

For more details of what an IRCop actually do: http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircd/ircopguide.html or check out the IRCop link.

AfterX has similar guidelines, and *more* in addition to that webpage.

You can NOT become an IRCop by asking for it, doing something, or being friendly. Don't even think about being an IRCop at all on Xnet.

The thing to remember is that there are always going to be more people that want to be an operator than there are openings. If you really want to help the network, the best way to do it is by answering new user questions on channels like #xnet and #xnet-help, participate on the forums here, and generally being helpful all the time.

I hope this clarify this "how do I become an IRCop" issue up.

Sterri, irc.afterx.net