Frequently asked questions
Why does NickServ kill me or changes my nick to guest?
Why does OperServ kill me saying "Session limit exceeded"?
Why've I been killed, k-lined, or a-killed?
People keep trying to attack me, what can I do?
Can I bring my bot along?
Can I be a network operator?
How do I add my server to the FreeThinker network?
I've a problem with a certain channel's operators. Would the network operators intervene?
I've a problem with a network operator. What do I do?
What is FreeThinker's history?
What other IRC networks are there?
How can i be sure that i have total privacy in the network and no one is reading my conversations.
My question isn't answered here. What now?
###
Question
Why does NickServ kill me or changes me nick to guest
Answer
This means that the nick you are using belongs to someone else, and
he/she has registered it with NickServ. You'll have to choose a
different nick, and re-connect.
Question
Why does OperServ kill me saying
"Session limit exceeded"?
Answer
We allow only three connections from a given hostmask (i.e. username +
hostname) 1 regular + 2 ssl. This is to prevent extreme cloning, and in most cases, shouldn't be
a problem. We realise that occasionally there may be valid reasons why
you would exceed the session limit (for example, a number of people
connecting from a single dial-up connection). In these cases, we are
prepared to make temporary exceptions - ask one of the services admins
in #help.
Question
Why'd I get killed, k-lined, or a-killed?
Answer
Probably because you've done something silly.
The basic guidelines for kills, K-lines and A-kills are:
kills may be used at the operator's discretion, and no correspondence
will be entered into (a reconnect really takes no effort). If you are
killed, there is usually good reason (you usually know why ;-), and
doing the same thing again is likely to result in your being A-killed.
K-lines are specific to a single server on the network and are put in
place by the server administrator. They are usually only used to
"route" people to connect to a more appropriate server. Take heed of
the message on disconnection, it usually explains why the K-line
exists.
A-kills are network wide, meaning that you can not connect to any
server on the FreeThinker network. They are generally only used in cases of
the abuse of network resources (such as attacks on machines); abuse of
users (with at least one substantiated complaint - sexual abuse,
flooding of insults and threats certainly count); abuse of the network
(such as the use of unauthorised bots/clones/warscripts or flooding).
If you are A-killed and you don't know why, please contact the operator
concerned, or mail irc @ freethinker . ws
Question
People keep trying to atack me, what can I do?
Answer
If someone is using FreeThinker as a platform to attack you from,
come and talk to the opers/admins as soon as it happens.
We can only
take action if we can find the user - which usually means if they are
still online at the time.
Question
Can I bring my bot along?
Answer
FreeThinker already provides botserv services but if that is not enough; you can bring your own bot.
We'd appreciate it if, as a courtesy, you'd notify the administrator of
the server that your bot will connect to.
You can do this by dropping
him/her a memo.
Bots which serve copywrited files are not allowed.
Bots which behave badly (flooding, cloning, denial of service, etc) are not allowed, and will result in very long akills.
We'd prefer that your bot's nick include "bot", or at least that it
sets user mode +B. If your script acts like bot, it will be treated as
one.
Question
Can I be a network operator?
Answer
Becoming an IRC Operator requires not only a strong working knowledge
of IRC and this IRC network, but also a working relationship with
server admins and other opers. Opers are selected when there is a need,
and never given based on who is asking for it.
The thing to remember is that there are always going to be more people
that want to be an operator than there are openings, so the short
answer to your question is more than likely "no".
If we feel that we need another network operator the founder or someone assigned by him will choose someone.
Question
How do I add my server to the FreeThinker network?
Answer
The short answer is that you don't.
At the moment, FreeThinker has a sufficient number of servers.Should the need arise, this position may be
reconsidered and requests will be made, usualy by the founder or someone assigned by him.
However we are open to offers from Asia, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Eastern Europe.
Question
I've a problem with a certain channel's operators. Would the network operators intervene?
Answer
The primary function of network opers is to maintain the servers and
the network, not to deal with channels. The main reason the general
policy is for opers not to get involved is because it is frequently
difficult to determine who really should be controlling a channel.
There are a lot of deceitful users out there that will ask you to help
them get their channel back when it is not their channel in the first
place. Even if you do know who the regular ops are, oper involvement is
questioned and challenged, so many opers will ignore channel issues.
Operators will only intervene in cases of harassment or network abuse.
If you have a conflict with a channel's operators, there are plenty of other channels you can join, or start your own.
FreeThinker uses ChanServ to provide a way for channel owners to maintain control of their channels.
Question
I've a problem with a network operator. What do I do?
Answer
Get hold of the server administrator for the server that you connect to
and let them know what your problem is. If that isn't possible (for
example, your admin is the person you have a problem with), then get
hold of any other server admin and ask them to help you. If all else
fails, you can contact irc @ freethinker . ws
Complaints against opers are something we take quite seriously, so
please think quite carefully about whether the oper's actions were
justified by something you did. Also be sure that you have logs or some
other form of evidence to back up your complaint.
Question
I used to own #somechannel on FreeThinker, can I have it back?
Answer
All channels registered here are done on a
first-come, first-served basis. The network operators will not
intervene or return channels to people purporting to be the "rightful
owner".
If you want to own a channel here, make sure you're the first to register it.
Question
What is FreeThinker's history?
Answer
You can read about it by checking Ideology in the menu.
Question
What other IRC networks are there?
Answer
There are a few hundreds of other irc networks out there.
You can check http://searchirc.com or http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/networks to start
Question
How can i be sure that i have total privacy in the network and no one is reading my conversations.
Answer
The answers to that are explained in User Privacy and Ideology in the menu
Question
My question isn't answered here. What now?
Answer
The quickest way to get help is to join #help. Several operators hang
around there just waiting to help people. Isn't that nice of us? :)
If you do join #help to ask a question, please don't bother with
"hello", etc. Just go ahead and ask your question, and if anyone is
awake we'll answer it - it may take a while for us to notice you're
there, so stick around a while.
Failing that you can send one of the opers a memo, or drop us an e-mail at irc @ freethinker . ws