Re: IRC and the Feeling of Power

[strat@cbs.ksu.ksu.edu (Steve Davis)]

From the keyboard of Mike Ingle:

> It seems to me that the kick/ban process on IRC is a good example of how
> not to moderate a forum. 

As a more frequent user of IRC, I agree with you.  However, the problem is
generally technical.  This system was established because IRC channels have
no "home" server or organization which can claim "ownership" and
"responsibility" for the behavior and content of the channel.

> I don't use IRC that much, but from
> what I've seen, that system doesn't work very well. An extropians-style
> kill command would probably be better for IRC or the list. If someone is
> causing trouble, you could just set to ignore them.

I would prefer a system of "talkers" and "listeners".  The channel
administration, whatever this may be, decides who can talk and who must
listen.  There is a tentative first step toward this goal in the current
wave of server revisions.  

-- 
                                               Steve Davis (strat@cis.ksu.edu)
                                                       Kansas State University