How we rule
First rule of #hopeless is: it's not the rules that are sacred, but the principles.
2. Channel participation is compulsory: Newbies are kindly asked to present themselves: where they come from, how they spent their daily time or what they ate in the morning. Anything. (TALK or DIE! - by Debbs).
Please understand we’d rather have an active, nearly empty channel, than a channel full of people that never say anything other than an occasional “hi.”
We understand that people cannot be active all the time; even the owners aren’t active all the time. But if you want to have the privilege to sit silently in this channel for periods of time, you must earn it and continue to earn it. Arguing the issue, especially disrespectfully, will result in immediate kick.
3. This is an English based channel, so please use English only. Of course, nobody will get kicked if they speak in another language, but abuses are forbidden. While occasional phrases shared in other languages are acceptable, anyone coming into the channel attempting to carry on a conversation or discussion in any language other than English will be removed.
4. Maturity is a requirement. There is no set age minimum in #hopeless, primarily because there is no way to enforce it; people lie. However, there is a mandatory minimum of maturity. If you come in acting like a thirteen (13) year old, it doesn’t matter whether you claim to be twenty-seven (27), you will be removed. If you can’t maintain the maturity standard, you should be elsewhere, and we’re more than happy to speed you along your way.
5. Don't be a perv or a troll. There are channels for that and this is not one of them.
6. Try to have fun as much as possible and not to be a grump. While everyone within #hopeless is free to be as forthright and honest as they wish to be, everything discussed in channel is presumed to be humorous or theoretical unless expressly stated as otherwise; even then, take everything with a grain of salt. It’s the Internet, people, tall tales are more common here than on fishing trips.
7. No sexist behaviour or gay bashing. Just because someone else's kink is not your kink doesn't mean you are invited to be rude about it. Respect people’s relationships and their collars. If someone offends you, speak to a #hopeless OP.
8. Please keep other channel business/ drama out of #hopeless. Do not paste PMs in the room without permission from an OP. If someone is causing an issue in PM, report it to an OP. Under no circumstances should you make personal issues channel issues. If the issue doesn’t have anything to do with the channel, then keep it out of the channel.
9. Don't use more than one nick at a time, so no cloning, please.
11. Be respectful to everyone here, regardless of their age, race, sex, religion etc. (operators won't be treated differently just because they have the power to voice/ kick/ ban). If an OP directs you to do something that conflicts with the rules of this channel, please notify a superior. While we don’t ever expect this to be an issue, we do believe in fair rules.
12. If an OP tells you to stop something, stop it. If an OP tells you to do something reasonable, please just do it. We can and will remove those who cause issues in the room.
12. No excessive bad language in general or directed towards others. Any problem you might have with anyone, discuss it privately.
13. It is preferred that you request to PM someone in the room before PMing them. This is common decency and manners, really. If you have a standing relationship with the target of the PM, that is completely a separate issue. Also, you may PM an OP without seeking permission as long as it is channel management related.
14. No means no, unless pre-negotiated: We are are open minded, but we all have our own sets of conditions under which we are willing to interact with others, and to what extent. If you request permission to PM someone and the request is declined, accept it (if not with dignity then with respect). If someone asks you to depart their PM, do so. If a participant doesn’t respond favorably to your advances, stop. Please recognize that if a participant comes to an OP and claims attempted coercion, and produces the log to show it, removal of the aggressor will be swift, without apology, and quite possibly permanent.
15. Last but not least, don't be a moron.
