• October 1995 - October 1996 [LiVe] aka [LiVeX]
• October 1996 - December 1998 - Drago
• December 1998 - March 2005 - Ladyfizz
• March 2005 - Present - HorseC

• Original - 1996
• July 1998 - Minor revisions. - LadyFizz
• February 2005 BOT Information added. - blaster^
• May 2006 - Minor revision founder info. - HorseC
• May 2006 - BOT info moved to separate document. - HorseC
• December 2006 - Combined user/helper/oper guidelines - HorseC
  So all know rules for everyone.
• May 2007 - All over revision and separating special operators' guidelines from being shown in public. - Sparkle

• #mIRC is a help channel please find another channel if you just came to chat.
• Please only use English in #mIRC so we have a common language for communication.
• Please limit your questions to the areas of #mIRC, IRC (general questions), and DALnet.
• Please do not use color in the channel.
• Do not use all CAPS in #mIRC.
• No foul language. This is rude.
• Do not private message any Operator, or user, in this channel without prior permission.

• No helping in private (MSG's, DCC's).
  There are 2 reasons for this. One is we need to know that the information you are giving users is correct and second, we have a lot of users who like to lurk and learn so all help is given on the channel.

• Don't continually ask if anyone needs help.
  This is very annoying on a busy help channel. If someone needs help they'll say so or ask the question.

• If you see an op or other helper helping someone, back off and help another user.
  The last thing we need on the channel is people fighting over helping someone. That only leads to more confusion for the new users.

• Leave the warnings to the channel ops and please keep your colors to a minimum.
  You have no way to enforce our channel rules so the warnings about chatting or colors need to be left up to the ops on the channel.

• Make sure you read the question thoroughly and give the CORRECT answer.
  Think about your answer before you give it out and carefully read the question before you throw out a popup/alias on the channel.

• Please do not use colored nick completes in the channel.
  We don't need it to be a contest of who has the coolest nick completer.

• Point the user to the proper places to have services questions answered. Answer one question and they continue on most of the time.
  A good example is: How do I register my nick? Tell the user the command or /nickserv help register. We try to help the users help themselves. If they continue asking point them in the direction of #DALnetHelp channel for further help with their services questions.

• Please do not use popups that send help information directly to users.
  We want to make sure that the information you are giving them is accurate so we ask that you help them completely in the channel.
  Exception: popups that send help and also MSG channel that help was sent.

• Do not ask for ops on the channel.
  This will usually get you kicked from the channel. If you help for a time and the ops feel that you are qualified and will fit in with others, then you will be voted on and asked to join the #mIRC help team. Please keep in mind though that just because you help in the channel doesn't guarantee that you will become an op.

• We like to keep the chatting to a minimum, especially when the channel is busy.
  We are here to help people, there are other channels for socializing.

• Ops will often times /notice or /MSG you about something you have said or done.
  They might have a better way for you to approach a problem or will be correcting an answer you have given. Do not take this personally. We need to make sure the users get the highest quality help we can offer.

• If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask one of the ops on the channel.
  
• If you can message them to ask whatever you need.
  
• We appreciate your interest in helping us make #mIRC the best and friendliest help channel on DALnet! Have fun and happy helping!
  
• IMPORTANT NOTE:
  We do not +v helpers on the channel.

We usually have an influx of helpers on the channel. Some are legitimate helpers while others tend to be @ collectors or IRCop wannabes. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between those and the honest helper, however, they all need to be treated the same and given a consistent set of rules to follow if they wish to remain as helpers in the channel. Please have patience with these helpers and guide them along with simple suggestions in /notice. If you have a helper who seems to be resistant to follow the rules we have set, then please contact me and I will deal with the helper.

A sample popup/short text file that can be sent to anyone expressing an interest in helping on the channel might go something like this:
We appreciate your help in #mIRC, but we ask a few things of you:

1. No helping in private (Msg's, DCC's, or /notice)
2. Don't continually ask if anyone needs help.
3. If you see an op or other helper helping a user, backoff and help another user that comes in.
4. Leave all warnings to the channel ops and please keep colors to a minimum and popups/aliases to 2-3 lines maximum.
5. Make sure you read the question thoroughly and give the CORRECT answer.

Feel free to point new helpers to our site for our Helper Guidlines. (http://www.mirc.org/doc/guidelines/)

We also have a wealth of information on our website, mirc.org, which many have so diligently worked on for many hours. If you have any suggestions for the site, please let HorseC or Sparkle know. Users will also benefit from all the information we have there. If you haven't visited the site for a while, have a look and familiarize yourself with what's there so you can point users to very good resources for solving their problems.

If the ops are chatting with each other, helpers or even users, This is ok.
As long as the ops are part of the conversation and in control of the channel.
Remember at all times, this is a "G" rated channel and we must follow the same rules as our users with this requard.
NOTE WELL: When a user question (mIRC or IRC related) arises chatting must slow or stops to help the user.
Chatting user to user should not be allowed in most cases.

#mIRC is not to be a place of business, however, there does need to be a air of professionalism. The operators make up the atmosphere in the channel, and are the true "regulars" of the channel. Helping out in the channel should be fun, not stressful. If for some reason you find the channel stressful take a short break. If you are going to take an extended break from the channel to re-evaluate things, make sure you contact an sop/founder to let us know. I trust that all of the operators are @ops to have a good time with helping, and a good time with one another. #mIRC will not work without the friendly atmosphere that all of the operators offer :)

Thanks for being an operator for the best help channel around.

1. Hi. The first thing you should do is read this, good job, and thanks for doing so.
2. Email HorseC with your email address so you can be added to the mirc-ops mailing list. Be sure to have "#mIRC" in the subject line of the email.
3. Have a SOp set flags for you in the GuardianX and TheLorax (see above).
4. Email HorseC with any questions.
5. Help users.
6. Each kick message must include the Why Kick? url. (http://www.mirc.org/doc/whykick)
7. Have fun.