Thought for the day

Watchdog · none Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Posts: 9

I've read a few of the threads in this forum and have noticed that there are many people who seem to have an underlying disapproval of small IRC networks, particularly those that were created as a result of a split from a larger network. In a recent post in a thread in this forum there is even a reference to small IRC networks having users but disallowing wares channels.

I really don't understand what the problem is and the issue that such networks start because the founders are power-hungry and want to brag about being the new bosses doesn't wash. Two years and six months ago, I, along with a handful of mates started our own IRC network after leaving another owned by an Australian telephone company worth about $100bn. Not only were we pleased with the result, for reasons that I will explain shortly, but we have never looked back and are proud of our little corner of the Internet.

Initially, our aim was to have around 20 people we knew well on a two-server network running Services. People would be able to log in and chat or idle without an invitation, of course. We chose not to advertise anywhere and we still don't today as becoming huge is not a priority. Additionally, we chose right from the beginning to ban the trading of files or opening rooms for that purpose. We've never received a complaint about this policy so we have no regrets about it, despite knowing that there is a potential to increase user numbers by allowing it.

We have catered for a number of celebrity chats on behalf of Austereo, one of Australia's largest radio networks, and we value the successful nature of these over and above getting as many users as possible simply to become big. Admittedly, we do have an inside contact however a company worth hundreds of millions doesn't allow that alone to affect their judgement as they have commercial interests to protect.

For a small network that survived its first three months without a name, without a website and without a domain (we used some spare domains to point people to the servers at the time) I think we have achieved a lot from a budget of $0.00 but plenty of gumption and a desire to make things happen regardless of the doomsayers.

More than two years after opening we still have a small but loyal userbase and we get occasional new users via our Java and CGI webchat pages. Some more users would be lovely but we are not seeking to become a major network. We like our position in the world and to that end we will always be at odds with the consensus that all people who own small IRC networks just do it for the grandeur.

I will finish by saying that one other reason we stay small at the moment is because we currently have a policy of not linking to other networks. There are specific reasons for this, first being that such a move requires us to place a great deal of trust in people we don't know. All of the current server owners on our network have been known to each other for more than four years. I don't see a reason to risk the very close family-like operation of our network for the sake of getting quick access to a few more users.

I'd be interested in hearing from people who own or run a small IRC network and what motivated them to do it, and more importantly, if they are glad they did it or regret the move.

mouselike · Idler Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 251

First of all, let me saying what a great post and a fine example of how people should come accross when discussing or annoucing thier network.

However you kind of shot your self in the foot a little there by saying You dont understand the prob/issue with new networks starting" and regardless to say not all opers are power hungry when you created a network of your own for reasons you didnt quite clearly specifiy.

I moved away from quakenet a few years back to become a dalnet wannabe (not good) but when the attacks happened i moved back to quakenet, however with the new implentation of its 'L' lightweight bot and the removal of Q from small channels it made channel management for the more advanced user more difficult unless a eggdrop was introduced as 'L' had a lot of limitations to bans, chanlev's which Q was more relaxed on.. so I left.

I bought a vds and linked into a network which at the time was purely chat, even though filth chat was allowed to some extent it was small and still is small compared to the larger networks.

I worked my way up to services-admin, then sra and now a network admin, one of 3 infact and now considered one of the owners of the network, though id be happy as a server admin it was frowned upon that I wouldnt accept the responsibilty of network administrator and sra, and i felt a little honoured i was chosen over people that had been with the network a whole lot longer, power of position isnt important but its nice to know i've been trusted with it.

Our network took a turn for the worst, it linked in it's sisters network which was all warez/filesharing which I absolutely hate, allthough I chose not to accept it, its what others wanted and saved double administration of two networks by them, i just keep to chat and leave the warez side of the network on its own and get on with it.

We are now a network which runs approx 1400 users at peak and growing by the day, the achivement of running a network where users can chose what they want or both and the comfort of a friendly atmosphere for those who just want to chat and do come back makes the effort all worth while.

I recently got approached by a member on here recently and got taken on as a oper on his network to help maintain their ircd. I didnt appraoch him or make an annoucment to want to be an oper anywhere but took it upon himself to judge my knowledge, take a a look at what i achived on my network and get to know me etc.

I am now glad i walked away from the larger networks, not for the reason of being an oper on my own/others ircd's but for the fact i was given so much trust and gave back to the irc community what these larger networks dont anymore... the time to listen, offer a better environment (yes including chatting and making newcomers welcome) without simply just glining people when seen fit too and actually be helpful.

Watchdog · none Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Posts: 9

The reason I didn't explain why we made the move was because I didn't want to come across as having a whinge about the way the old network turned out, though I will clarify by saying that I didn't like what became of the old network I used. With that in mind the best way of solving the problem from the viewpoint myself and a few other people saw things from was to start our own network rather than make fruitless attempts to straighten out problems in the old place.

I do acknowledge that there'd be many people who start IRC networks and concentrate on building up the numbers of opers and numbers of servers before considering the number of users and the specific purpose they want their network to serve. However I also believe that many new networks are founded with good intentions and a set of goals to achieve.

I know of some other people who have started networks after breaking away from the network I used to use. One network still exists in its own right, is fairly well run and has a small but steady user count, fairly similar to ours. The other network was taken over by ours, in a friendly way of course - the sole remaining admin there no longer had the time to do the job.

I doubt we'll ever get 1,400 users - we just aren't that well known and this is largely by our own actions or lack thereof. At the same time, I don't remember the last time I banned someone. On my old network I was banning at least one person about every third night, more to enforce a rather strict rule regime rather than because they were being really bad people.

One thing we have done from the beginning is decentralise responsibilities as much as possible. One +N looks after proxy protection and runs a name server, another +N looks after Services, runs a second name server and administers the website, etc etc. This has proven successful so far.

mouselike · Idler Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 251