User:Ilbelkyr/op guidelines

''This is somewhat inspired by User:Ilbelkyr/op thoughts, although that document is a lot more subjective and more of a stream of consciousness. This document, on the other hand, serves to record ideas taken from ##werewolf-meta on how ##werewolf ops should act/behave. It may or may not transform into an official set of guidelines; for now, it's just a record of ideas.''


 * Remain calm and polite.
 * Ops should act objectively, based on the issue in question. Hostility begets further hostility, arguments ad hominem, and personal attacks, preventing rational discourse.


 * In doubt, prefer delays over mistakes.
 * The majority of problems suffer more from a hasty, bad response than from a delayed, yet appropriate solution. Talking it out with the involved users and/or other ops may take longer, but will typically lead to a better outcome overall. (This guideline shamelessly stolen from freenode staff.)


 * Talk and discuss before you punish and ban.
 * Often, matters can be resolved without the need for op action. Ops should use their interpersonal skills as their primary means of moderation. If resorting to more forceful means is necessary, it should supplement verbal moderation, rather than supplant it.


 * Listen to and participate in the community normally.
 * Ops serve to enforce rules and guide troublemakers back on track. Within the community, however, they are not special just by their op status. The privileges they wield do not place ops above the community. Ops must treat their non-op peers with the same sort of respect they expect to receive themselves.