What is the best way to run or moderate a channel?

To attract and keep these users you must learn how to properly maintain the balance of power so that you're not looked at as an evil dictator but rather as a friend or partner to your users. Maintaining this proper balance of control without upsetting users can be one of the most troubling aspects of running a channel.

Every time a user is kicked or banned at least one user is upset. In many cases its just the person banned, but in many other cases you'll upset other users, raise the stress level and create a feeling of uneasiness.

If you have ever been in a public place such as restaurant or bar and seen or been with some who was asked to leave you know what I mean. The room quietens as it is very awkward and upsetting. In some respects kicking and banning is actually worse as it is in effect of seeing someone getting hauled out of a restaurant by the police.

We suggest that channel ops only kick and ban users as a last resort. Always try to find a diplomatic resolution before reaching for the big stick.

Related topics:

• What are the Best Practices for new channels/chats?
  
• How To Pick Channel Moderators (Ops)
  
• How do I make someone a Channel Moderator (Channel Op)?
  
• How can I make my channel grow?
  
• How do I add a bot to my channel?
  

For more information on ChanServ commands and options, you can refer to our ChanServ Commands Guide and FAQ.