Helpers Grammar Guide - DALnet #IRCHelp
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Written by MrD [md@gxt.net] (May 2002)




	Welcome to the #IRCHelp grammar guide. If you have been
referred to this by your guide (the #IRCHelp op who is helping
you into becomming a better helper) then it is a very wise idea
to read this fully and understand it clearly.

	In order to be a good helper, you need to be able to 
communicate with the users in an almost perfect way. Therefore, 
you need to type in the best English [as its an English 
speaking channel] possible so your efficiency as a helper is 
nearly 100 percent.

	Even the way answers are worded may make all the 
difference to whether a user understands you or not - and the
most important part of the job is to make sure your help is
taken in and absorbed by the users.

	Example:
	<User> How do I register my nick?
	<Helper1> u type /ns register passwd email
	<Helper2> User, Type the following: /nickserv register
		  <password> <email>

	Which helper (1 or 2) do you think provided the most
understandable help? The answer is obviously helper2, because
he didn't shorten his wording by using 'u' instead of 'you' and
he also showed the full /nickserv [rather than /ns] command
because some clients don't accept /ns.

	Why is 'u' not as good as 'you'? The answer is simple.
Many IRC newbies are not used to this 'slang' form if they
haven't been chatting on the internet before, and it may come
more complicated to them [rather than simpler] if they see the
answer in slang rather than full English. Therefore we
encourage our best helpers to help in 'full' English.

	Sometimes, it is hard to use perfect English wording,
especially if you are a helper where English is not your
native language. This is why we are patient with these
circumstances in mind. Below are a few number of examples of 
'perfect' worded answers which we advise you to read and 
'remember' - although you are not required to memorise them, 
only pick up tips on the wording of the answers:

User-Question: How do I register my nickname?
Answer:	Type /nickserv register <password> <email> then check
	your email address after for an email from DALnet,
	which will tell you how to complete nick registration.

User-Question: How do I register my channel?
Answer: First make sure you have a registered nick, then go in
	an unregistered channel (with @ next to your nick) and
	type /chanserv register #channel <password>
	<description>

User Question: How do I add AOP or SOP?
Answer: Type /chanserv aop #channel add <nickname> to add an
	AOp or /chanserv sop #channel add <nickname> to add an
	SOp.

User Question: What's the difference between AOP and SOP?
Answer: SOp (super-operators) can add and remove AOp (auto-
	operators) and also add akicks to the channel (where
	users can be permanently banned from the channel.)

User Question: Are services down?
Answer: Yes, Services are [down/lagged] but they will be back
	to normal soon hopefully. We do not know when however
	and you will have to wait a while for everything to 
	sort itself out.


Those above are very common questions, most of which are asked 
every day in #IRCHelp and knowing good answers to each of them 
will benefit you a lot. However, that will not make you a 
perfect helper, as there are many other questions which may be 
asked, and its best to learn the entire of 

/chanserv HELP
/nickserv HELP
/memoserv HELP

so you cannot be caught out. Remember though, if you ever have
any questions about IRC, you can always contact your guide and
he or she will help you with it. Thats what they're there for.




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		Copyright 1996-2002 DALnet #IRCHelp
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