SYSOP is an abbreviation of SYStem OPerator. SYSOP's are responsible for various functions throughout the site. In the chat rooms they help monitor the moderated rooms making them safe for civil chat. On the site they are responsible for authorising your uploaded content such as profile photos, albums and blogs and making sure they conform to the Community Guidelines.

So you would like to be a Sysop? That's great! It's wonderful to have people want to help! Unfortunately not just anyone will be accepted. People required need to be responsible, friendly, mature, level headed, and non-confrontational. If this sounds exactly like you then you're halfway there already!

Pointers to becoming a SYSOP:

1. Don't ask! Bugging the owner of Yaba, or other Sysop's will earn you negative points. Generally those who ask are not the sort of people chosen.
2. Prove your ability to handle the position correctly in your daily use of the site. Generally this means following the Community Guidelines and the Chat Rules.
3. Be patient. If you're new to Yaba don't expect to be asked to be a SYSOP right away. We want to get to know you first.
4. Get to know the existing SYSOP's. After all, as a SYSOP you are expected to get along with all the existing SYSOP's.
5. Spend time in the chat. SYSOP's are expected to frequent the chat rooms more than occasionally.
6. Last of all, help make Yaba a fun place to be and enjoy your time here. Being involved, uploading cool content, writing in your blog, chatting and inviting new members are key to being a useful member of the team.

I'm ready, what do I do next? Just wait! When SYSOP's are needed they will be looked for. If you look to be a good candidate then you will be asked if you want the position. In short, the people who do their best to make Yaba an enjoyable place without the SYSOP position will be the first ones chosen to be a SYSOP.

Your job is to moderate the rooms by enforcing the rules and helping new chatters. You are also asked to help promote Yaba as best you can and to help maintain the site, making sure it runs correctly.

1. Responsible Behaviour

You are expected to behave at all times in a mature and responsible manner. You must not only follow all the rules, but maintain the spirit of them. Your appearance in or out of the rooms can reflect poorly on Yaba if you are not of good character. Behaviour such as offensive language and cybering are frowned upon even if used in whispers.



2. Team Player

You are expected to be a team player. To be a team player you must get along with the existing SYSOP's and respect each other regardless of disagreements. Problems with other SYSOP's should only be brought to the administrator and should not be spoken of to anyone else. Also as a team member you need to respect that people will carry out their roles in slightly different ways to you. This does not mean they are wrong, but simply have a different approach than you. As part of the team you are also expected to work as a team and convey information to other team members about problems, or problem chatters with the team.



3. Attendance

You are expected to be logged into Yaba on a regular basis. This means at least every second day for an hour. If you are not able to be on this often, for any reason you should let the administrator know.



4. Security

You are expected to guard against misuse of your account by protecting your password at all times. Allowing others to use your account is a breach of the Terms of Service and you may be found liable for such actions under said Terms of Service agreement. Please insure that you always log out of Yaba correctly and avoid using your account on other people's computers.



5. New Users

You are expected to help new users understand the rules of the site and the use of its commands.



6. Impartiality

Your job as a SYSOP requires that you act impartially towards all chatters even if they are friends. Your friends know the rules too and will respect you for being impartial in their enforcement. If they can't respect that then they are not worth having as friends.



7. Confidentiality

You are required to keep information between regular chatters and SYSOP's confidential. You are also required to keep information between yourself and site administrator confidential.

All SYSOP's have moderation ability in the chat rooms. Warnings can be given to new users if you wish, but in whispers. Please read the Chat Rules and insure they followed in the moderated rooms. You can also deal with major problem people in the unmoderated rooms, please check the unmoderated room rules upon entering these rooms.

/boot # message!

The boot command is handy for dealing with new users whom might not be aware of the rules. If problem members persist please report the member with the time and day of the offence and their user account can be suspended if required.



/ignore #

This command will place the user on everyone's ignore list. Handy for dealing with flooders or persistent problem makers.



/unignore #

This command will remove someone from ignore, but only if the user has not left the room and returned again. Normally there is no need to use this feature unless you placed someone on ignore by mistake.



/link http://www.yaba.com link text

The link feature is used to post links in the chat room for chatters amusement or interest. If other chatters would like to request that a link be published in the chat please check the site before doing so. Please be mindful that no commercial advertising is allowed on this site.



/linkpub # http://www.yaba.com link text

The link-public feature is so that you can direct a link to a person (says to) in order to draw attention to a particular person. The feature is used much as the standard /link command.



/linkprvt # http://www.yaba.com link text

This link-private feature is to provide links privately. This may be a good way to draw attention to the rules for those whom need reminding.

Some SYSOPS will also be given duties on the website. An extra button will be added to your user menu which will allow you to approve new profile photos, album items and blogs in the queue. Please refer to the Acceptable Content Guide as a reference for what is allowed as content. If you are unsure in the slightest about a particular item please leave it in the queue and I will make a decision when I next go through the queue myself.

This is an extra duty and no more important other SYSOP duties. Selection for this duty is based on maturity, very regular use of the site and need. Don't be offended if you are not asked for this duty as it makes a SYSOP position no less important.