Wikipedia:Ambassadors/IRC/Guide


 * For general Wikimedia IRC help, see IRC and IRC.

Guidelines

 * See also Online Ambassadors/Guidelines.


 * Help out the newbie. Find out what newcomers have come to IRC for, and focus on answering their questions and helping them fix whatever problems they've come with. Address their main concerns first, then fix a few things yourself as an example or give a gentle suggestion or two. Don't dwell on minor issues.
 * Be civil. Hold yourself to the same standards of civility you would in public spaces. Participate in a respectful and considerate way, and avoid directing profane and offensive language at other users.
 * Be positive. While you must help out the student by providing thoughtful suggestions on how to move forward, you may do so only in a positive tone. As newbies they will often make mistakes. You shouldn't be trying to point out every wrong thing they are doing, which can be very discouraging. Don't chastise students for doing things wrong, help them do things better.
 * Don't be too silly. Avoid joking in the channel, and if you must, do it as a part of the broader effort to help someone.
 * Avoid jargon! The abundance of abbreviations for pages in the Wikipedia namespace are useful only for the seasoned user and would only confuse the newbie.
 * Keep in mind the intended use: While is meant for helping WP:USPP students and classes only,, the back channel is meant for discussion and coordination among ambassadors. Avoid tangents or long discussions between ambassadors in front of students. Use the back channel for this purpose.

Channels
These are the most relevant channels (on irc.libera.chat) for Wikipedia Ambassadors:

Bots
There are several bots that are sometimes available in the ambassador channels. The bots have several handy functions.

WPAmbassadorBot
WPAmbassadorBot has as ambassador-specific commands and links and is maintained by ANowlin.

Helpmebot
Helpmebot is the general help bot developed for the help channel, and is maintained by Stwalkerster.

Commands

 * See also List of Internet Relay Chat commands.

Getting started

 * Register your nick: /msg nickserv register

Basic IRC commands

 * Private message (PM) someone: /msg
 * Talk about yourself in third person: /me
 * Change your nickname: /nick
 * Check your new memos: /msg memoserv read new
 * Type someone's nickname quickly: begin typing their name, then press tab to autocomplete it

Commands for channel operators and owners

 * Add a new ambassador: "/msg chanserv access #wikipedia-en-ambassadors[or classroom] add  ambassador" (grants voice and other channel flags)
 * Grant permission flags: "/msg chanserv flags #wikipedia-en-ambassadors[or classroom]  +[or -]
 * Change the rights for the "ambassador" template: "msg chanserv template #wikipedia-en-ambassadors[or classroom] ambassador +
 * Make someone an op: "/msg chanserv op #wikipedia-en-ambassadors[or classroom] "
 * Change the entry message delivered by ChanServ (must be an op to do this): "/msg chanserv set #wikipedia-en-ambassadors[or classroom] entrymsg ". Setting "NONE" as the message will remove it.


 * Relevant flags:
 * +v : voice
 * +V : auto-voice upon entering channel
 * +o : channel operator
 * +t : right to change the channel topic
 * +i : right to invite people to the channel